 
Janet Jackson was born on May 16, 1966 in Gary,
Indiana, as the youngest of the famous, musical
Jackson family. Over the course of the 80s, she has
emerged as the most respected talent of her family
for the 90s. Janet has attained world-wide superstar
status with her dance moves and music - always
keeping up with trends and never selling out to the
"safe pop sound." Janet first tried out her
showbiz talents in Las Vegas opening up for her
brothers. By age 7, Janet was singing and dancing on
TV specials with her brothers. But it was her acting
in various sitcoms (Good
Times
(1977-79), Diff'rent
Strokes
(1981-82), and Fame) that first found her some
success. Janet was actually hand-picked by TV mogul
Norman Lear to appear in Good
Times.
At age 16, Janet was coerced into the music industry
by her father and signed to A&M Records.
Her first LP, Janet
Jackson,
was released and showed little success. Janet had a
little success with the singles "Say You
Do," "Young Love," and "Come Give
Your Love To Me."
The same lack of interest was shown with her second
LP release, Dream
Street
.
Janet's first move to veer away from family wishes
came with her short-lived marriage to James DeBarge
of DeBarge at age 18. But bad
moments became common as her marriage dissolved over
her husband's reported drug use and with her
disappointment over being the only Jackson family
member not asked to participate in "We Are The
World."
Janet's marriage was annulled and her career needed
revamping. Powerhouse producers Jimmy Jam and Terry
Lewis were brought in to work with Janet, and through
their efforts to bring out the real Janet, she was
able to proclaim her talents.
 # 2
Singles Artist of the Year
Janet's jump to superstar status began with Control. The LP was produced by Jimmy
Jam and Terry Lewis, and spawned 6 Top 10 hits as
well as many memorable videos ("What Have You Done For Me Lately," "Nasty," "When I Think Of You," "Control," "Let's Wait Awhile," and "The Pleasure Principle"). Control was described as a young
woman's declaration of freedom from parental guidance
and exploration of a new world and maturity. The
first single, "What Have You Done For Me Lately" showed video audiences
that Janet could dance and gave radio a new budding
diva of strength and certainty.
Control was ranked as the 28th Best
Album of the 80's by Rolling
Stone
magazine.
Janet hit the Top 40 with "What Have You Done For Me Lately."
Control was certified gold.
Janet hit the Top 10 with "What Have You Done For Me Lately."
 Control was certified platinum.
"Nasty" hit the Top 40 and Top 10.
Control was certified 2x platinum.
"When I Think Of You" hit the Top 40.
Janet hit the Top 10 with "When I Think Of You."
Janet hit #1 for 2 weeks with "When I Think Of You."
Janet hit the Top 40 with "Control."
Control was certified 3x platinum.
Janet hit the Top 10 with "Control."
 # 14
Singles Artist of the Year
Janet won 2 American Music Awards for Favorite
Soul/R&B Single ("Nasty") and Favorite Soul/R&B Female
Video Artist, and was nominated for Favorite
Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite
Soul/R&B Album (Control), Favorite Pop/Rock Video and
Favorite Soul/R&B Video ("When I Think Of You"), Favorite Pop/Rock
Female Video Artist, and Favorite
Soul/R&B Female Artist.
Janet hit the Top 40 with "Let's Wait Awhile."
Janet was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song (songwriter) ("What Have You Done For Me Lately" with James Harris III
and Terry Lewis), Album of the Year and Best R&B Vocal Performance - Female (Control).
Janet hit the Top 10 with "Let's Wait Awhile."
Control was certified 4x platinum.
Janet hit the Top 40 with "The Pleasure Principle."
Janet hit the Top 10 with "The Pleasure Principle."
The video for "Nasty" won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography (Paula Abdul) and was nominated for Best Female Video and Best Overall Performance. The video for "When I Think Of You" was also nominated for Best Choreography.
Janet won 2 American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Video
and Favorite Pop/Rock Video ("When I Think Of You"), and was nominated for Favorite
Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female
Artist.
The video for "The Pleasure Principle" won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography and was
nominated for Best Female Video.
Janet's first tour became the most successful debut
tour to date.
 # 15
Singles Artist of the Year
Janet released Rhythm
Nation 1814 which added to her Top 10 streak with 6
more #1 hits, including "Miss You Much," "Black Cat," "Escapade," "Come Back To Me," "Rhythm Nation," and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," and a total of 8 Top 10
hits from a single LP ("Alright" and "State Of The World"). The LP focused on
humanity and inspiration, and Janet's views on the
world.
Janet became the first artist to have 7 Top 5 singles
from one LP on the Billboard singles charts.
Janet toured with the LP to countless sold-out
arenas.
Janet hit the Top 40 and Top 10 with "Miss You Much."
Janet hit #1 for 4 weeks with "Miss You Much."
Control was certified 5x platinum.
 Rhythm
Nation 1814 was certified 2x platinum.
The single "Miss You Much" was certified platinum.
Janet hit the Top 40 with "Rhythm Nation."
Janet ended the year with the # 1 Single of the Year
(based on the ARC Weekly Top 40) for "Miss You Much."
Janet hit the Top 10 with "Rhythm Nation."
 # 1
Singles Artist of the Year (# 1 Female
Artist of the Year)
Janet hit #1 for 2 weeks with "Rhythm Nation."
Janet won 2 American Music Awards for Favorite
Soul/R&B Single and Favorite Dance Single ("Miss You Much"), and was nominated for Favorite
Dance Artist.
Janet hit the Top 40 with "Escapade."
The single "Rhythm Nation" was certified gold.
Janet hit the Top 10 and #1 for 3 weeks with "Escapade."
Janet won her first Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form (Rhythm
Nation 1814) and was nominated for Best R&B Vocal Performance - Female ("Miss You Much").
Rhythm
Nation 1814 was certified 3x platinum.
Janet was featured on the cover of Rolling
Stone.
Janet hit the Top 40 with "Alright."
Janet hit the Top 10 with "Alright."
Rhythm
Nation 1814 was certified 4x platinum.
The single "Escapade" was certified gold.
The singles "Control" and "Alright" were certified gold.
Janet hit the Top 40 with "Come Back To Me."
Janet hit the Top 10 and #1 for 1 week with "Come Back To Me."
The video for "Rhythm Nation" won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography (Anthony Thomas and Janet) and
nominated for Best Dance Video. Janet was honored with the
MTV Video Vanguard Award.
Janet hit the Top 40 with "Black Cat."
Janet hit the Top 10 and #1 for a week with "Black Cat." The single became the first song
to top the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock
singles chart.
The singles "Nasty," "What Have You Done For Me Lately," "When I Think Of You," and "Black Cat" were certified gold.
Janet hit the Top 40 and Top 10 with "Love Will Never Do (Without You)."
Rhythm
Nation 1814 was certified 5x platinum.
 # 25
Singles Artist of the Year
Janet won 3 American Music Awards for Favorite
Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Female
Artist, and Favorite
Dance Artist,
and was nominated for Favorite
Pop/Rock Album
and Favorite Soul/R&B Album (Rhythm
Nation 1814).
Janet hit #1 for a week with "Love Will Never Do (Without You)."
Janet was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Vocal Performance - Female ("Black Cat") and Best R&B Song (awarded to
the songwriter) and
Best R&B Vocal Performance
- Female for
"Alright."
The single "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" was certified gold.
Janet hit the Top 40 with "State Of The World."
Janet hit the Top 10 with "State Of The World."
Janet won a Soul Train Music Award for Best Music
Video ("Alright").
Janet signed a $32 million record deal with Virgin
Records
The video for "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video and was also nominated for Best Choreography and Best
Art Direction.
 # 79
Singles Artist of the Year
Janet hit the Top 40 with the huge dance duet with Luther Vandross, "The Best Things In Life Are Free" from the Mo'
Money
soundtrack.
Janet hit the Top 10 with Luther Vandross with "The Best Things In Life Are Free."
Janet topped the Billboard R&B Singles chart for
1 week with Luther Vandross with "The Best Things In Life Are Free."
Rhythm
Nation 1814 was certified 6x platinum.
 # 2
Singles Artist of the Year
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