IT’S been seven years since Janet Jackson released any new music. And now after teasing her first song in nearly a decade on Twitter, the 49-year-old legend was honoured on Sunday night at the BET awards in Los Angeles.
The occasion was supposed to mark Janet’s first red carpet appearance in two years but she opted out of a pre-show appearance to make her presence known when accepting her award.
The hitmaker was presented with the inaugural Ultimate Icon Music Dance Visual award by good friends and songwriting production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
But before Janet graced the stage, Ciara, Tinashe and Jason Derulo paid tribute to the star with dance, showing off their moves to Jackson’s hit singles including ‘Rhythm Nation’ and ‘All For You’.
While many honorees end their segment of the show by singing their greatest hits, Janet opted not to sing.
Instead, she thanked her fans and her family including parents Joe and Katherine Jackson, who were seated in the audience.
“I’ve missed you so much and I love you so much,” she told the crowd. “It’s been a very long journey. My heart is so full. Thank you God for making everything possible. To my beautiful mother and father and to my entire family. Your love is unbreakable.”
Janet and her family put on a brave face as the BET awards was just three days after the sixth anniversary of Michael’s death.
The honour comes just weeks after Janet announced she will kick off a world tour this summer in support of ‘Unbreakable’, her first album in seven years.
She also teased a new song called ‘Conversations In A Cafe’ on Twitter with a 43 second clip.
Janet is set to perform 36 dates in 32 cities, beginning on 31 August in Vancouver, Canada with her first US show slated for 11 September in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Unbreakable World Tour will continue on through 12 November, it’s final show in Honolulu, Hawaii, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Janet’s forthcoming album ‘Unbreakable’ will be released later this year with the pop star reportedly assuming total creative control since the dismal sales of her last studio album ‘Discipline’ in 2008.
Michael Jackson’s little sister is considered one of the most innovative and provocative performers in music history. In her personal life, Janet has been married to billionaire Wissam Al Mana for three years.
The list of winners at the show included Best Female R B/Pop Artist for Beyoncé, Best Male R B/Pop Artist for Chris Brown, Rae Sremmurd for Best Group, Kendrick Lamar for Best Male Hip Hop Artist amongst various winner. – www.dailymailonline.co.uk
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
