Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 30 years. The youngest child of the Jackson family, she began her career with the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including Good Times and Fame.
After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982, she became a pop icon following the release of her third studio album Control (1986). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover success in popular music. In addition to receiving recognition for the innovation in her records, choreography, music videos, and prominence on radio airplay and MTV, she was acknowledged as a role model for her socially conscious lyrics.
In 1991 she signed the first of two record-breaking, multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records, establishing her as one of the highest paid artists in the industry. Her debut album under the label, Janet (1993), saw her develop a public image as a sex symbol as she began to explore sexuality in her work. That same year, she appeared in her first starring film role in Poetic Justice; since then she has continued to act in feature films. By the end of the 1990s, she was named the second most successful recording artist of the decade. The release of her seventh studio album All for You (2001) coincided with a celebration of her impact on popular music as the inaugural MTV Icon. After parting ways with Virgin she released her tenth studio album Discipline (2008), her first and only album with Island Records. In 2015 she partnered with BMG Rights Management to launch her own record label, Rhythm Nation.
Having sold over 160 million records, she is ranked as one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) lists her as the eleventh best-selling female artist in the United States, with 26 million certified albums. She has amassed an extensive catalog, with singles such as "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "That's the Way Love Goes", "Together Again" and "All for You" among her signature songs; she holds the record for the most consecutive top 10 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart by a female artist with 18. In 2008 Billboard magazine released its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, placing her at number seven, while in 2010, ranking her fifth among the "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". One of the world's most awarded artists, her longevity, records and achievements reflect her influence in shaping and redefining the scope of popular music. She has been cited as an inspiration among numerous performers.
Known For

Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas
Self
2023

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self - Presenter
2022

Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson
Self (archive footage)
2021

Michael Jackson: Chase the Truth
Herself
2019

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2019 Induction Ceremony
Self
2019

The Minnesota Sound
Self (archive footage)
2019

McQueen
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2018

For Colored Girls
Jo / Red
2010

Why Did I Get Married Too?
Patricia
2010

We Are the World 25 For Haiti
Self (singing voice)
2010

Michael Jackson: The Inside Story - What Killed the King of Pop?
Self (archive footage)
2010

Michael Jackson Memorial
Self
2009

The Michael Jackson Story
Self
2009

Why Did I Get Married?
Patricia
2007

Janet Jackson: Exposed
Herself (archive footage)
2007

Maxim: Hot Clips 3
Self
2005

Janet Jackson: From Janet. To Damita Jo: The Videos
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2003

Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies
Self (archive footage)
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!
(1 episode)
2003

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories
Self
2002

Janet: Live in Hawaii
Herself
2002

The Concert for New York City
Self
2001

Janet Jackson - All For You
Herself
2001

MTV Icon: Janet Jackson
Self
2001

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
Denise
2000

Janet Jackson: The Velvet Rope Tour
Herself
1998

Janet Jackson: Design of a Decade 1986/1996
1995

Michael Jackson's Scream: HIStory in the Making
Self
1995

Dangerous: The Short Films
Self (uncredited)
1993

RapLine
Self
1993

Poetic Justice
Justice
1993

Janet Jackson: Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990
Herself
1990
Janet Jackson: The Rhythm Nation Compilation
Herself
1990

Rhythm Nation 1814
Herself
1989
Larry Holmes vs. David Bey
1985

Rock 'n' Roll Sports Classic
1978

Mirroring Michael Jackson
Self

Sherri
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022

JANET JACKSON.
Self · (4 episodes)
2022

The Kelly Clarkson Show
(1 episode)
2019

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (2 episodes)
2014

Radio Disney Music Awards
Self · (1 episode)
2013

Live from Studio Five
Self · (2 episodes)
2009

The Graham Norton Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007

The Tyra Banks Show
(2 episodes)
2005

On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Self · (1 episode)
2004

TV total
Self · (1 episode)
1999

Will & Grace
Janet Jackson · (1 episode)
1998

The View
Self · (2 episodes)
1997

E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996

MTV Europe Music Awards
Self - Performer · (1 episode)
1994

Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993

GMTV
Self · (1 episode)
1993

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(1 episode)
1992

Charlie Rose
Self (Archive footage, Alright music video) · (1 episode)
1991

MTV Rockumentary
(1 episode)
1989

LIVE with Kelly and Mark
(1 episode)
1988

Going Live!
Self · (1 episode)
1987

Sacrée soirée
Self · (2 episodes)
1987

MTV Video Music Awards
(1 episode)
1984

MTV Video Music Awards
Self · (4 episodes)
1984

Fame
Cleo Hewitt · (25 episodes)
1982

Entertainment Tonight
Self · (3 episodes)
1981

Wetten, dass..?
Self · (1 episode)
1981

A New Kind of Family
(11 episodes)
1979

Diff'rent Strokes
Charlene DuPrey · (8 episodes)
1978

The Jacksons
Self · (12 episodes)
1976

The Sonny and Cher Show
(1 episode)
1976

Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest · (1 episode)
1975

Saturday Night Live
Self - Host & Musical Guest · (1 episode)
1975

Cher
Self · (1 episode)
1975

American Music Awards
Self - Musical Guest · (1 episode)
1974

Good Times
Milicent 'Penny' Woods · (48 episodes)
1974

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
(1 episode)
1971

The Flip Wilson Show
Self · (1 episode)
1970
The Jim Nabors Hour
(1 episode)
1969

The Grammys
Self · (1 episode)
1959

The Oscars
Self · (1 episode)
1953

Today
Self · (1 episode)
1952
Family First
Herself · (1 episode)