Janet Jackson hit the stage for her first televised performance in 9 years and she hasn't missed a beat. The 51-year-old served up some of her signature moves before accepting the Billboard Music Awards ICON Award. Peep her powerful speech inside...
It's been 9 years since Janet Jackson rocked a stage that was televised for the masses. But, that streak is over.
The singing queen hit the stage for the 2018 Billboard Music Awards where she was accepting the prestigious ICON Award. And she's the first black woman to do so. Woot! Such a trailblazer.
Bruno Mars hit the stage to sing her praises, before she emerged in a sparkly gold sweatshirt dress that she paired with shiny gold thigh high sneakers. She busted out her classic hit, "Nasty" before moving to "Throb."
We saw her mother Katherine Jackson and big sis Reebie all smiles in te audience, while Ciara, Tyra Banks and Normani were dancing in their seats.
Reebie and her wiggery HAD to get her little sis. Not mad.
There's no doubt that she's a musical ICON. The youngest Jackson became the first woman to debut a song directly in the Hot 100's top 10 when her duet with brother Michael Jackson, "Scream," started at No. 5 on June 17, 1995. Her fourth album, Rhythm Nation 1814, featured seven singles that hit the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989-91.
She's the only artist to boast three albums that each contain at least five top 10 Hot 100 hits. And she's been able to have reach the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart in four consecutive decades, a mark matched only by Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen and U2.
#BlackGirlMagic.
Peep her performance below:
Janet Jackson still got it in her 50s pic.twitter.com/G648co8THz
— Brian Hooven (@hooven08) May 21, 2018
After her performance...
She accepted the ICON Award where she talked about the incredible strength of a woman and standing with all women who have been abused.
“I’m deeply humbled and grateful for this award," she said. "I believe that for all the challenges, all of our challenges, we live a great moment in history. It’s a moment that at long last women have made it clear that we will not be controlled, manipulated or abused. I stand with those women and those men.”
Our public discourse is loud and harsh. My prayer is that weary of such noise, we will turn back to the source of all calmness, that source is God. Everything we lack, God has in abundance: compassion, sensitivity, patience and boundless love. Again I want to thank all of you for this honor and I thank God for giving me the precious energy that lets me live my life as an artist who every day seeks to expend my capacity to love," she continued.
Peep her speech below:
After rocking the stage with her incredible performance, @JanetJackson accepts the 2018 #BBMAs Icon Award! #ICON_JANETpic.twitter.com/S7nDbrGJQI
— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 21, 2018
Congrats, Ms. Jackson!
Photos: Getty
