Janet Jackson Reveals The Surprising Start Of Her Music Career: She Didn’t Want To Do Music Initially
Janet Jackson has recently opened up about the unlikely start of her illustrious career and her evolving relationship with fame. In an intimate interview with the BBC, the 58-year-old Grammy winner revealed that her journey to stardom was more of a family decision than a personal ambition, as she shared how she did not have a say in becoming a child star.
Janet shared a memory from her childhood that set the course for her career. At the tender age of 9, the iconic performer behind hits like Control and Nasty, found herself in the Jackson family’s Encino, California recording studio, crafting her first song, Fantasy.
“I laid down the drum track, I did the background vocals, I sang and I played everything on it,” she recalled.
The next day, she returned home from school to hear her song playing loudly. “I was so embarrassed. The studio door was open and Mike was listening to it,” she said, referring to her late brother, Michael. “I think Randy was listening to it, my father was listening.”
It was at that moment her father, Joe Jackson, declared her future. “You’re gonna sing,” he told her. Janet’s response was a mixture of confusion and resistance.
“No, no, no, I want to go to college and study business law,” she remembered saying. But arguing with Joe was no small feat, as she explained that it was difficult arguing against his wishes considering he had helped her brothers achieve musical fame. So, she decided to give it a try.
Janet quickly found herself in the spotlight, performing live with her sisters and landing a role on the TV show Good Times in 1977. By 1982, she had released her debut album, followed by Dream Street in 1984. Her breakthrough came with the album Control in 1986, catapulting her to global fame and establishing her as a powerhouse in the music industry.
Despite her success, Janet has always been a private person, a fact she recently emphasized during an interview on Heart Evenings with Dev Griffin. When asked if there’s one question she’s tired of hearing, she replied candidly, “I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to be honest with you. Please stop asking me questions.”
Janet explained her discomfort with the spotlight. “I’ve never thought I give a good interview. I really don’t like speaking, so I’d rather stay quiet and listen to other people talk, and that’s always been me.”
With a playful smile, she added, “Don’t ask me questions. Are we finished?”
Yet, despite her reservations about interviews, Janet remains dedicated to her fans. Currently, she’s in the midst of her Together Again Tour’s second North American leg, which will run through July 30. She’ll then take her show to Europe in September, performing until October 13.
