Janet Jackson: Snapshot
- Name
- Janet Jackson
- Birth Date
- May 16, 1966
- Birth Place
- Gary, Ind.
The scandal launched a national debate about indecency, but it couldn't trump her achievements as an entertainer. The youngest of the nine Jackson offspring, Janet cemented her own place in the world of pop and R&B outside of her brother Michael's shadow with albums like Control, Rhythm Nation and The Velvet Rope.
In 2006, after notoriously keeping mum on her nine-year marriage to Rene Elizondo, Jackson changed things up when she went public with her relationship with fellow music veteran Jermaine Dupri.
People Hot List - Which Stars Have the Most Buzz?
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Janet Jackson: Five Fun Facts
- Janet Jackson gave both Jennifer Lopez and Paula Abdul breaks early in their careers. Lopez was a backup dancer and had a cameo in Jackson's video "That's the Way Love Goes." Meanwhile, Abdul choreographed moves for four of Jackson's videos: "Nasty," "What Have You Done for Me Lately," "When I Think of You," and "Control".
- A chubby kid, Janet Jackson was given the nickname "Dunk" by her brother Michael because of her size. "You look like a donkey, you're so big," he used to say, according to PEOPLE.
- Janet Jackson has her tongue, nose, and right nipple pierced and says the nose piercing was done for "a spiritual reason."
- As devout Jehovah's Witnesses, Janet Jackson's parents initially forbade their children from receiving any kind of presents, but had relaxed the rule by the time Janet, their youngest child, came along.
- Janet Jackson owns a wall-to-ceiling 65-million-year-old shark fossil that she purchased for her home when a museum couldn't come up with the asking price.
Janet Jackson: Biography 
- 1974
Vegas Showgirl
The youngest of the nine Jackson offspring – Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, LaToya, Marlon, Michael, and Randy – Janet makes her show business debut at age 7 with her famous family in their Vegas live show, a routine attraction at the old MGM (now Bally's) casino.
- 1977
Good (TV) Times
Jackson joins the cast of Good Times in its fifth season, making her acting debut as abused neighbor Penny Gordon. She goes on to play Willis' girlfriend Charlene for 11 episodes of Diff'rent Strokes from 1982-84 and appears in the dance-school drama Fame for one season in 1984.
- 1981
Sing It, Girl
Urged by her manager/father, Joe, to give up acting and start singing again, Jackson signs with A&M Records and releases her first album, Janet Jackson, an eight-song collection of sugary dance tracks. While the album produced three Billboard Top 20 R&B singles, it was mostly forgettable, especially when compared to her brother Michael's Thriller, which was on its way to becoming one of the bestselling albums of all time.
Photo Credits
Top Left: James White/WWPR
BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): Allen Fredrickson/Reuters/Corbis; CBS/Landov; Robert Matheu/Retna
