Janet Jackson gave her first televised performance in nine years at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 20, 2018 where she was honored as the first black woman to receive the Billboard Icon Award.
The youngest of the legendary Jackson musical family, Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. 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. Having sold over 100 million records, Jackson is one of the world’s best-selling music artists. 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”; she holds the record for the most consecutive top-ten entries on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart by a female artist with 18.
The Billboard Icon Award was established in 2011 to recognize music singers and contribution. The recipient of the award also performs during the ceremony.
Bruno Mars made a surprise appearance to introduce the singer, who earned the Icon Award on Sunday.Before presenting Jackson with the award, R&B singer Bruno Mars told the crowd she “represents undeniable artistic genius.”
Jackson used her speech to pay tribute to powerful women.A retrospective documenting Jackson’s career followed, with clips of her appearance as a kid on The Carol Burnett Show to highlights of her breakout hits.
Jackson then took the stage, performing “Nasty” from 1986’s Control and “If” and “Throb” from Janet”I believe that for all the challenges, for all our challenges, we live at a glorious moment in history,” Jackson said.