The singer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last night in New York.
Janet Jackson was last night (March 29) inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and in her acceptance speech asked that the Hall “induct more women.”
Introduced by Janelle Monáe, Jackson took to the stage at the Barclays Center in New York and delivered a heartfelt speech that thanked her friends, family and closest collaborators.
Also thanking her “beautiful son,” Jackson said: “He wakes me up every single morning singing his own little melodies. He’s only two, you guys. I want you to know that you’re my heart, you’re my life and you have shown me the meaning of real, unconditional love. Mama loves you.”
Eligible since 2007, the youngest member of the Jackson clan now joins her family in the Hall. The Jackson 5 were inducted in 1997, while her brother Michael Jackson was inducted as a solo artist in 2001.
“In 1997, my brothers were recognised for their musical passion by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” she told the New York crowd. “I was so, so proud. As you saw in the clip, I was always crashing their rehearsals. I was always tagging along, always with my brothers.”
Thanking the likes of Questlove, Paula Abdul, Dick Clark and Don Cornelius, to name but a few, Jackson made a point to thank and single out production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
“Can you guys please stand up?” Janet Jackson made a point to single out and thank production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
“Can you guys please stand up?,” she asked the pair. “In the mid-80s, you came to A&M Records and you were asked if there was any artist you would want to produce, who would it be? And you guys said Janet. That’s a real story. You guys are my two dads and so much more. You are brilliant producers, incredible songwriters, wise teachers and my great friends. I salute you tonight for the body of work that we created together, but also for your contribution to the world of music. I love you guys.”
Starting out performing on the Jackson 5’s variety show, The Jacksons, when she was just seven years old, Jackson launched her singing career in 1982 at the age of 18 when she released her self-titled debut. Her real breakthrough came when she introduced to the world 1986’s multi-platinum selling ‘Control’.
Artistically inspiring multiple generations, Jackson has long been an inspiration for female artists in particular. At last night’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony she continued to champion women in music by calling for the Hall to “induct more women” in 2020, at the end of her speech.
Watch Janet Jackson’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech in full below:
In other Janet Jackson news, while the singer will play at this year’s Glastonbury Festival it appears she has edited the festival’s 2019 line-up poster so that her name features first.
Fans were quick to point out the move after the pop legend tweeted an image of the poster earlier this month (March 18). One fan wrote: “aww bless you edited the poster still thats awesome x”
