Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress. Born in Gary, Indiana and raised in Encino California, she is the youngest member of the Jackson family of musicians. Initially performing on stage with her family at the age of seven, Jackson began her career as an actress with the variety television series The Jacksons. She went on to star in other television shows including Good Times, A New Kind of Family, Diff'rent Strokes, and Fame.

After launching her recording career in 1982, Jackson saw moderate success with the release of her self-titled debut album and its successor Dream Street (1984). However, with the collaboration of record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson found record-breaking success, producing five consecutive number one studio albums on the Billboard 200; beginning with the release of Control (1986) followed by Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989), janet. (1993), The Velvet Rope (1997), and All for You (2001). Although Jackson experienced commercial decline with subsequent albums Damita Jo (2004) and 20 Y.O. (2006), her tenth studio album Discipline (2008) became her sixth album to debut at number one.