Janet Jackson is finally getting her flowers for being a trailblazer. A Janet Jackson documentary will be released in January 2022 on both A&E and Lifetime. According to the trailer it took five years to film. Janet posted the new teaser trailer to social media on Monday. In the trailer, Missy Elliot, Mariah Carey and Paula Abdul talks about Janet. At the end of the teaser, Janet states that the documentary is her story from her mouth. Below are a few more details via People:
The clip begins with interview snippets from Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey and Paula Abdul speaking about Janet’s impactful music career.
“This is what a superstar look like,” Elliott says.
“She is an empowered woman,” Carey adds, before Abdul calls Janet a “force to be reckoned with.”
“She comes from a whole family of legends,” professional dancer Whyley Yoshimura notes.
Despite her stardom, to big brother Tito Jackson, “she will always be my baby sister,” he says with a smile as fans can be heard chanting “Janet! Janet!” off camera.
Footage from throughout Janet’s life and career is then shown as her 1986 hit “Control” plays in the background. Included in the trailer is archival footage of Janet’s brother Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, and her Poetic Justice costar Tupac Shakur, who was killed in 1996.
Janet then sits down in front of the camera and says in voiceover: “This is my story, told by me. Not through someone else’s eyes.”
This is legit a documentary that I want to see. I feel like Janet hasn’t received the accolades that she deserves. She and Madonna inspired two, damn near three generations of pop divas. I feel that this documentary will properly honor Janet’s contribution to music. I am also excited that there will be concert footage, music videos and commentary from other superstars who know Janet well. I’m most excited about the narration and interviews with Janet herself. Of course I want to see the documentary for the sake of strolling down memory lane. As I get older, my childhood memories get muddled. As someone who enjoys reminiscing about the 80s this will help jog the things I have forgotten. I can’t believe it has already been 35 years since the Control album dropped. I am sure the film will be just as good as the shows Janet puts on. Plus having Missy, Mariah and Paula in the same film is the stuff of this 80/90s kid’s heart.
I can’t wait to see this.
Ditto. Glad she’s finally getting recognized!!!
Love this. She’s so private, mysterious to me. I’d love to hear more about her private life. Also between this and the Cindy C post, I feel really old!!!!
Yes! It’s pretty amazing she’s been able to keep so much private, I want to know more as well. I really loved her growing up, good to see her getting the recognition she deserves for her work.
V excited for this!
I remember taping her videos and rewatching them over and over again. I didn’t have any dancing skills. But I watched Rhythm Nation 100’s of times. Not only does the video hold up, but the lyrics are more powerful than ever.
Definitely worth watching. Hope this doc will win her even more fans and undo some of the damage caused by that Superbowl fiasco with JT. She remained quiet and dignified despite the hits her singing and acting careers took after that. But they can never deny her status as a musical and cultural Icon.
CHILLS!!!
❤️🌹❤️
I saw the Janet concert I think in 94 or 95. She gave one of the best shows I’ve seen. I’m excited for this.
Are they going to include the part where she assaults Paris?
Oh I hope she takes down Timberlake!
Yes, so excited to hear her speak and hear others recognize her.
I feel like she’s a forgotten icon, maybe bc she is private, so I hope this puts her back on the radar.