Life Lessons from Janet Jackson

Welcome to Life Lessons. This week, we’re flipping through the pages of our February 1987 issue, featuring the one and only Janet Jackson. The pop star’s name has been on everyone’s lips—and timelines—lately, thanks to the upcoming A&E docuseries JANET, an intimate and provocative glimpse into Jackson’s rise to fame, struggles with the media, and of course, rebirth. The interview, in which Jackson opens up about her explosive career, was conducted by the writer Lisa Robinson just a year after Jackson released her earth shattering album Control, which yielded four Top Ten singles. So sit back, and relax—you just might learn a thing or two.

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“I was trying to write about subjects I thought girls could relate to, to let them know that they weren’t alone, that other people have problems as well. Especially people in this business.”

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“I was sheltered, and there’s good and bad to that. The bad was finally coming out into the real world and trying to deal with it, which was hard for me.”

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“Being around kids on Fame opened me up so much that when I would be around my family, they’d say, ‘Jan, you’re so outgoing now.'”

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“I don’t find myself sexy. I think it’s a really nice compliment, but I don’t find myself sexy. I consider it sassy.”

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“I feel that when two people are married—not that you have to totally give up your career—you have to spend time with one another, get to know each other more, just share things with each other.”

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“I don’t regret anything that has happened, and I don’t think it was because I was young. I don’t care what age you are, it’s a great responsibility that you have to take, and you have to be ready for it.”

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“It’s so silly. If people want to know the truth, why don’t they just come to me and ask?”

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“Michael told me when you hear bad things about yourself, it’s no good crying about it. Just put it into your music—it’ll make you stronger.”

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 “The thing is, you have to feel good about yourself. You can’t worry about pleasing other people; you have to please yourself. “

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“I don’t see anything wrong with staying young looking as long as you can. Some people don’t care, but for those who do…”

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“There’s no competition, no jealousy. There is envy. I would say there is a lot of competition, but not within our family; it’s with other artists.”

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“It helps to get things off your chest, and then for people to give you encouragement and to let you know that you can succeed, and to keep pushing you.”

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 “I take out my dad’s percentage. After all, even though he is my dad, he’s my manager and he works for me. A lot of things have changed since we’ve gotten older.”