After a decade (plus some) wait for induction, Pop icon Janet Jackson finally got to formally accept her inclusion in the ever elusive Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last night (March 29). Her powerful acceptance speech spoke volumes as it recounted her humble beginnings and efforts to standout from her brothers to becoming one of music history’s most influential female performers.
Paying homage to the trail blazed by her siblings (Jackson 5 were inducted in 1997, brother Michael inducted as a solo artist in 2001), the diva was sure to thank her familial forerunners and even shout out those who came after her during her trip down memory lane:
I witnessed, along with the rest of the world, my family’s extraordinary impact on popular culture. Not just in America, but all around the globe, the entire globe. As the youngest in the family, I was determined to make it on my own,” Jackson said. “I wanted to stand on my own two feet, but never in a million years did I expect to follow in their footsteps. Tonight, your baby sister has made it in.”
That’s not all she said. Addressing the challenges of being a woman of color in the industry, Jan also called for the election committee to continue pushing the needle forward as it relates to female representation in the Hall of Fame. Look inside to hear all this and more:
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