With just hours to go before Janet Jackson is honored with the Billboard Icon Award at the BBMAs, this week’s From The Vault journeys back to MTV‘s historic salute.
Aptly timed to coincide with the release window of Jackson’s 2001 album ‘All For You,’ the network went all out for the superstar songstress. For, she was selected as the inaugural artist to receive the stand-alone televised special.
A host of artists – including Destiny’s Child, Nsync, Usher, Pink, and Mya – paid homage to the the stage blazer with spirited renditions of some of her top hits.
But when it came to igniting her then-new single, Ms. Jackson was the only star with the mega-wattage needed to blow the roof off the building.
Backed by a troop of dancers (all sporting varied takes on her iconic look), the diva delivered a hyper, high-octane performance.
Rocking the house with the precision of an olympian, Janet served sass, slick choreography, and a dazzling dance-break.
It served as a resonating moment too, as the song (which was produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis) went on to become her 10th #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its like-titled housing album also opened atop of the pack and went on to sell over 3 million copies in the US and 7 million worldwide.
As the clock countdowns to her Billboard offering, re-live this seismic moment above.