Janet Jackson took the stage tonight at the Billboard Music Awards, marking her first live television performance in nine years. She did her hits “Nasty,” “If,” and “Throb.” Janet also became the first black woman to receive the ICON Award, reserved for artists “whose body of work has made a profound influence over pop music on a global level.” Previous ICON Award recipients include Cher, Celine Dion, and Prince.
Bruno Mars introduced her in a surprise appearance. “I’m deeply humbled and grateful for this award,” Janet said in her acceptance speech. “I believe that for all the challenges, for all our challenges, we live at a glorious moment in history. It’s a moment when at long last women have made it clear that we will no longer be controlled, manipulated, or abused. I stand with those women and with those men equally outraged by discrimination who support us in heart and mind.” Watch a snippet of her performance as well as her full acceptance speech below.
Edges snatched courtesy of @JanetJackson! #BBMAs pic.twitter.com/zVnrW1VW7W
— ESSENCE Festival (@essencefest) May 21, 2018
After rocking the stage with her incredible performance, @JanetJackson accepts the 2018 #BBMAs Icon Award! #ICON_JANET pic.twitter.com/S7nDbrGJQI
— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 21, 2018
