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Janet Jackson turns 50 today! Here’s 50 things she did before 50!

  • May 17, 2016
  • 5 min read
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Janet Jackson, when I think of you, birthday, 50

Today (May 16th) Janet Jackson turned 50, and to celebrate we rounded up 50 accomplishments the superstar has achieved (in chronological order):

1. She released her self-titled debut album Janet Jackson in 1982, at sixteen years old.

2. She performed on American Bandstand and Soul Train in 1982.

3. Her third studio album, Control (1986), hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

4. Five singles on Control peaked in the top five of the Hot 100 chart.

5. Control is listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 200 Definitive Albums of All Time.

6. She holds the record for most American Music Awards nominations from one album (with twelve) for Control.

7. She won six Billboard Music Awards (including Top Pop Singles Artist) in 1986.

8. Control was nominated for four Grammy Awards (including Album of the Year) in 1987.

9. She won a Soul Train Music Award for Album of the Year and Best Music Video for “What Have You Done for Me Lately” in 1987.

10. Her single “Nasty” won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography (Paula Abdul) in 1987.

11. Her fourth studio album, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989), hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

12. Rhythm Nation was the biggest-selling album of 1990.

13. Rhythm Nation is the only album in the history of the Hot 100 chart to have seven singles peak within the top five.

14. Rhythm Nation is the only album to produce No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 chart in three separate calendar years (1989–1991).

15. Rhythm Nation received nine Grammy Award nominations and she became the first female artist to be nominated for Producer of the Year in 1990.

16. She won eight Billboard Music Awards in 1990, including Top Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year, Top Selling Album of the Year, Top Selling R&B Album of the Year, Top Selling R&B Albums Artist of the Year, Top Selling R&B Artist of the Year and Top Dance Club Play Artist of the Year.

17. She won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography (“Rhythm Nation”) and was presented with the MTV Video Vanguard Award in 1990.

18. She received an American Music Award for Favorite Dance Single for “Miss You Much” in 1990.

19. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990.

20. She received an American Music Award for Favorite Dance Artist in 1991.

21. “Love Will Never Do Without You” won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video in 1991.

22. She is listed in Guinness World Records for Largest Recording Contract in 1991.

23. Her fifth studio album, janet. (1993), hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart.

24. janet. became her third consecutive album to top the Billboard 200 chart and her first to debut at No. 1.

25. In 1993, janet. debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 350,000 copies sold in its first week — a then-record debut sales week for a woman since Nielsen Music began tracking sales in 1991.

26. janet. is listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 200 Definitive Albums of All Time.

27. janet. produced six top ten hits on the Hot 100 chart.

28. “Again” from Poetic Justice received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song in 1993.

29. “That’s The Way Love Goes” won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1994.

30. “If” won a Billboard Music Award for Dance Clip of the Year in 1994.

31. “If” won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video in 1994.

32. She won a Grammy Award (with her brother Michael Jackson) for Best Music Video for “Scream” in 1996.

33. Her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997), hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

34. The Velvet Rope became Jackson’s fourth consecutive album to top the Billboard 200.

35. “Got ’til It’s Gone” won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video in 1998.

36. “I Get Lonely” became her record 18th consecutive Hot 100 top 10 (1998), a streak that began in 1989. She passed Madonna’s run of 17 straight top 10 Hot 100 entries (1984-89).

37. “Together Again” won the award for “Most Played Song” at the BMI Pop Awards in 1999.

38. She is listed in Guinness World Records for Top-Selling Dance Album of the Decade, Female for Janet in 1999.

39. She is listed in Guinness World Records for Most Successful Siblings in History (with her brother Michael Jackson) in 1999.

40. Her seventh studio album, All For You (2001), became her fifth consecutive album to top the Billboard 200 chart.

41. She was declared MTV’s inaugural icon in 2001, and received a televised tribute, MTV Icon: Janet Jackson.

42. She was presented with the Artistic Achievement Award at the Billboard Music Awards in 2001.

43. She was presented with the American Music Award’s Award of Merit in 2001.

44. “All For You” won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2002.

45. Her ninth studio album, 20 Y.O. (2006), became her eighth consecutive platinum album.

46. She is listed in Guinness World Records as “Most Searched Person in Internet History” and “Most Searched News Item in Internet History” is 2007.

47. Her tenth studio album, Discipline (2008), hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

48. Her eleventh studio album, Unbreakable (2015), hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

49. She was honored with the inaugural BET Awards Ultimate Icon: Music Dance Visual Award in 2015

50. “No Sleeep” became her 40th entry on the Hot 100 chart.

Happy Birthday, Janet Jackson!!

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Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is an accomplished promoter, event planner, producer, activist, counselor, poet and blogger. Within the course of two and a half years Chris Ryan has worked with some of NYC's most established promoters/event planners, been named 2007′s GaySocialite of the year, granted a promoter of the year award from NYC's most famous gay establishment, Splash. He's worked in some of NYC's top venues including; Avalon, Capitale, Cipriani, Cielo, Pacha, Element, Le Poisson Rouge, XL, G Lounge, Plumm, Hilton Hotel, Indigo Hotel, Spirit, Myst/Quo, Splash, The Ritz, Vlada, Roseland Ballroom, Heaven, etc. In 2008, Chris Ryan has begun to unveil some of the most innovative & unique parties New York City has ever seen. The Fusion events "fuse" together all disciplines of art into an event that remains diverse yet cohesive at the same time. ChrisRyanNYC.com won best gay promotions website from NYC Event Patrons in 2008 & he was granted an award from the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Gov. Patterson & Michelle Clunie (QAF) saluting him for his hard work in nightlife. Chris Ryan has also begun working with many renown companies, including; doctors, lawyers, physicians, modeling agencies & more. Chris Ryan has been responsible for wide-scale promotions for all these companies & generating tremendous business. Chris Ryan has even started to become National with events taking place in LA & Miami this year. In May of 2009 Chris Ryan received the very prestigious honor of being named a "40 Under 40″ Gays in America by the Advocate Magazine. He also created three successful parties that generated over 1,500 patrons each. In January of 2010 Chris Ryan was featured as one of the top promoters to look out for in Noize Magazine Chris Ryan joined forces with legendary promoter/event producer, Lee Chappell and created one of the most talked about events of all 2010, Desire @ Capitale. Chris Ryan and Lee featured one of the most outstanding artists NYC has ever seen, "Oh Land." Her performance coupled with an exquisite and unforgettable set design added to this extravagant event that held over 1,000 patrons in one of NYC's most successful PRIDE events! Chris Ryan then joined forces with legendary Pacha promoter, Rob Fernandez in addition to Jake Resnicow and Tommy Marinelli to bring one of the largest and most successful parties worldwide to NYC, MATINEE. The event on Governor's Island saw over 2,000+ attendees and one of the most ambitious productions ever. In 2011 Chris Ryan started Emerge Music Promotions with business partner Darren Melchiorre. Emerge Music promotions began signing artists with plans to develop and market the artists to the community at large. Emerge Music promotions has big events planned for 2012 and 2013. Chris Ryan debuted the IMAGE events which took place on top of two of NYC's most beautiful rooftop venues, Rare View and Indigo Hotel. The events were blogged everywhere and featured the fashion designs of several clothing designers, artists and photographers. Chris Ryan felt that fashion and art should be displayed at every event and attracted the likes of Malan Breton, Calvin Klein and even Katy Perry. Chris Ryan began an extremely successful event which incorporated the concept of a house party into a nightclub atmosphere. The event Twist'D at G Lounge has been one of the most talked about events in NYC and allows it's audience to play nearly-naked Twister, beer pong, flip cup & more with other attendees. Chris Ryan was granted an excellence in volunteering award from AVP (Anti-Violence Project) for all his efforts in supporting the organization. 2013 has a very promising landscape on the horizon and Chris Ryan is complacent in saying "you haven't seen anything yet!"

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