Janet Jackson Delivers Moving Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Speech

Janet Jackson is officially an elite member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The 52-year-old singer was inducted into the prestigious club on Friday (March 29) at their 34th annual ceremony in Brooklyn.

During her speech, Janet made sure to thank all those who have had a hand her nearly four-decades-long career, shouting out many of whom were in the audience celebrating her induction."This is a really big moment," Janet began. "When I was a kid, my dream wasn't to be a singer. I wanted to go to college and I wanted to be a lawyer. It was my father's dream. He wanted me to become this wonderful performer. He encouraged me. He was the first one to encourage me. And music became my passion."

"In 1997, my brothers were recognized for their musical passion by being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And I was so, so proud [...] I was always crashing their rehearsals. I was always tagging along, always with my brothers. 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. And as the youngest in the family, I was determined to make it on my own," she continued. "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."

Janet then went on to thank Paula Abdul, Questlove, Dick Clark, Don Cornelius, Herb Alpert, Jerry Moss, her father Joe Jackson, her fans, and others who have been a part of her journey to the Hall of Fame.

Janet's final thank you was reserved to her two-year-old son, Eissa. "And I just, I wanna thank my baby, my beautiful son," she told the audience. "He wakes me up every single morning singing his own little melodies. He's only two, you guys. And I want you to know you are my heart. You are my life. And you have shown me the meaning of real unconditional love. Mumma loves you, Eissa, ra-ra-ra!"

Janet concluded her speech with a message to the Hall of Fame, asking that they become more gender diverse. "And Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, please, 2020: induct more women," she instructed. "Thank you so much for this honor. I love you so much."

Members of the bands Radiohead, Roxy Music, Def Leppard, The Cure, and The Zombies were also inducted. Along with Stevie Nicks, who became the first women to be inducted twice.

Photo: Getty Images


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content