Janet Jackson made history Sunday night (May 20) at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas as the first black woman to receive the coveted “Billboard Icon Award.”
After a brief career overview and introduction from Bruno Mars, Janet (Ms. Jackson if ya nasty) dominated the BBMAs stage for a dance-heavy medley of her hits, including “Nasty,” “If” and “Throb,” while her mother Katherine and sister Rebbie looked on from the crowd.
Watch Janet’s Billboard Awards performance here:
Following her show-stopping performance, the 52-year-old entertainer (YES, 52!!!) accepted her Icon Award and delivered a moving speech, which saw her co-signing the #MeToo movement.
“For all our challenges, we live at a glorious moment in history,” said Janet. “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.
“My prayer is that weary of such noise, we turn back to the source of all calmness. That source is God. Everything we lack, God has in abundance. Compassion, sensitivity, patience, and a boundless love.”
Past Billboard Icon Award recipients include Neil Diamond (2011), Stevie Wonder (2012), Prince (2013), Jennifer Lopez (2014), Celine Dion (2016) and Cher (2017).
Watch Janet’s full acceptance speech below:
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