The news was a scream. It came through the phone line, a single, raw shriek of anguish that hit Janet Jackson like a physical blow. She was driving when her sister called, and through the panic and static, two words cut through: “He’s dead.” In that moment, the world didn’t just stop; it shattered.
Janet nearly crashed her car, her body going weak, her head collapsing onto the steering wheel. She was crying, a deep, helpless weeping, and found herself begging people on the street to drive her, unable to control her own limbs. It was the frantic, devastating onset of a grief she would not fully confront for years.
The untimely passing of Michael Jackson in 2009 sent shockwaves across the globe, leaving an unfillable void in the hearts of millions of fans and, most profoundly, in the hearts of his family. For a long time, Janet Jackson, the youngest of the talented siblings, navigated her grief in private, suppressing her emotions as a means of survival.
Now, she has finally chosen to open up, sharing her raw, deeply personal journey of mourning and remembrance, revealing a story that is as much about the complexities of family as it is about the enduring power of love.
To fully understand the depth of her sorrow, one must first understand the world that shaped them. The Jackson family’s story began in a modest two-bedroom home on Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana. It was a blue-collar upbringing in a bustling, predominantly African-American city that would become the crucible of their future success.
Their mother, Katherine Esther Jackson, was a woman of quiet musical aptitude, an aspiring country and western singer who instead found herself working at Sears to provide for her ten children. A devout Jehovah’s Witness, she instilled her faith and her love of music in her children, laying a spiritual and creative foundation for their lives.
Their father, Joseph Walter “Joe” Jackson, was a man of diverse interests and unwavering ambition. A former boxer and a hardworking crane operator at US Steel, he was also a musician, a guitarist in a local rhythm and blues band called the Falcons.
He was a strict taskmaster, a man whose love for his children was often expressed through a relentless pursuit of excellence. His methods, though controversial, were the driving force behind the Jackson family’s musical journey. He saw a raw, untapped talent in his children and was determined to hone it into a force that would change their lives forever.
Michael was the eighth of the ten Jackson children, a boy raised in a family of eight siblings after the tragic passing of his twin brother Brandon shortly after birth. Surrounded by his sisters Rebby, Latoya, and Janet, and his brothers Jackie, Tito, Germaine, Marlon, and Randy, Michael’s world was a tight-knit, vibrant, and at times, challenging one.
Privacy was a luxury they couldn’t afford, but in its place, a powerful sense of unity and mutual support was forged. They were a family that had to depend on one another, a bond that would remain unbreakable even as their lives became a global spectacle.
Michael’s musical journey began not with a grand plan, but with an act of rebellion. His father, Joe, kept his guitar strictly off-limits, a sacred artifact from his own musical aspirations. One day, Tito, the future lead guitarist of the Jackson 5, broke a string while secretly playing it.
Fearing his father’s anger, Tito was forced to reveal his hidden talent, and upon hearing his son’s skills, Joe was astonished. This moment sparked an idea that would change the world: a family band. In 1963, The Jackson brothers began performing in local talent shows, and Michael’s exceptional, preternatural talent for singing and dancing became undeniable, even among his already musically gifted siblings.
The rigorous training that followed was a defining part of Michael’s life. Joe’s commitment to perfection meant long, grueling practice sessions aimed at flawlessly executed performances. Michael, in his later years, would express a deep sadness about this time, feeling that he had been robbed of his childhood. He spoke openly about his surreal early years, frequenting nightclubs at the tender age of seven or eight, seeing things no child should ever see.
These experiences, a mix of the beautiful and the unsettling, gave him a unique perspective on life and success, while leaving a profound yearning for the simple pleasures of a conventional upbringing. The high-pressure environment fostered a robust sense of dedication and decorum, but it also created an intricate and often bitter dynamic between the children and their father.
The Jackson 5’s star began its meteoric rise in the mid-1960s. After an initial, unsuccessful deal with Steeltown Records, they signed with the iconic Motown Records label in 1968. They quickly became a sensation, making history as the first group to have their first four singles, “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There,” all hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their unique soul sound, synchronized dance moves, and Michael’s extraordinary lead vocals captivated audiences worldwide. By 1974, they had accumulated 17 hits in the top 40 charts, cementing their place in music history.
Michael Jackson’s solo career, which began alongside his work with his brothers, was destined for even greater heights. His 1979 album, Off the Wall, released when he was only 21, was a pivotal moment. It was a brilliant, sophisticated blend of funk, disco, soul, and contemporary R&B that broke him free from his “bubblegum pop” image.
The album was a commercial and critical success, producing four top 10 hits and earning him his first Grammy Award. However, Michael, ever the perfectionist, believed it could have been even bigger. He set out to create an album that would change the world, a feat he achieved with the release of Thriller in 1982, which would go on to become the best-selling album in history.
Michael’s personal life, however, became as complex and public as his career. In 1993, he faced child sexual abuse allegations from 13-year-old Jordan Chandler and his father. Michael denied the claims, stating they were a part of a greedy attempt at extortion. Though an out-of-court settlement was reached and no criminal charges were filed due to insufficient evidence, the toll on Michael was immense.
He developed a dependence on painkillers, which he had initially been using to manage physical discomfort from reconstructive scalp surgeries after a 1984 Pepsi commercial incident. The stress of the allegations led to the cancellation of his Dangerous World Tour. The allegations would resurface in 2005, with Michael being charged with seven counts of child molestation. He was ultimately acquitted of all charges on June 13, 2005, and the FBI later released files from their 2005 and 1993 investigations that found no evidence of criminal conduct on his part.
Amidst these public battles, Michael sought personal connection. He was briefly married to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, in 1994, a union that lasted just over a year. He would later marry Debbie Rowe, a dermatology assistant who gave birth to his two eldest children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (Prince) and Paris Michael Catherine Jackson. Their marriage ended in 2000, with Rowe agreeing to give up custody of their children in a settlement.
After Michael’s tragic death in 2009, Janet entered a period of silent grief. She kept her emotions at a distance, a self-preservation mechanism in the face of such profound loss. But over time, she has begun to process the pain and honor her brother’s memory in a way that is both public and deeply personal. She paid tribute to him with a poignant solo performance of their duet “Scream” at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2018, she released a new rendition of his iconic music video “Remember the Time.” In 2020, on what would have been his 60th birthday, she shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, writing, “I deeply miss you, dear brother.”
Now, Janet is determined to move forward, not by forgetting, but by fully embracing the legacy and memory of her brother. She recalls a poignant night in Paris where she sat alone, immersing herself in his videos and music. “There were instances when tears welled up in my eyes and moments that brought forth laughter,” she confessed. “It was beneficial for me. I required it.” This act of private mourning and remembrance helped her begin the slow process of healing.
Their relationship, like any family, was complex. Janet has spoken of the competitiveness and pain that sometimes existed between them. But through all the triumphs and tragedies, the love between them endured. The journey of grief, she has come to realize, is not about finding closure, but about fully embracing all aspects of the relationship—the good, the bad, and the beautiful. By doing so, Janet is committed to preserving her brother’s extraordinary legacy, one that transcended music and left an indelible mark on the world. His story, and her love for him, continues to inspire, reminding us that even after the darkest of times, the light of memory and connection can still shine through.
