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Culture May 16, 2025

Janet Jackson to perform for 1st time in 7 years: Here's what to know

WATCH: Janet Jackson talks women in music today and says how she learned to love herself

Janet Jackson will hit the stage again this month for her first television performance in seven years.

The legendary singer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee will receive the Icon Award at the 51st American Music Awards on May 26, where her career and music will be celebrated.

"It's an honor," Jackson wrote in the caption of an Instagram post earlier this week. "We look forward to being on your stage again. See you in Vegas! 😘."

Read on for everything to know about Jackson's upcoming performance.

Why it's been 9 years since Janet Jackson performed on live TV
PHOTO: Janet Jackson appears in this image.
Solaiman Fazel
Janet Jackson appears in this image.

What is the Icon Award?

The ICON Award is given to "an artist whose music has had undeniable cultural and global influence over the music industry," according to a press release.

Jackson, who has been making music for 50 years, will be celebrated for her impact on the industry. Most recently, her 2001 song "Someone To Call My Lover" returned to the Billboard charts after 24 years, after going viral on social media.

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Throughout her career, Jackson has won five Grammy Awards, 11 Billboard Music Awards and 11 American Music Awards.

What will Jackson perform?

Details of her performance are being kept under wraps, but if it's anything like her last television performance and her current Vegas residency, it will be high energy and nostalgic, especially if all of her hit songs from her past catalog are featured.

When was Jackson's last television performance?

Jackson's last television performance was at the Billboard Music Awards in 2018.

PHOTO: Janet Jackson, recipient of the Billboard Icon Award performs at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards in 2018.
NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Janet Jackson, recipient of the Billboard Icon Award performs at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards in 2018.

The singer, who received Billboard's Icon Award that year, took the stage and performed a medley of her hit songs, including "If," "Nasty" and "Throb."

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Has Janet Jackson performed at the AMAs in the past?

Jackson previously performed at the 37th annual AMAs in November 2009.

According to Billboard, she performed "Control," "What Have You Done for Me Lately" and "Make Me." She paid tribute to her late brother Michael Jackson, who died in June 2009, with a performance of her 1997 song "Together Again."

PHOTO: Janet Jackson performs onstage at the 2009 American Music Awards, Nov. 22, 2009 in Los Angeles.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Janet Jackson performs onstage at the 2009 American Music Awards, Nov. 22, 2009 in Los Angeles.

She also performed at the MTV Video Music Awards two months prior to that year's AMAs, delivering a separate moving tribute to her brother.

Who else has received the Icon Award at the American Music Awards?

Previous recipients of the Icon Award include Rihanna in 2013 and Lionel Richie in 2022.

When are the AMAs?

The 2025 American Music Awards will take place on Monday, May 26, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Who is hosting the AMAs?

Jennifer Lopez will host the awards show from the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

How to watch the AMAs

The AMAs will air live on CBS and stream live on Paramount+.