Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an
American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 30 years. The youngest child of the
Jackson family, she began her career with the
variety television series
The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including
Good Times and
Fame.