She’s back! Janet Jackson proved herself as a true icon with her killer performance at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Bruno Mars stepped out iin a surprise appearance to introduce the icon before she took the stage, for the first time in nine years, to preform a medley of her mega-hits, “Nasty,” “If” and “Throb”.
Mars, a longtime fan of Jackson’s had nothing but the sweetest words for the “Rhythm Nation” singer – adding that Jackson is “the first black woman to ever receive the Billboard Icon Award.”
Jackson hit the stage in a sparkly gold dress and matching thigh high sneakers beginning with her 1986 hit “Nasty”. Next she knocked her 1993 song “Throb” out of the park, then concluded with “If”.
After nailing the performance, Jackson shared a few heartfelt words in her acceptance speech.
“I’m deeply humbled and grateful for this award,” she said. “I believe that for all the challenges, for all our challenges, we live at a glorious moment in history. 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 who support us in heart and mind.”
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Previous ICON Award recipients include Cher, Celine Dion, and Prince.
