Janet Jackson Performs Medley At Billboard Music Awards, Makes History Receiving Icon Award

Janet Jackson performs onstage during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo courtesy of Kevin Winter for Getty Images

Last night during the Billboard Music Awards, one of the most anticipated performances of the night was the performance from the iconic Janet Jackson and with good reason too.  As coming off her recent Billboard cover story and a great introduction from Bruno Mars, Janet showed why even at 52-years-old she’s very deserving of the long overdue recognition of the Billboard Icon Award.

Donned and glowing in all gold and after a career retrospective following Bruno’s great introduction, the iconically legendary entertainer gave a show-stopping performance at the storied and historic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday night.  Performing a dance-heavy medley of some of her greatest hits with, Nasty, If and Throb in front of a lit-up platform in the middle of the arena, Janet had fellow entertainers young and old ranging from Ciara to Tyra Banks, Normani of Fifth Harmony, Ne-Yo, Jennifer Lopez, Bruno and more singing and dancing along in the crowd.  Showing why her receiving the Icon Award was long overdue.

After her very show-stopping performance Janet than received the Icon Award from Bruno Mars.  Becoming the first black woman to receive the award, she gave a very powerful and moving speech.  If you missed when it aired on NBC, you can watch the full performance and historical, as well as powerfully moving acceptance speech below.

Now that she’s received the Billboard Icon Award and the BET Awards Icon Award nearly three years ago, one of the few still long overdue honors left for Janet is to finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.