Janet Jackson is star in her own right, a part of pop royalty whose standing is equal to that of her beloved brother, the King of Pop. Janet Jackson tickets sell equally well as she has been able to endure in a business notorious for grinding out and burning up careers. Her success has spanned decades and multiple multi-platinum albums, not mere years and gold recordings.

Her education in stardom began early in her life. Born May 16, 1966 in Gary, Indiana, Janet is the youngest of the Jackson clan, a family that doubled as a musical enterprise. Janet showed more interest in racing horses than following her brothers into the music industry, but her father pushed her into the family business.

She first appeared on stage as part of this musical family in 1973. Just seven years old, she performed on the Las Vegas Strip with her brothers at the MGM Casino. Three years later she and her brothers were on television performing in The Jacksons, a variety show that ran for 12 episodes on CBS. Janet Jackson then made appearances on the sitcom Good Times as the Penny Wood, the child of an abusive mother who is taken in by Willona.

Janet Jackson had two more reoccurring roles on A New Kind of Family and Diff'rent Strokes. Her television career helped her avoid the music industry, at least until the early 1980s. She signed a contract with A&M Records at the age of 16 and went to work finding a sound that would endear her to audiences. Her self-titled debut fell flat in 1982 despite reaching number six on the U.S. R&B Album chart and her sophomore album, Dream Street, fizzled as well.

Her first two albums were recorded while she remained under her father's oppressive thumb at home in their mansion in Encino, California. Janet Jackson left her childhood home, venturing out on her own and met with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Together the three would re-invent Janet Jackson into a break out hip hop sensation.

The album Control (1986) allowed her to take control of her own life. She composed songs that dealt with real life conflict, like the sexual harassment she endured in Minneapolis. The album went platinum in the U.S. (five times), UK, and Canada. It also topped the Billboard 200, her first of five straight number one albums. She became an icon in the latter half the 1980s and throughout the 1990s. Her mix of ballads, hip hop, and rock appealed to a massive audience.

Her sales figures spoke for her appeal. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) went 6x platinum in the U.S., platinum in Canada, and platinum in the UK. Janet (1993) went 6x platinum in the U.S., 3x platinum in Canada, and 2x platinum in the UK. The Velvet Rope (1997) went 3x platinum in the U.S., 3x platinum in Canada, 2x platinum in Australia, platinum in the UK, and platinum in the European Union.

Janet Jackson continued her success in the 21st century, at least at first. All for You (2001) reached number one and sold platinum throughout the world. Damita Jo (2004) reached number two and went platinum in the U.S. and Canada. 20 Y.0. (2006) reached number two and went platinum in the U.S. Obviously, her album sales had begun to slip, and her album Discipline reach number one, but failed to be certified by the RIAA.

Still, she remained a venerable figure in R&B and hip hop. Her singles "When I think of You," "Miss You Much," "Rhythm Nation," "Escapade," "Black Cat," "Love Will Never Do," "Again," "Together Again," and many more live in radio rotations and iTunes libraries. In fact, Janet Jackson's latest album, 2009's Number Ones/ The Best, is a collection of her number one hits. Her 2011 tour is actually a belated tour to promote this album. Get your Janet Jackson tickets to see this still formidable singer live on the Up Close and Personal tour.