In a recent interview, Janet Jackson reflected on her tumultuous and brief marriage to soul singer James DeBarge…
During her teenage years, Janet released her first two albums, “Janet Jackson” and “Dream Street,” which unfortunately did not perform well in terms of sales. However, what caught many by surprise was a duet she did with Cliff Richard.
At the age of 18, Janet shocked the world by eloping with the doe-eyed James DeBarge. Their union was short-lived, lasting only eight months before being annulled. The marriage posed a threat to Janet’s reputation as DeBarge struggled with drug addiction, often disappearing for long stretches of time – even on their wedding night. Janet found herself frantically searching the streets for him, causing disruptions to her work on the TV show Fame.
Recalling those challenging times, she shared, “I would be late for work and delay shooting, not out of irresponsibility but because I felt that James needed me more than the show. The producers were not particularly pleased with me, and I eventually requested to be released from the show.”
Choosing to prioritize her personal life and her troubled marriage, Janet decided to give music “one more chance,” setting the stage for her journey to redemption and resilience.
Written by
Derek Chan
