She was nine years old and bored on a rainy afternoon in 1975. Her older brothers, who were already international stars, had just returned from a grueling 10-month world tour. While they rested, there was no one to entertain her.

Then Janet Jackson he sneaked into the recording studio at the family home in Encino, California and began playing a tune, which he titled “Fantasy.”

“I did the vocals, sang and played everything on it,” the singer told the BBC.

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He left the tape and went to sleep, not thinking much of it. But when he got home from school the next day, the song was playing in the street.

“I felt so embarrassed. The studio door was open and Mike was listening to the song.” she explained, referring to her brother Michael Jackson.

“Then my father said: ‘You will sing.’ I said, “No, no, no, I want to go to college and study business law.” But when Joe Jackson told his kids what to do, they complied.” said the singer.

Some 50 years later, Janet Jackson is one of the most successful singers of all time. She has sold over 100 million records and became the first woman to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Production category.

Her daughter Aisha is now seven years old. At the same age, Janet Jackson made her television debut when she appeared with her brother, Randy, on the Carol Burnett Show.

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“I don’t remember being asked” she says in an interview with the BBC ahead of her UK tour in September. “I just remember doing it” he noted, adding that he soon began landing roles on the TV series Good Times and Diff’rent Strokes.

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In her teens, she released her first two albums, which failed to gain traction. She later ditched her father’s producers and hired Minneapolis funk masters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for her next album, Control, six of which became hits.