Janet appeared at the New York premiere of Why Did I Get Married last night at the Bryan Park Hotel alongside boyfriend Jermaine Dupri. She later attended the We Own The Night after-party at The Bowery Hotel, sponsored by The Cinema Society of New York.
In a short Q&A session with Newsweek, Janet answers questions on Britney, Paula Abdul and her guilty pleasure. She speaks to Nicki Gostin.
You’re the biggest star in the movie. Did you have the biggest trailer?
No, I think Tyler’s was bigger than mine.Were you second biggest?
Probably.The Us Weekly cover about your weight loss was a huge seller. Why?
Because it’s an issue that everybody has, everybody can relate to.What’s your guilty pleasure?
Probably caramel apples.Don’t you find your teeth sort of stick together?
It’s not hard caramel, it’s soft.What about Ring Dings?
I’ve never heard of Ring Dings.You were on “Diff’rent Strokes.” Was there a curse on those kids?
I wouldn’t say a curse. It’s just being in this business is really difficult, especially when you grow up in it and still have a career at it as an adult. It’s not an easy task, and your parents have to have a really tight hold on the reins from day one. I think that’s where it all begins.What advice do you have for Britney?
A lot of people are passing judgment. No one knows what she’s going through. Maybe that’s where I would begin, by asking what’s troubling her, if anything.You gave Paula Abdul her big break. Don’t you think you should be getting some “American Idol” money?
No, not at all. That’s very funny that you said so.
In a new interview with MSNBC.com, Janet answers questions about rumours of a possible Jackson family tour and co-star Tasha Smith explains how when the cameras weren’t rolling Janet hung out with them. Extracts below.
Janet on a Jackson family tour:
“I don’t know, there’s been talk and I honestly don’t know and I’m one of them! I really would love to see it happen,” she said wistfully. “I’m such a fan of my brothers and to see them all on stage together, I would die for that, die for that.”
Tasha Smith on working with Janet:
“She’s so down to earth and genuine. When we weren’t working she’d kick it with us and we were just girls having fun. And while we were working I forgot it was Janet Jackson. I was like where’s ‘Rhythm Nation?’ Where’s ‘Pleasure Principle?’”
In a new interview on BlackFilm.com, Janet speaks of her latest movie Why Did I Get Married?
In a press conference to promote her new film, Why Did I Get Married?, Janet has confirmed that as of yet long-term collaborators and friends Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are not taking part on her upcoming album. She also confirmed that she will be working with Ne-yo, Jermaine Dupri and Rodney Jerkins.
Janet, are you finished with your next album? What direction are you taking?
Janet Jackson: “No, I’m working on it. It’ll be out probably first quarter of next year. I’m doing something, still being who I am, I’ll never shy from that. I’m working with a few people. I’m working with Ne-Yo, I’m working with Jermaine, working with Rodney Jerkins…”
(Tyler Perry points at himself and everyone laughs)
Lamman Rucker: “They’ll be doing a duet together.”
Janet Jackson: “This is something different for me because normally it’s myself, Jimmy [Jam] and Terry [Lewis] and always writing music and myself writing the melodies. This is a bit of a departure from [that].”
So Jimmy and Terry are not involved?
Janet Jackson: “As of now, no.”
Janet, what gave you the inspiration for your character?
Janet Jackson: “…I haven’t had children, never experienced that before what Patricia and her husband had gone through. But what really was a pull from myself was – the closest I could come to it was my love of animals, my love for animals. I call them my babies. So there was one in particular that I still haven’t gotten over, and I don’t like to talk about it too much cause it brings up that feeling. It was a difficult scene for me to do, but I had a picture of her actually in the living room while I was doing the scene of she and I when I was a little younger, like in my 20’s. She was my life, and she still is my life, so I drew upon that.”
Janet has spoken to several US entertainment shows to promote her new movie, Why Did I Get Married? Check out the links below to watch the clips:
In an interview with Extra TV, Janet speaks about the possibility of her and Jermaine Dupri tying the knot and adds that it’s unlikely that JD would marry without letting the world know.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Janet talks to Kevin Frazier about how she can relate to Jill Scott‘s character in the movie.
In an interview with The Insider‘s Thomas Roberts, Janet talks about why she chose to star in Why Did I Get Married? She adds that she often acts as her friends’ therapist.
Janet is writing a new book about her struggle with gaining and losing weight. Speaking to People Magazine at the Hollywood premiere of Why Did I Get Married?, Janet said: “I’m writing a book on my journey of weight loss and weight gain. [I’m] really coming from the soul with it, and what I was going through at different times in my life and what possibly brought it about for myself.”
The as yet untitled book will also include what she “nutrition-wise” to slim down “when she needed to,” but Janet also warns, “It’s different for everyone.”
Janet praised her good look on the designer of her premiere dress, L’Wren Scott, by saying: “It’s really the dress, I would say. She just knows how to fit the right dress on a woman’s body, really. And she’s very good at what she does.”
An article taken from OK! Magazine:
Though Janet Jackson and her boyfriend, producer Jermaine Dupri, have been together for almost six years, the pair have always skirted rumors that they eventually plan to make their coupling official by saying “I do.” And now the 41-year-old singer is explaining just why.
“I don’t need a piece of paper to validate what we have,” Janet told TV’s Extra at the premiere of her new film, ironically titled Why Did I Get Married?. “But that’s just me.”
However, Janet does admit that she’d be traditional about things if they ever did swap vows, saying that she would definitely take Jermaine’s last name, joking that they’d both then have the same initials: “J.D.”
That being said, Michael‘s little sister, who has walked down the aisle twice before, says she’s not the one to ask for wedding advice from, joking, “You want to ask someone who’s been married twice and divorced twice?”
Last night Janet attended the Los Angeles premiere of Why Did I Get Married?. Accompanied by music producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Janet confirmed in interviews that her new album is scheduled for the beginning of 2008.
Also in attendance were Janet’s brothers Tito Jackson and Jermaine Jackson.
Janet appeared on Oprah in the US yesterday to promote her upcoming movie, Why Did I Get Married? Alongside co-stars Tyler Perry and Jill Scott, Janet spoke of how well she got on with the other cast members. “We got along like we had known each other forever.”
She also reminded people that acting is her first love. “This is what I started doing first, acting, but it’s more of a challenge for me. Music comes much, much easier for me. I really enjoyed this.”
