Janet Jackson Honoured with Icon Award at Gala of the Stars

Music icon Janet Jackson has no plans to stop dancing — not even as she approaches her 60th birthday. The pop superstar was honoured with the Icon Award at the Gala of the Stars, an annual benefit organised by Dancers Against Cancer, in a glittering ceremony at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. The award was presented by none other than screen legend Liza Minnelli, recognising Jackson's enduring impact on music, dance, and global pop culture.

Janet Jackson Honoured with Icon Award at Gala of the Stars — 'I Have No Plans to Stop Dancing'

Dakar, Senegal — Janet Jackson's legendary career spans five decades, multiple Grammy Awards, and a cultural influence that extends far beyond American shores. In Africa, her music and dance have shaped generations of performers, from Afrobeats stars to contemporary dancers across the continent. When she declared from the gala stage that she has "no plans to stop dancing," it was a message that resonated powerfully with her millions of African fans who have grown up with her groundbreaking choreography and timeless hits.

The Icon Award: A Night of Stars and Celebration

The Gala of the Stars took place on October 21, 2025, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, drawing an audience of dancers, musicians, and industry figures for an evening dedicated to supporting Dancers Against Cancer. Organised as an annual benefit by the charity, the event combined performances, tributes, and awards to raise funds and awareness for dancers facing cancer diagnoses.

Liza Minnelli presented the Icon Award to Janet Jackson, highlighting the younger artist's contributions to dance and performance in a moving onstage moment. Jackson appeared in a striking Tom Ford dress paired with Christian Louboutin boots and Messika jewellery, her presence commanding attention as she accepted the honour.

In her acceptance speech, Janet thanked her family, creative collaborators, and God, underscoring the personal and professional foundations that sustained her through decades of work. The evening also recognised other honorees including Ben Vereen, Debbie Gibson, Derek Hough, JoJo Siwa, Mandy Moore, and Anita Mann.

Mandy Moore received Live Performance Choreographer of the Year for her work on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, adding another layer of celebration for choreography excellence. The Gala of the Stars raised funds for Dancers Against Cancer through ticket sales, auctions, and donations collected throughout the night.

Guests enjoyed a programme that blended live performances with heartfelt tributes, reflecting the charity's mission to support the dance community. The Beverly Hilton ballroom glowed under chandeliers as attendees shared stories of resilience and artistic passion.

Janet's presence at the event reinforced her status as a bridge between generations of performers who value movement as both art and advocacy. The night concluded with renewed commitment to the cause, leaving participants inspired by the collective spirit of the gathering.

No Plans to Stop Dancing: A Career of Defying Expectations

Janet Jackson's iconic acceptance speech moment featured her declaration that in about six months she'd be turning 60 and has no plans to stop dancing. This statement captured the essence of a career built on constant motion and reinvention across six decades.

From dancing with her brothers as a child to becoming a global superstar, Janet has maintained an unbroken connection to performance. Her groundbreaking albums Control (1986), Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989), janet. (1993), and The Velvet Rope (1997) each marked new chapters in artistic expression and commercial achievement.

Her record-breaking 2023-2024 Las Vegas residency showcased the same energy that defined her earlier work, drawing crowds eager to witness her live command of the stage. In 2025 she also received the AMA Icon Award, further affirming her lasting influence.

Janet became the first Black woman to have a Hot 100 hit in five consecutive decades, a milestone that speaks to her consistent relevance in popular music. Her legendary music videos such as Rhythm Nation, That's the Way Love Goes, Together Again, and Scream with Michael Jackson set standards for visual storytelling in the industry.

Each project demonstrated her willingness to explore new sounds and themes while remaining rooted in dance. The 2025 Icon Award at the Gala of the Stars arrived as another chapter in this ongoing story of endurance and creativity.

Her trajectory offers a clear example of how sustained dedication to craft can span generations without losing vitality or purpose.

Rhythm Without Borders: The Africa-Jackson Connection

African dance traditions influenced Janet's iconic choreography through the lineage of Black American dance forms that trace directly to the continent. The running man move popularised by Janet and other 1980s stars traces back to Fela Kuti's performances in Nigeria, illustrating a shared rhythmic heritage.

Janet participated in the viral South African Jerusalema dance challenge by Nomcebo Zikode, demonstrating her ongoing engagement with contemporary African dance trends. Her appreciation for Afrobeats extended to liking and engaging with Wizkid's tracks including Joro and the global hit Essence featuring Tems.

She performed at Essence Festival, an event that celebrates the African diaspora and connects performers across continents. The deep roots connecting African rhythms to the funk, R&B, and industrial sounds she pioneered with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis remain evident in her body of work.

These connections highlight how movement and sound travel across oceans, shaping artists on both sides of the Atlantic. Janet's choreography often incorporated elements that echo traditional African expressions of joy, resistance, and community.

Her openness to new African sounds in recent years has strengthened these ties, creating pathways for younger artists to see their own influences reflected in global pop. The result is a dialogue that continues to enrich both American and African creative landscapes.

Through these exchanges, Janet has helped keep African rhythmic foundations visible in mainstream dance and music worldwide.

Janet's Blueprint: A Model for African Creative Excellence

Janet Jackson's template of elite choreography, conceptual music videos, record-breaking success, theatrical live shows, and themes of empowerment and control paved the way for today's Black female pop stars who have heavily collaborated with African musicians. Beyoncé's Renaissance album drew inspiration from the dance traditions Janet helped define.

Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift featured Wizkid, Burna Boy, and other African artists, extending the same cross-continental spirit Janet embodied. The direct lineage from Janet's Rhythm Nation to the visual ambition of today's Afrobeats video directors shows how her standards continue to guide production values.

Ghanaian artist Amaarae has cited dance-music icons in the Jackson tradition as influences on adding African interpretation to global pop. This lineage demonstrates how one artist's commitment to excellence creates space for others to innovate within their own cultural contexts.

African performers now draw on Janet's example when blending high-concept visuals with powerful movement and personal storytelling. Her approach to control over image and sound resonates with artists seeking autonomy in an industry that often limits creative freedom.

The result is a growing body of work from the continent that matches global production quality while remaining distinctly African in voice and rhythm. Janet's career thus serves as both foundation and invitation for continued evolution.

Young dancers and directors across Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa reference her videos when planning their own projects, ensuring her methods travel forward through new generations.

No Plans to Stop: What Janet's Legacy Means for African Creatives

The lesson for African artists is that creative evolution has no age limit. Janet's career shows that longevity comes from reinvention, from Control to The Velvet Rope to Unbreakable, a pattern mirrored by African artists from across the continent.

Youssou N'Dour, Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Angelique Kidjo have demonstrated similar staying power and genre fluidity that mirror Janet's approach. The growing global recognition of African music and dance, where artists like Tyla, Burna Boy, and Tems are now household names worldwide, builds on foundations that Janet helped lay for Black music globally.

African choreographers and dancers are increasingly visible on the global stage, from music videos to major awards shows, carrying forward the same emphasis on precision and expression Janet championed. Her message of continued movement encourages artists to reject any notion that age or geography should limit ambition.

This perspective aligns with Senegalese traditions of lifelong artistic practice, where elders continue to perform and teach with authority. Janet's example reinforces that reinvention keeps both the artist and the art form alive.

Young creators in Dakar and beyond now see clear pathways to sustained careers that cross borders and decades. The emphasis on dance as central to identity remains a powerful thread connecting her work to African stages.

Her legacy thus functions as both mirror and map for those building the next chapters of continental creativity.

What to Watch For

Janet Jackson's continued presence in music and dance suggests more projects ahead following her statement that she has no plans to stop. The ongoing global rise of African music, with Afrobeats and Amapiano dominating charts worldwide, creates fresh opportunities for collaboration and exchange.

Upcoming African music festivals and events will continue to feature the Jackson influence through choreography, staging, and thematic choices. The growing cultural exchange between African and American artists promises further cross-pollination of styles and ideas.

For African dancers and musicians, Janet's message is clear: the dance never ends, and the continent's creative future has never been brighter. Events like the Gala of the Stars remind us that recognition often arrives as encouragement rather than conclusion.

Senegalese audiences in particular will watch for new work that carries forward the rhythmic conversations Janet has sustained across decades. The same spirit that connects Fela Kuti's stage moves to contemporary Afrobeats videos will keep evolving through fresh voices.

Her example of gratitude to family, collaborators, and higher powers offers a grounded model for navigating success with humility. The path ahead holds space for both established icons and emerging talents to share the floor.

In this shared rhythm, African creatives stand ready to keep the movement alive for generations to come.

By Amara Diop, Staff Writer