Editing Janet Jackson (section)

=== 1997–1999: ''The Velvet Rope'' ===
[[File:Janet Jackson, 1998.jpg|thumb|Jackson in 1998|252x252px]]
Jackson began suffering from severe [[Major depressive disorder|depression]] and [[Anxiety disorder|anxiety]], leading her to chronicle the experience in her sixth album, ''[[The Velvet Rope]],'' released October 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1430426/janet-discusses-depression-with-newsweek/|title=Janet Discusses Depression With 'Newsweek'|publisher=[[MTV]]|date=November 11, 1997|access-date=April 20, 2014|archive-date=July 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725195139/http://www.mtv.com/news/1430426/janet-discusses-depression-with-newsweek/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jackson returned with a dramatic change in image, boasting vibrant red hair, nasal piercings, and tattoos.<ref name="newlook">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WzsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PAPA61|title=Cover Story: Janet Jackson Returns With Hit Album, New Look|work=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|access-date=April 20, 2014|pages=60–63|volume=92|number=26|issn=0021-5996|date=November 1997|archive-date=March 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305125458/https://books.google.com/books?id=WzsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PAPA61#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> The album is primarily centered on the idea that everyone has an intrinsic need to belong. Aside from encompassing lyrics relating to social issues such as [[same-sex relationships]], [[homophobia]] and [[domestic violence]], it also contains themes of [[sadomasochism]] and is considered far more sexually explicit in nature than her previous release, ''Janet''.<ref name="Saunders" /><ref name="newlook" />

The record was hailed as "her most daring, elaborate and accomplished album" by ''[[The New York Times]]'', while ''Billboard'' called it "the best American album of the year and the most empowering of her last five."<ref>{{cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|title=Critic's Choice/Pop CD's; Love Can Get Complicated (Ouch!)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/07/arts/critic-s-choice-pop-cd-s-love-can-get-complicated-ouch.html|access-date=January 16, 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 7, 1997|archive-date=December 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219190554/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/07/arts/critic-s-choice-pop-cd-s-love-can-get-complicated-ouch.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Flick|first=Larry|title=The Year in Music|newspaper=Billboard|volume=109|issue=52|page=16|date=December 3, 1998|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> The album debuted at number one on the ''Billboard''&nbsp;200 and was certified triple Platinum by the RIAA.<ref name="cert" /> It has sold over eight million copies worldwide.<ref name="wwsales">{{cite web|url=https://www.bet.com/article/3qkq82/janet-jackson-the-velvet-rope-25th-anniversary-tribute|title='The Velvet Rope' Turns 25: Janet Jackson's Most Personal Album Reshaped R&B Forever|first=Jaelani|last=Turner-Williams|date=October 3, 2022|publisher=[[BET]]|access-date=June 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004004722/https://www.bet.com/article/3qkq82/janet-jackson-the-velvet-rope-25th-anniversary-tribute|archive-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref>

The lead single "[[Got 'til It's Gone]]" was released in August 1997, featuring guest vocals from folk singer [[Joni Mitchell]] and rapper [[Q-Tip (musician)|Q-Tip]]. The song's music video, depicting a pre-[[Apartheid]] celebration, won the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/gallery/mark-romanek-inside-stories-8-classic-videos/janet-jackson-got-til-its-gone-1997|title=Mark Romanek: Inside Stories on 8 Classic Videos — Janet Jackson, 'Got 'Til It's Gone' (1997)|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 7, 2013|access-date=May 13, 2016|archive-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927111844/http://ew.com/gallery/mark-romanek-inside-stories-8-classic-videos/janet-jackson-got-til-its-gone-1997/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Grammy Awards" /> "[[Together Again (Janet Jackson song)|Together Again]]" became Jackson's eighth number-one hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot&nbsp;100, placing her on par with [[Elton John]], Diana Ross, and [[the Rolling Stones]].<ref name="US-singles" /><ref name="Jacksons Number Ones" />{{rp|28, 120}} It spent a record forty-six weeks on the Hot&nbsp;100 and nineteen weeks on the United Kingdom's singles chart.<ref name="Jacksons Number Ones" /> It sold six million copies worldwide, becoming one of the [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles]] of all time.<ref>{{cite book |chapter= FYI > Together Again |title= UNAIDS Outlook Report |publisher= Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS |date= July 2010 |page= 30 |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=E1jwF1bK1tQC&pg=PA30 |isbn= 9789291738595 |access-date= August 19, 2019 |archive-date= March 1, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230301095645/https://books.google.com/books?id=E1jwF1bK1tQC&pg=PA30 |url-status= live }}</ref> "[[I Get Lonely]]" peaked at number three on the Hot&nbsp;100,<ref name="US-singles" /> and received a Grammy nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]].<ref name="Grammy Awards" /> It was Jackson's eighteenth consecutive top ten hit, making her the only female artist to garner that achievement; and surpassed only by [[Elvis Presley]] and [[the Beatles]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Causing a Commotion|url=http://rockhall.com/education/resources/commotion/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613020642/http://rockhall.com/education/resources/commotion/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2011|publisher=[[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]|access-date=January 13, 2012}}</ref>

Several other singles were released, including "[[Go Deep]]" and the ballad "[[Every Time (Janet Jackson song)|Every Time]]", which was controversial for the nudity displayed in its music video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/naked-music-videos-pg-2|title=Naked Music Videos (Pg. 2)|work=Vibe|date=March 25, 2010|access-date=February 19, 2014|archive-date=March 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305010239/http://www.vibe.com/article/naked-music-videos-pg-2|url-status=live}}</ref> The album fully established Jackson as a [[Janet Jackson as a gay icon|gay icon]] for its themes regarding homosexuality and protesting homophobia. "Together Again", a "post-Aids pop song", and "Free Xone", considered "a paean to homosexuality" and an "anti-homophobia track", were praised for their lyrical context, in addition to Jackson's lesbian reinterpretation of [[Rod Stewart]]'s "[[Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)|Tonight's the Night]]".<ref name="McCormick">{{Cite news|last=McCormick |first=Neil | title=The Arts: Give her enough rope&nbsp;... Reviews Rock CDs | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | page=11| date=October 18, 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/janetjackson/albums/album/116269/review/5942564/the_velvet_rope |title=Janet Jackson: The Velvet Rope: Music Reviews : Rolling Stone |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=September 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503081338/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/janetjackson/albums/album/116269/review/5942564/the_velvet_rope |archive-date=May 3, 2008|date=December 18, 1997|issue=776/777}}</ref>

''The Velvet Rope'' received an award for "Outstanding Music Album" at the 9th Annual [[GLAAD Media Awards]] and was honored by the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum.<ref name=gladd>{{Cite web|url=http://www.glaad.org/media/release_detail.php?id=4308 |title=Janet Jackson to be Honored at 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles |access-date=June 10, 2008 |last=McCarthy |first=Marc |publisher=[[GLAAD]] |date=April 1, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080608152724/http://www.glaad.org/media/release_detail.php?id=4308 |archive-date = June 8, 2008|url-status=dead|type=Press release}}</ref> A portion of the proceeds from "Together Again" were donated to the [[AmfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research|American Foundation for AIDS Research]].<ref name="Jacksons Number Ones" />

Jackson embarked on [[The Velvet Rope Tour]], traveling to Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. The tour received praise for its theatrics, choreography, and Jackson's vocal performance.<ref name="broadway" /> It was likened to "the ambition and glamour of a Broadway musical", and exclaimed as "only fitting that the concert program credits her as the show's 'creator and director{{' "}}.<ref name="broadway">{{Cite news |last=Hilburn |first=Robert | title=Janet Jackson Learns The Ropes\ Singer Learns To Like Herself On The Way To Creating The Lavishly Staged Velvet Rope Tour | newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette| page=G3| date=September 20, 1998|issn=1068-624X}}</ref>

The tour's [[HBO]] special, ''The Velvet Rope: Live in Madison Square Garden'', garnered more than fifteen million viewers. It surpassed the ratings of all four major networks among viewers subscribed to the channel.<ref>{{Cite news|title=HBO's Exclusive Live Concert Event Janet: The Velvet Rope |date=October 14, 1998 |url=http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,666900,00.html |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011205/http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,666900,00.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |type=Press release}}</ref> The concert won an [[Emmy Award]] from four nominations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fz0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PAPA57|title=Don Cheadle, Janet Jackson, Chris Rock, Cicely Tyson Among Primetime Emmy Nominees|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|work=Jet|access-date=June 29, 2010|volume=96|number=11|date=August 16, 1999|pages=57–58|archive-date=March 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305125449/https://books.google.com/books?id=Fz0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PAPA57#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Jackson donated a portion of the tour's sales to [[America's Promise]], an organization founded by [[Colin Powell]] to assist disenfranchised youth.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kim McAvoy|title=HBO makes the most of music|newspaper=Broadcasting & Cable|volume=128|issue=36|page=30}}</ref>

As the tour concluded, Jackson lent guest vocals to several collaborations, including [[Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy's]] "[[Luv Me, Luv Me]]",<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/shaggy/chart-history/hot-100 | title=Shaggy – Chart History: Hot 100 | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date=October 29, 2012 | archive-date=November 21, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121090949/https://www.billboard.com/artist/shaggy/chart-history/hot-100/ | url-status=live }}</ref> used for the film ''[[How Stella Got Her Groove Back (soundtrack)|How Stella Got Her Groove Back]]'', as well as "[[Girlfriend/Boyfriend]]" with [[Teddy Riley]]'s group [[Blackstreet]],<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/blackstreet/chart-history/hot-100 | title=Blackstreet – Chart History: Hot 100 | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date=October 29, 2012 | archive-date=November 21, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121091748/https://www.billboard.com/artist/blackstreet/chart-history/hot-100/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and "[[What's It Gonna Be?!]]" with [[Busta Rhymes]].<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/busta-rhymes/chart-history/hot-100 | title=Busta Rhymes – Chart History: Hot 100 | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date=October 29, 2012 | archive-date=November 21, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121091049/https://www.billboard.com/artist/busta-rhymes/chart-history/hot-100/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The latter two music videos are both among the [[List of most expensive music videos|most expensive music videos]] ever produced, with "What's It Gonna Be?!" becoming a number-one hit on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hip-Hop Singles]] and [[Hot Rap Songs|Hot Rap Tracks]] charts, reaching the top three of the Hot 100.<ref name="Billboard" />

Jackson also contributed the ballad "God's Stepchild" to the ''[[Down in the Delta]]'' soundtrack. Jackson recorded a duet with Elton John titled "I Know the Truth", included on the soundtrack to ''[[Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida]]''. At the 1999 [[World Music Awards]], Jackson received the Legend Award for "outstanding contribution to the pop industry".<ref name="World Music Awards">{{Cite magazine |title=Global Pulse: Smith, Hill Top World Awards |magazine=Billboard |date=May 6, 1999 |url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=947178 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129195419/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=947178 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 29, 2010 |access-date=September 16, 2008}}</ref> ''Billboard'' ranked Jackson as the second most successful artist of the decade, behind [[Mariah Carey]].<ref>{{Cite news| last1 = Mayfield | first1 = Geoff | title = Totally '90s: Diary of a decade | volume = 111 | issue = 112 | newspaper=Billboard | date = December 25, 1999 | issn = 0006-2510}}</ref>