1988
Janet launches her own production company named JDJ Entertainment.
January : Jermaine, Margaret & Jeremy moves into Hayvenhurst (in Janet’s bedroom). Some time later, Latoya leaves Hayvenhurst and goes to New York City with her manager Jack Gordon to work on her new album and upcoming concert in Atlantic City.
January 30 : Katherine, Joe, Janet & Rene attend the American Cinema Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California where Janet is presented with an award.
March 3+4+5+6 : Janet attends Michael’s concerts at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
March 29 : LaToya gives her very first full concert at Donald Trump’s Castle Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City before a sold-out audience. Katherine, Rebbie, Janet & Rene attend the performance and visit her backstage with Donald Trump.
Mid May : Michael moves out of Hayvenhurst to his recently purchased ranch in the Santa Ynez Vallez. He bought the Sycamore Ranch for $17 millions dollars and soon renames it Neverland Valley Ranch. Janet visits him some time later.
August 26+27 : Janet & Katherine attends Michael’s concerts at the Wembley stadium in London.
August 29 : Janet & Katherine attend Michael’s concert at the Roundhay Park in Leeds, England, where 90 000 fans sing Happy Birthday to Michael!
September 7 : Janet wins 2 MTV Video Music Awards but does not attend the ceremony.
December : Janet & Rene go to Minneapolis to work on Janet’s next project at Flyte Time Studios with Terry Lewis & Jimmy Jam.
1989
January 5 : Margaret gives birth to Jourdynn Jackson. A few months later, Jermaine, Margaret & the kids leave Hayvenhurst to move in their own house in Beverly Hills.
January 27 : Janet attends the last final concert of the Bad World Tour at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles with Katherine, Joe & Rebbie.
February-April : Janet & Rene go to Minneapolis to record the “Rhythm Nation 1814” album with Terry Lewis & Jimmy Jam.
April 16 : The single “2300 Jackson Street” is released by Epic. It’s a tribute to Joe & Katherine with all the children (except Marlon & LaToya) & grandchildren singing and appearing in the video shot during a Family Day at Tito’s home.
April 26 : Janet and Rene Elizondo attend the Fourth Annual ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards at Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
May : Janet shoots a short film to promote her next album. It is directed by Dominic Sena and features the songs The Knowledge, Miss You Much & Rhythm Nation. Rene helps in the production and Tina Landon is featured among the dancers. Michael & Katherine visit Janet on the set.
May 16 : Janet celebrates her birthday for the first time of her life on the set of the “Rhythm Nation” short film thanks to Rene & Tina.
August : Randy gets married to Eliza Shaffer but keeps on seeing his longtime girlfriend Alejandra.
August 22 : “Miss You Much” is released as the 1st single from “Rhythm Nation 1814”. It will peak at #1 on the Hot 100 Billboard. The video premieres on MTV 2 days later.
September 5 : After on of her performances concert at Bally’s Reno in Nevada. Jack Gordon takes LaToya to a chapel for a surprise wedding!
September 19 : The album “Rhythm Nation 1814” is released by A&M Records.
The “Rhythm Nation 1814” short film is world premiered on MTV.
Janet gives a press conference to announce the album & the short film.
October 24 : “Rhythm Nation” is released as the 2nd single from “Rhythm Nation 1814” It will peak at #2 on the Hot 100 Billboard.
Janet is on the cover of Jet magazine.
November : Janet, Rene & the Kids (the dancers) go on a promotional tour in Europe.
-London (England) : They perform “Rhythm Nation” and “Miss You Much” on Top Of The Pops (aired on November 9) and Miss You Much & Rhythm Nation on TV PLUS, The Royal Variety Performance (aired on November 20) & Big England Cafe (aired on November 19).
-Paris (France) : They perform “Miss You Much” at Studios des Buttes-Chaumont on Sacrée Soirée TV show on TF1 (aired on November 22).
-Berlin (Germany) : They perform “Miss You Much” on ZDF and “Rhythm Nation” on TV Puls (aired on November 16).
-Madrid (Spain) : They perform “Miss You Much” & “Rhythm Nation” at TVE Studios and “Rhythm Nation” at Rockopop.
-Westfalenhalle, Dortmund (Germany) : They perform “Miss You Much” & “Rhythm Nation” at Peter’s Pop Show (aired on November 17).
-Merksem, Antwerp (Belgium) : They perform “Miss You Much” & “Rhythm Nation” at the Diamond Awards (aired on November 17).
December 1 : Janet & Rene go at Le Dome Restaurant in West Hollywood.
December 3 : Randy’s girlfriend, Alejandra Loaiza gives birth to his daughter, Genevieve Jackson while Randy’s wife Eliza is also pregnant.
1990
Dee Dee finds out Tito is cheating on her. She files for divorce and custody of Taj, Taryll & TJ (3T)
January : While rehearsing for her first tour in a studio of Los Angeles , Janet gets a surprise visit from comedian Arsenio Hall who is recording his TV Show in another studio and she accepts to do the Miss You Much chair routine for his audience!
January 08 : “Escapade” is released as the 3rd single from “Rhythm Nation 1814” along with a video. It peaks at #1 on Hot 100 Billboard.
January 22 : Janet attends the American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles where she performs “Escapade” and wins 2 awards.
February : Janet goes to Pensacola (Florida) for the final rehearsal of her upcoming tour. Rene & Katherine come along.
February 21 : Janet wins her first Grammy Award but does not attend the ceremony because she is rehearsing for her tour in Pensacola.
February 27 : Janet surprises the people of Pensacola with a concert that was announced only one day ahead of time. The $10 tickets, limited to a four per person, didn’t go on sale until the morning of the concert. All 7,600 tickets were sold within three hours. Another 1,000 tickets were given to local charities.
March : Janet is on the cover of Rolling Stone, Ebony , Jet & Essence magazines.
Janet meets President George Bush.
March 1 : Janet kicks off her Rhythm Nation Word tour with a concert at the Miami arena in Miami, Florida.
March 3 : Janet gives a concert at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.
March 4 : “Alright” is released as the 4th single from “Rhythm Nation 1814” along with a short film directed by Julian Temple & featuring Cab Calloway, Heavy D, Cyd Charrys & the Nicolas Brothers. It peaks at #4 on Hot 100 Billboard
Janet gives a concert at the Charlotte Coliseum in Charlotte.
March 6 : Janet gives a concert at the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia.
March 7 : Janet gives a concert at the Thompson–Boling Arena in Knoxville.
March 9 : Janet gives a concert at the Freedom Hall in Louisville.
March 10 : Janet gives a concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati.
March 12 : Janet gives a concert at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield.
March 13 : Janet gives a concert at the Civiv Arena in Pittsburg.
March 14 : Janet wins 3 Soul Train Music Awards but does not attend the ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles because she is on tour in NYC.
March 15 + 16 :Janet gives two concerts at the Madison Square Garden in New York City (the second concert is in benefit for the United Negro College Fund)
March 19 : Janet gives a concert at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Canada.
March 20 : Janet gives a concert at the SkyDome in Toronto, Canada.
March 22 : Janet gives a concert at the Capitol Centre in Landover.
March 23 : Janet gives a concert at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford.
March 26 : Janet gives a concert at the Centrum in Worcester.
March 27 : Janet gives a concert at the Centrum in Worcester.
March 29 : Janet gives a concert at the Capitol Centre in Landover.
March 31 : Janet gives a concert at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton.
April 2/3 : Janet gives a concert at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
April 5/6 : Janet gives a concert at the Met Center in Boomington, near Minnaopolis.
The music video for “Black Cat” directed by Wayne Isham is filmed on April 5, 1990, using live concert footage from the Met Center concert in Bloomington, Minnesota. In addition to the audience for the sold-out show, the filming reportedly drew an additional 3,000 fans.
April 8/9 : Janet gives two concerts at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, near Chicago.
April 11 : Janet gives a concert at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City.
April 13 : Janet gives a concert at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth.
April 15/16 : Janet gives a concert at the Summit in Houston.
April 18 : Janet gives a concert at the ASU Activity Center in Tempe.
April 20 : Janet attends the unveiling of her Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame with Rene, Katherine, Joe & Rebbie among others.
April 20/21 : Janet gives two concerts at the Forum in Inglewood. Many members of the Jackson family attend the shows.
April 23 : Janet gives a concert at the Sports Arena in San Diego.
April 25 : Martha Upshaw, Katherine’s mother dies. The whole family attends her funeral except LaToya who is abroad with Jack Gordon.
April 25/26 : Janet gives two concerts at the Forum in Inglewood. Many members of the Jackson family attend the shows.
April 28/29 + May 1/2 : Janet gives 4 concerts at the Oakland Arena in Oakland.
May 4/5 : Janet gives two concerts at the Arco Arena in Sacramento (last concerts of the first leg of the tour).
Mid May : Janet arrives in Tokyo, Japan with Rene and the Kids.
May 16 : Janet celebrates her 24th birthday at Disneyland Tokyo with Rene, Tina & the Kids.
May 17/18 : Janet gives two concerts at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo.
May 20/21 : Janet gives two concerts at the Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka, Japan.
May 23 : Janet gives a concert at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama.
May 24 : Janet, Rene & the Kids fly back to Los Angeles for a short break before the second US leg.
June 3 : Michael collapses while dancing at the Hideout. He is taken to St John Hospital of Los Angeles where he is treated for chest pains. He gets visits from the whole Jackson family (except LaToya).
June 6/7 : Janet kicks off the US second leg named the Summer Escapade Tour with two concerts at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma.
June 9 : Janet gives a concert at the PNE Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada.
June 11 : Janet gives a concert at the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Canada.
June 12 : Janet gives a concert at the Saddledome in Calgary, Canada.
June 15/16 : Janet gives two concerts at the McNichols Arena in Denver.
June 17 : Eliza gives birth to Steveanna Jackson but she files for divorce from Randy soon after.
June 18 : “Come Back To Me” is released as the 5th single from “Rhythm Nation 1814” along with a video that Janet & Rene shot in Paris. It peaks at #2 on Hot 100 Billboard.
Janet gives a concert at the Salt Palace Arena in Salt Lake City.
June 20/21 : Janet gives two concerts at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View.
June 23/24 : Janet gives two concerts at the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa.
June 26/27/29 : Janet gives three concerts at the Forum in Inglewood.
July 2 : Janet gives a concert at the Reunion Arena in Dallas.
July 3 : Janet gives a concert at the Myriad Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
July 5/6 : Janet gives two concerts at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.
July 8 : Janet gives a concert at the Louisiana Superdoma in New Orleans.
July 10 : Janet gives a concert at the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis.
July 12 : Janet gives a concert at the Miami Arena in Miami.
July 13 : Janet gives a concert at the Orlando Arena in Orlando.
July 14 : Janet gives a concert at the Florida Suncoast Dome in St Petersberg.
July 16/17/19/20 : Janet gives 4 concerts at the Omni in Atlanta.
July 22 : Janet gives a concert at AL Coliseum in Birmingham.
July 24 : Janet gives a concert at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.
July 25 : Janet gives a concert at the OH Riverbend Amphitheater in Cincinnati.
July 27 : Janet gives a concert at the Bradley Center in Milaukee.
July 29/30 + August 1 : Janet gives 3 concerts at the New World Musiv Theatre in Tinley Park, in the surburbs of Chicago.
August 2 : Janet’s concert in Lexington is canceled due to “flu-like symptoms” and bad cold.
August 4 : Janet’s concert in Ames is postponed due to inner-ear infection.
August 5 : Janet’s concert at the St. Louis Arena in St Louis is stopped due to viral infection, Janet passed out after three songs.
August 10/11/13 : Janet gives three concerts at the Capital Centre in Landover.
August 14 : Janet gives a concert at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro.
August 16/17/19 : Janet gives three concerts at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.
August 21 :Janet gives a concert at the Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa, Canada.
August 22/23 : Janet gives two concerts at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills.
August 25 : Janet gives a concert at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany.
August 27 : Janet gives a concert at the Civic Center in Providence.
August 28 : “Black Cat” is released as the 6th single from “Rhythm Nation 1814” along with a live video. It peaks at #1 on Hot 100 Billboard
Janet gives a concert at the Nassau Coliseum on Uniondale.
August 30 : Janet gives a concert at the Brenden Bryne Arena in East Rutherford.
September 2/3 : Janet’s concerts in Toronto and Pittsburg are canceled due to illness.
September 4 : Janet’s gives the last concert of the US leg at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield.
September 6 : Janet attends the MTV Video Music Awards 1990 at the Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA where she is presented the Video Vanguard Award for her contributions and influence within music and popular culture. She also performs “Black Cat”.
October : Katherine Jackson publishes her memoirs titles “My Family : The Jacksons” and gives an interview to Ebony magazine to promote it (Michael, Janet & LaToya appear on the cover of the magazine).
October 2 : “Love Will Never Do” is released as the 7th from “Rhythm Nation 1814” along with a video directed by Herb Ritts. The song becomes Janet’s fifth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and the final of seven top five singles from the album, making her the only artist to achieve seven top five singles from one album.
October 4/5/6 : Janet kicks off the european leg of her Rhythm Nation tour with three concerts at the Ahoy Sportpaleis in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
October 9 : Concert at the Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle in Berlin, Germany.
October 14 : Concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France.
October 16 : Concert at the Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany.
October 18 : Concert at the Festhalle Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany.
October 21/22 : Concert at the Wembley Arana in London, England.
October 24 : Concert at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany.
October 26/27 : Concerts at the NEC Arena in Birmingham, England.
October 28/29 : Concert at the Wembley Arana in London, England.
November 3/4 : Concert at the Osaka Dome in Osaka, Japan.
November 6/7 : Concert at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
November 9/10 : Concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hong Kong, China.
November 14/15 : Concerts at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan.
November 16 : Last concert of the Rhythm Nation World Tour at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.
November 17 : Janet flies back home and wraps her Rhythm Nation World Tour after 113 concerts, and 5 legs on 3 continents. She & Rene go back home for Thanksgiving.
November 26 : Janet attends the Billboard Awards ceremony at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. She wins an unprecedented 9 awards!
December : A&M releases the “Rhythm Nation Compilation” featuring all the videos from the Rhythm Nation album.
Janet poses for Vogue magazine.
December 9 : Janet attends the NAACP Image Awards where she wins an award and presents one to Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
December 12 : After accepting Rene’s wedding proposal, Janet & her attorney ask him to sign a pre-nuptial agreement.
December 20 : Janet attends a Los Angeles screening of Godfather III.
1991
January : Janet is on the cover of Jet Magazine.
January 28 : Janet wins three American Music Awards but she does not attend the ceremony.
February 6 : “State Of The World” is released as the 8th & final single from “Rhythm Nation 1814” (only in Australia, Japan & South Africa).
March 11 : Janet has signed what is believed to be the most lucrative contract in the history of recording. The 24-year-old singer, songwriter and actress signed an exclusive contract with Virgin Records. Although the financial terms were not disclosed, the deal has been widely reported as yielding Ms. Jackson from $40 million and $50 million for three to five albums.
March 16 : Janet is presented with the Humanitarian Of The Year Award by the Starlight Foundation at the 20/20 Club in Beverly Hills, California.
March 31 : Janet & Rene secretly get married and move into a beach house in Malibu .
July 27 : Michael invites the Jackson family to Neverland to celebrate the first ever Joe Jackson Day. Katherine, Joe, Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine & Janet and the grandchildren attend the event.
Later at Hayvenhurst, Joe receives his present from Janet & Michael : A boat!
September : Jermaine, Margaret and their children move back to Hayvenhurst in Janet & Latoya’s rooms.
September 12 : Latoya publishes her autobiography “Growing Up In The Jackson Family” which causes a great controversy. During her promotional tour, LaToya gives many interviews with Jack Gordon by her side (including the Phil Donahue Show) and she claims that Rebbie and her sexually abused by Joe… The Jackson family denies the allegations and claims LaToya was brainwashed by her manager/husband Jack Gordon… Michael & Janet do not react publicly to those allegations.
November : Randy is arrested after Eliza phones the police to report that the beatings have not stopped. Randy is sentenced to one month in jail, two years’ probation, and ordered to enroll in a domestic violence rehabilitation program. Eliza files for divorce and custody of Steveanna.
Previous era : Control years : 1985-1987
Next era : Janet years : 1992-1995
Jackson Dynasty 