Janet Jackson returns to the red carpet in sheer lace at Dancers Against Cancer gala
The singer made one of her rare public appearances at the Gala With the Stars, where she presented an Icon Award to Missy Elliott.
Janet Jackson made one of her infrequent public outings on October 22 at the Gala With the Stars, a benefit for Dancers Against Cancer in Beverly Hills. The 60-year-old singer attended to present Missy Elliott with the organization’s Icon Award, drawing attention not only for the honor but for her striking appearance on the red carpet.
Jackson wore a floor-length gown in black lace with scalloped detailing throughout, featuring a high neckline and long sleeves, according to E! News and OK! Magazine. She styled her honey-blonde hair in voluminous swept-back waves, accessorizing with teardrop earrings and gold nail polish.
A rare public moment
Jackson has kept her public appearances minimal in recent years, particularly to shield her nine-year-old son Eissa Al Mana from the spotlight, though she acknowledged during a 2022 appearance on Today that his peers were beginning to recognize her fame. Her last red-carpet attendance was in June at the 2026 BET Awards, where she wore a street-style look of pinstriped pants and a graphic T-shirt.
The event drew other entertainers including JoJo Siwa, Carmen Electra, Tori Spelling, Hilaria Baldwin, and Paula Abdul. Maks Chmerkovskiy, the Dancing With the Stars alum who hosted the evening, told E! News that being in Jackson’s presence was particularly significant to him. “I’m going to play it cool, but on the inside it will not be cool,” he said. “I’m already sweating just talking about this.”
Recent projects
Jackson’s appearance comes days after she performed at the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix on October 11, marking her first performance in Singapore in over 15 years. The show included hits such as “Rock With U” and “Control.”
Earlier this year, Jackson declined to participate in the 2026 biopic Michael, which chronicled her brother Michael Jackson’s life from 1966 to 1988. Her nephew Jaafar Jackson, who starred in the film, suggested in an August interview with GQ Middle East that Janet may be developing her own project. “I don’t want to speak too early,” Jaafar said. “But Janet has ideas of maybe doing her own film,” implying this was part of her reason for declining the family biopic.
This article was compiled by the Glamorade editorial desk from the official announcements and reporting listed under Sources.
