Janet credits the birth of her first child as bringing her levels of joy which had evaded her in her adult life. “When I kiss him. When I sing him softly to sleep. During those sacred times, happiness is everywhere,” she explained. Janet’s son Eissa Al Mana born 17 months ago, has given her the capacity and energy to move into the future. Janet and the child’s father separated 3 months after the birth of Eissa, citing religious beliefs and cultural difference the agent of change.
“In my forties: Like millions of women in the world, I still heard voices inside my head berating me, voices questioning my value,” Janet remarks. Even so, many men and women have sought inspiration from her work in the decades since she rose on the scene. She inspired a generation of R&B talent to look beyond the borders of convention, and is still going strong.