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Home · Celebrity

A Very Quick Dive Into Janet Jackson And Missy Elliott's Friendship

The duo's 17-year friendship is full of praise and love, the stuff true friendships are made of.
A Very Quick Dive Into Janet Jackson And Missy Elliott’s Friendship
Tra/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
By Sydney Scott · Updated December 6, 2020
Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott have always had a friendship we admire. Although a love of music brought the two together, the two have now been friends for over a decade due to their kindred spirits. The two often share photos together — earlier this month, Elliott shared a pic of herself and Jackson looking flawless, and in August, Elliott was in attendance as Jackson accepted her BMI Icon Award — they often have nicknames for each other. At at ESSENCE’s 9th annual Black Women in Music event earlier this year, Elliott revealed Jackson’s pet name for her: “Jack.”

With my sis @JanetJackson ayyyye🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/YmeBQUWdIY

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) September 7, 2018

.@Normani last night at @JanetJackson beautiful #BMIIcon tribute👑 Normani you are a genuine spirit🙌🏾 & a INCREDIBLE talent! May God continue to Bless & cover you sis🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/MHaFLJkeqz

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 31, 2018
During the event, Elliott also shared just how good of a friend Jackson is to her. “The times that I may have felt like giving up, she’s always gave me an encouraging word and I’ve watched her as a strong, black, powerful woman who’s had to overcome many obstacles,” the rapper said. So, just how far back do these two go? Let’s take a quick look inside Elliott and Jackson’s incredible friendship. For the love of music
Jackson and Elliott’s friendship began when the pair teamed up for Jackson’s “Son of a Gun,” a single from the singer’s seventh album, All For You. The track also featured Carly Simon. Elliott and Jackson would later team up again for “Burn It Up!,” a song from Jackson’s 2015 album Unbreakable. Elliott is Jackson’s ‘biggest fan’ Following the release of “Burn It Up!,” the two released statements praising each other. Jackson called Elliott “a dear friend,” while the “Work It” rapper said of Jackson, “We are great friends and have been for so long, I am still her biggest fan. Sometimes, I still have to pinch myself when I call her and she picks up the phone or texts me because she is still Janet Jackson!”
Never-ending praise throughout the years. Since working together and becoming close friends the two have had nothing but kind words for each other, especially over the last year as Jackson has returned to the spotlight. Earlier this year at ESSENCE’s Black Women in Music event, Jackson paid tribute to Elliott with a heartfelt speech. “Creativity is a beautiful thing,” she said. “And when creativity flows so freely from a musical genius, all we can do is express gratitude. I am so grateful for Missy’s beautiful soul.”
View this post on Instagram

#IMGRATEFUL @janetjackson that u would fly over from the UK while on tour to present me with the #BlackWomenInMusic @essence Award last night of course I’M A BIG BABY & i COULD’NT STOP CRYING TEARS of HAPPINESS😫🙏🏾 our SISTERSHIP has lasted over 17 years!🙌🏾Your the definition of REALNESS/HUMILITY/CARING/INSPIRING/UPLIFTING/FIERCE/BOLD/RISKTAKING/BLACK STRONG& BEAUTIFUL oh & RICH💰Girl u know I had to throw a joke in it🤷🏽‍♀️🤣but I LOVE you sis for always being there for me from Day 1🤗😘thank u @essence for the love u showed me I am Humbly Grateful🙏🏾

A post shared by Missy Elliott (@missymisdemeanorelliott) on Jan 26, 2018 at 5:37am PST

Elliott later took to social media to admit that she “couldn’t stop crying tears of happiness” after Jackson’s tribute. The friendship between these two music icons is proof that even in an industry where competition often reigns supreme, you can just as often find sisterhood.
TOPICS:  Janet Jackson missy elliott
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