Normani is setting her sights on a sizzling collaboration with none other than the Queen of Pop herself — Janet Jackson.
In an interview with Galore published on January 8, the 28-year-old “Lights On” singer shared her aspirations to team up with the iconic Jackson, explaining how their voices could perfectly complement one another. “I’d have to say Janet Jackson. I feel like our tones would complement each other’s very well,” Normani said.
Growing up, Jackson was more than just a musical influence — she was a beacon of inspiration for Normani. “One of the greatest inspirations and representation for me has always been my mom,” Normani shared. “She has always been like ‘Girl, Janet was my Beyoncé, like you don’t even know!'”
Normani fondly recalled witnessing Jackson’s legendary Velvet Rope Tour at a young age, a memory that left a lasting impression on her. “I probably wasn’t supposed to [see it], lol, so Janet’s definitely on my wish list,” she joked, referencing the 1998-1999 tour.
In addition to being a huge inspiration, Janet Jackson has also been incredibly supportive of Normani’s career. “She’s been tremendously encouraging,” Normani said, expressing deep admiration for the artist.
When asked about the possibility of a collaboration, Normani didn’t hold back. “Personally, I would love to do something sexy with Janet,” she said, hinting that their partnership could extend beyond just a song. “Honestly, we could do a whole album! She’s so multifaceted. I can’t even tell you specifically what that one song would be because I feel like between the two of us, we could do so much.”
In previous interviews, Normani has spoken openly about the profound impact Janet Jackson and Beyoncé have had on her as a Black woman in the music industry. “It was so important for me to have a Janet [Jackson] and have a [Beyoncé] with curves to find my place and to also know that, ‘OK, she looks like me. And she’s successful. She’s beautiful and I can do the same thing,'” Normani said in a 2022 interview with Yahoo! Life. “Being a Black woman, just to be seen or noticed, we have to do a lot more and work 10 times as hard.”
Normani’s debut album, Dopamine, released in February 2024, reflects her multifaceted identity, weaving together her experiences as a Black woman and an artist. She explained, “Over the duration of time that it took to put together this body of work, I’m a human being who is multifaceted, Black, and a woman. This project is a combination of all that I am.
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