In Control

While she’s busy losing the baby weight and finalising her divorce, JANET JACKSON, 51, is excited to get back on tour.

- Lisa Thabethe

Janet Jackson resurfaced in October last year when she posed for a pregnancy portrait for People magazine. The media-shy personality confirmed that she and her soon-to-be ex-husband Arab billionaire Wissam Al Mana, were looking forward to the birth of their first baby. But this year, just five months after welcoming their son, Eissa, Janet filed for divorce.

The couple separated shortly thereafter, amid reports of Wissam’s controlling behaviour during their five-year marriage. Janet confirmed the split via a video message posted on social media. “I just want to keep it real with you guys for a second. Yes, I separated from my husband. We’re in court and the rest is in God’s hands,” she said, as the pair attended court in London to finalise the separation. A close family friend later revealed: “Janet has adjusted to life in London and co-parenting with her estranged husband.”

These days, the 51-year-old spends her time working on her body, shedding the baby weight as she prepares to get back on tour on 7 September. The songstress confirmed the circulating rumours that she’d be resuming the postponed Unbreakable World Tour this year. But, it’s now been renamed the State of the World Tour.

“I’m so excited,” she said in a video released on Twitter. “The tour is not about politics. It’s about people, the world, relationships and just love… I can’t wait to see you on stage.”

The soft-spoken star is also said to be in talks with streaming website Netflix for a lucrative deal to film a 10-part documentary on her life. According to UK newspaper The Sun, the reality show will give fans a unique look into Janet’s intimate world as she juggles first-time motherhood, resumes her tour and copes with the fallout of her split from Wissam.