At 59, Janet Jackson Finally Tells the Truth About Esther Rolle | HO!!!!

LOS ANGELES, CA — For nearly half a century, Janet Jackson has been a fixture in the global entertainment landscape: a pop icon, a trailblazer, and a survivor. Yet, even as she celebrates her 59th birthday, there are still stories she has kept close to her heart—stories about the people who shaped her, challenged her, and quietly molded her into the woman she is today.

Now, for the first time, Janet Jackson is breaking her silence about one of the most influential and misunderstood figures from her early life: the late, great Esther Rolle.

Esther Rolle, best known as the Emmy-winning matriarch Florida Evans on the classic sitcom Good Times, was not just a co-star to a young Janet Jackson. She was a force of nature, a mentor, and, at times, a source of fear and confusion. The dynamic between these two remarkable women has long been the subject of speculation, rumor, and myth. But as Janet enters her seventh decade, she is finally ready to set the record straight.

The Making of Janet Jackson

Born Janet Damita Jo Jackson on May 16, 1966, in Gary, Indiana, Janet was the youngest of ten children in the legendary Jackson family. Her childhood was marked by both privilege and pressure. The world saw the Jacksons as musical royalty, but inside the family compound, discipline and high expectations were the norm.

Janet’s first love was acting, not music. She made her television debut in 1977 on The Jacksons variety show, but it was her role as Penny Gordon Woods on Good Times that changed the trajectory of her young life. Cast as a sweet but traumatized foster child, Janet’s performance was both heartbreaking and mature beyond her years.

Yet, behind the scenes, the experience was anything but easy.

Meeting Esther Rolle

Esther Rolle, already a respected actress and activist, was fiercely protective of Good Times and its depiction of Black family life. She fought network executives for honest, dignified storytelling and demanded the same from her castmates, no matter their age.

To 11-year-old Janet, Rolle was intimidating. “I was scared of her at first,” Janet admits now, her voice tinged with both nostalgia and amusement. “She didn’t play. When the cameras stopped rolling, she was still very much Florida Evans—stern, wise, no-nonsense.”

But as Janet reveals in a series of recent interviews, what she initially perceived as harshness was actually a form of tough love and mentorship. Rolle, she says, “wanted me to understand what my character was going through and why it mattered. She would pull me aside and talk to me about poverty, resilience, and what it meant to be a little Black girl growing up in a world that didn’t always see your worth.”

The Rumors and the Silence

For decades, rumors swirled around the relationship between Jackson and Rolle. Some said Rolle resented the Jackson family’s fame. Others whispered that Janet was too pampered to appreciate Rolle’s discipline. The truth, as Janet now explains, is more complicated.

“Esther Rolle was one of the first women I saw who refused to be silenced, even when it made people uncomfortable,” Janet reflects. “She spoke her truth and protected her truth. In this business, that’s not easy, especially back then.”

Janet acknowledges that as a child and teenager, she sometimes misunderstood Rolle’s silences and stern demeanor. “I didn’t always know how to read her,” Janet confesses. “But now I understand she was guiding me in the only way she knew how—with strength, with discipline, and with deep, unspoken care.”

Lessons in Integrity

Rolle’s influence extended far beyond the set. She was a living example of how to use one’s platform responsibly, how to demand dignity in an industry that often denied it to Black actors, and how to stand firm in one’s values. Janet credits Rolle with teaching her the importance of authenticity and integrity—lessons that would serve her well as she navigated the treacherous waters of fame, heartbreak, and reinvention.

“She didn’t just teach me how to act,” Janet says, her eyes welling with tears. “She taught me how to stand in my truth, even when my voice shakes.”

Janet’s Path to Independence

After Good Times, Janet’s career took off in ways few could have predicted. Her 1986 album Control, produced with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, was a declaration of independence—both musically and personally. It was the sound of a young woman breaking free from the expectations of her famous family and the industry at large.

With hits like “Nasty” and “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” Janet became a symbol of empowerment for a new generation. Her follow-up, Rhythm Nation 1814, tackled social issues head-on, earning her praise as both an artist and an activist.

Janet’s willingness to use her voice—something she says was inspired in part by Rolle—set her apart. “Esther taught me that it’s not enough to entertain,” Janet says. “You have to educate, to empower, to challenge.”

Trials, Triumphs, and Transformation

Janet’s journey was not without pain. Her early marriage to James DeBarge ended in annulment and heartbreak. Her secret marriage to René Elizondo Jr. brought both creative partnership and eventual legal battles. Later, her union with Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana ended in separation, just months after the birth of their son.

Through it all, Janet remained resilient. Her 2015 album Unbreakable was a testament to her strength, while her Las Vegas residency, Metamorphosis, celebrated her evolution as an artist, mother, and survivor.

Janet’s impact on music, fashion, and culture is undeniable. She pioneered the modern pop concert and inspired generations of performers, from Beyoncé to Rihanna. But as she reflects on her legacy, it is the quieter lessons—the ones learned from women like Esther Rolle—that resonate most deeply.

A Long-Overdue Tribute

Why did Janet wait so long to speak openly about Rolle? “Sometimes you need distance to see things clearly,” she says. “When you’re young, you don’t always understand the gifts you’re being given.”

Now, as she mentors younger artists, Janet often thinks of Rolle. “If I can give even half the support that Miss Rolle gave me, then I know I’m doing something right.”

Janet’s public acknowledgment of Rolle is more than just a personal tribute; it is a call to recognize the unsung heroes who paved the way for today’s stars. “She was bold, she was brilliant, and I’m grateful she was part of my story,” Janet says, her voice heavy with emotion.

The Legacy of Two Icons

Esther Rolle passed away in 1998, but her legacy endures—not just in reruns of Good Times, but in the lives of those she mentored and inspired. Janet Jackson’s heartfelt tribute offers a rare glimpse into the unseen relationships that shape even the brightest stars.

In telling the truth about Esther Rolle at 59, Janet Jackson is not just honoring the past. She is acknowledging the women who silently shaped her path and paved the way for generations to come. It is a story of gratitude, legacy, and healing—a final thank you from one Black woman icon to another.

As Janet prepares for the next chapter of her extraordinary life, she does so with a sense of reconciliation and peace. “It’s never too late to say thank you,” she says. “And it’s never too late to tell the truth.”