“They Saved Me”: How Tina Turner’s Wisdom Pulled Janet Jackson Out of a Creative Crisis

In 1986, Janet Jackson stood at a crossroads. Two albums into her career, she was struggling to find her voice, her independence, and her identity outside the shadow of her famous family. Behind the glamour of the Jackson name, the young artist faced what she would later describe as a personal and creative breaking point — one that could have ended her career before it truly began.

But according to Janet, three pieces of advice inspired by the example of Tina Turner — her idol, mentor figure, and eventual friend — completely changed her path. “They saved me,” Janet has said of the lessons she drew from Tina’s life. The result was Control (1986), a defining masterpiece that not only rescued her artistry but also redefined the sound and spirit of female empowerment in pop music.

🎤 A Crisis Before Control

By the mid-1980s, Janet Jackson was trying to step out from behind one of the most famous musical legacies in the world. Her first two albums — Janet Jackson (1982) and Dream Street (1984) — had failed to capture public attention. More importantly, they didn’t feel like her.

At the same time, she was locked into her father Joe Jackson’s management structure, which dictated nearly every aspect of her career. Janet later revealed that this period left her feeling creatively stifled and emotionally disconnected. “I didn’t know who I was,” she recalled. “Everything was decided for me.”

It was during this time that Tina Turner’s resurgence — after years of personal and professional struggle — gave Janet both perspective and hope. Tina’s comeback was not just a music story; it was a story of reclaiming identity, power, and artistry on one’s own terms. Janet, who had admired Turner since childhood, saw a blueprint for liberation.

💫 The Three Life Lessons That Changed Everything

Though Janet never confirmed a single meeting in which Tina personally delivered “three tips,” she has spoken repeatedly about the life lessons she learned by watching and studying Turner’s resilience. These lessons became the foundation for her transformation.

1. Own Your Story and Direction — “Take control of your life.”

Tina Turner rebuilt herself from the ground up, separating her artistry from her painful past. She redefined her sound, her image, and her career trajectory entirely on her terms.

Inspired by this, Janet made the boldest move of her career: she fired her father as her manager and took creative command. Partnering with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, she began work on Control, an album born out of her determination to define her own narrative. The title track was a declaration — confident, defiant, and unmistakably hers.

“When I was seventeen, I did what people told me,” she sang. “But that was long ago.”

It wasn’t just a lyric. It was a manifesto.

2. Embrace Your Independence — “Be fiercely you.”

Tina Turner’s example as a self-made woman who achieved global fame in her forties defied every industry expectation. Her independence and self-possession made her a symbol of freedom for women in music.

Janet carried that torch into her own generation. She shed the “pop princess” image of her early career and adopted a harder, more assertive R&B sound. Her choreography, visual style, and lyrics all reflected confidence and control. She wasn’t just performing songs — she was shaping culture.

“This is my voice. My story,” she once said of Control. “I wanted people to hear me for the first time.”

3. Find Strength in Vulnerability — “Your pain can be your power.”

Tina Turner’s music, from “What’s Love Got to Do with It” to “Private Dancer,” was filled with the truth of her lived experience. She turned vulnerability into strength, pain into purpose.

Janet followed suit. Beneath the high-energy beats and empowering hooks, Control carried personal depth. Songs like “Nasty” were inspired by real encounters with harassment and condescension. Rather than retreat, she transformed those moments into art — a creative alchemy that became her signature.

“Writing those songs was my therapy,” Janet reflected. “I wanted women to feel that they had a voice, too.”

🌟 A Legacy of Liberation

The release of Control in February 1986 marked a revolution. It debuted at No. 1, sold over 10 million copies, and established Janet Jackson as one of the most influential artists of her generation. Beyond its commercial success, the album was a declaration of selfhood — a young woman reclaiming her narrative through sound.

Tina Turner’s influence runs through it all: in Janet’s defiance, her confidence, and her fearless reinvention. The elder artist’s example taught her that autonomy and artistry go hand in hand — that true success means owning every part of your journey.

❤️ “They Saved Me”

When asked years later what sparked the creation of Control, Janet’s answer was simple: she learned to listen to herself. But the strength to do that came from watching someone else do it first.

“Tina showed me what freedom looks like,” she said. “Her lessons — they saved me.”

And in doing so, Janet Jackson not only found her own voice — she gave an entire generation permission to find theirs.