/janet-jackson1-2000-91c300a66c8241e8a9c5b84c140d509c.jpg)
When Janet Jackson announced her pregnancy at 50, the internet basically had a collective meltdown. People were skeptical. They were worried. Some were just plain nosy. Fast forward to January 2026, and the "Rhythm Nation" icon just celebrated her son Eissa’s 9th birthday.
It wasn't a star-studded, paparazzi-fueled gala at a Hollywood club. Honestly, it was the opposite. She posted a photo of a PlayStation 5 controller cake. Specifically, an Astro Bot cake. It’s the kind of thing any "normal" mom would do for a kid who loves gaming. But when it’s Janet Jackson with son Eissa, nothing feels entirely ordinary, even if she’s trying her hardest to make it so.
The London life nobody sees
Janet doesn't live in a Los Angeles mansion surrounded by cameras anymore. She moved to London years ago to raise Eissa. It was a choice rooted in privacy and, frankly, a desire to get away from the frantic energy of the American industry that raised her.
She co-parents with her ex-husband, Wissam Al Mana. While the tabloids loved to dissect their split shortly after Eissa was born in 2017, the reality on the ground is much quieter. They’ve managed to keep the boy almost entirely out of the spotlight. No "nepo baby" modeling contracts. No red carpets. Just a kid growing up in England.
The "No Nanny" rule is real
One of the biggest misconceptions is that Janet has a fleet of staff doing the heavy lifting. She’s been very vocal about the fact that she doesn't have a full-time nanny. "I do it all myself," she told Stellar magazine.
She thinks about her mother, Katherine, who raised nine kids without the modern luxuries Janet has. If her mom could do it, Janet figures she can handle one. Of course, when she’s on stage for something like her "Together Again" tour, someone is watching him. But the day-to-day? That’s all her. Changing diapers (back in the day), making breakfast, the whole deal.
Is Eissa the next Michael?
It’s the question everyone asks. The genes are there. The history is there. And according to Janet, the talent is definitely there too.
Eissa started playing the violin at age two. By three, he was asking for a cello. When they didn't have one, Janet’s assistant actually taped a straw to his violin to satisfy him until they could get the real thing. He’s obsessed with classical music, which is a bit of a curveball considering his family’s pop and R&B roots.
But don't think he’s ignored the family business.
- He plays the drums (a gift from Questlove).
- He plays piano and guitar.
- He’s been known to mimic his Uncle Michael’s moves.
Janet has mentioned that he does the "head nod" and the "march" from They Don't Care About Us. He even watches videos of Janet and Michael dancing together in the Scream video. It’s kind of sweet, but also a little heavy when you think about the legacy he's carrying. Janet is adamant, though: she wants him to be a child first. She worked from age seven. She doesn't want that for him.
Why she stopped at one
In a really candid 2024 interview with The Guardian, Janet admitted she originally wanted three children. She eventually decided to stop after Eissa.
"I should stop there, that's probably all I can handle," she said.
Motherhood is exhausting. Doing it at 50+ is a different kind of challenge. She’s been open about how she has to give "all of herself" to him. For someone who spent decades being "Janet Jackson™," giving that energy to a nine-year-old boy has been a massive shift in identity. She calls him her "beautiful heart and soul."
A different kind of childhood
Think about Janet’s childhood. It was studios, The Carol Burnett Show, and rehearsals. Eissa’s childhood is museums, parks, and Minecraft.
During the summer of 2025, they were spotted in Reading, England. Janet was there to support her brothers, Jackie and Marlon, who were performing as The Jacksons. Eissa was there too, watching from the wings. It’s a rare glimpse into how she integrates her "work" with his life. He sees the legend, but he also sees the mom who gets excited about his Lego sets.
✨ Don't miss: Is Nina Lin a Girl? What Most People Get Wrong
What we can learn from Janet’s parenting
There’s a lot of pressure on older moms. There’s also a lot of pressure on celebrities to "share" their kids for engagement. Janet has rejected both.
She shows us that you can be a global icon and still maintain a private sanctuary. Her relationship with Eissa isn't for our consumption. It's for them. She’s teaching him about his heritage—she even keeps her Grammys in a warehouse for him to deal with when he's older—but she isn't forcing him into the frame.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're following the journey of Janet Jackson with son Eissa, the best thing you can do is respect the boundary she's built. You can catch her rare updates on her official Instagram (@JanetJackson), which usually only happen around his birthday in January. If you're looking for her musical legacy, her "Together Again" tour performances often feature subtle nods to her life as a mother, but don't expect Eissa to be part of the show. He's busy being a kid, just the way she wanted.