Janet Jackson Serves Up Oodles of Style During Rare Public Appearance at 2026 BET Awards

Janet Jackson shut down the 2026 BET Awards red carpet in standout style.

Jackson, 60, stepped out at the annual awards ceremony on Sunday, June 28, at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, in a pair of oversized pinstripe pants and a coordinating blouse. She layered the striped top over a “2Pac” graphic T-shirt, in honor of her Poetic Justice costar Tupac Shakur. Jackson accessorized the ensemble with a waist-defining studded belt and an armful of silver bangles.

Jackson topped off her stunning look with a tipped black fedora, which featured a birdcage veil and feathered accents.

Hours before slaying the red carpet, Jackson delivered a dose of “Sunday Inspiration” to her social media followers.

“Don’t be afraid of losing people. Be afraid of losing yourself by trying to please everyone,” an anonymous quote shared to Jackson’s Instagram Stories read.

Janet, the youngest of the famed Jackson family including brother Michael Jackson, won the Icon Award at last year’s BET Awards.

“I’m so honored. I’m so grateful,” she gushed in her acceptance speech at the time. “I mean no disrespect in any way but I don’t consider myself an icon. My family, myself, our dream was to, it wasn’t ever to be famous.”

Janet continued, “We always had a special love for music, dancing and singing. Fame came as a result of hard work and dedication. My story, my family story, is truly an American story. This would have only happened in America. The only thing that I hope for is that I’ve been an inspiration to other and artists to follow their dreams and succeed.”

Aside from her back-to-back BET appearances and other glam nights out, Janet is a proud mom of son Eissa.

“The most important thing I’ve done, the biggest thing I’ve done, is become a mother, and it’s had a beautiful impact on my life,” she told The Guardian in 2024 of motherhood. “I wanted to have three children, but thought, ‘I should stop there, that’s probably all I can handle.’ Because you have to give all of yourself. Obviously, you have to work, but you don’t come first anymore. Your life completely changes. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”