Janet Jackson Gets Personal with Gotham Magazine

Janet Jackson, one of the most prolific and successful singers of our time, while also among the most private of stars, is gearing up for a comeback in 2010. Many things have changed since fans last heard of her in the media, things she has kept well under wraps so far. The latest issue of Gotham magazine brings an interview with Janet that lifts the veil off those things – and shows off an optimistic Janet, ready to conquer the world.

As Gotham too puts it, 2009 was a very tough year for the singer. Among the many things she had to deal with, one can list just off the top of one’s head, the loss of her brother Michael and coming out of a 7-year relationship with Jermaine Dupri. However, she’s keeping her hopes high for this new year, as Janet chose to deal with all this the best way she knows how, namely burying herself in work and getting involved in several major projects.

“When you hear people say life goes on, it’s really the truth. You can’t stop living. It becomes a part of you. I feel a bit selfish because there are times I feel I shouldn’t be doing this, but I enjoy my work and I have to keep doing it. I have to keep my life going. There are days that are harder than others,” Janet says of what she’s learned from the experience of Michael’s death. At the same time, she also learned that she must never stop and take advantage of life before it’s too late.

Her New Year’s resolutions include learning a foreign language and getting closer to God. Janet Jackson has also written a book that should be coming out soon, and which, she hopes, will help people like her deal with some of their issues. “I hope it’s inspiring for all ages. I’m talking about weight loss, confidence, self-esteem – especially in your youth. It’s not an autobiography, but there are little anecdotes that I give here and there from my childhood all the way to the present that I thought would be interesting and helpful to share,” the star says of the book.

The Gotham piece also comes with several shots of Janet looking positively fabulous. Word in the blogosphere is that they’re not new, being actually outtakes from an older shoot she did to promote the album “Discipline.” The interview, however, is brand new.