Tinashe Shares Her Starstruck Moment Meeting Janet Jackson, Her Biggest Idol
Tinashe shared her deep admiration for Janet Jackson at Spotify’s Songs of the Summer event in NYC. In an interview with PEOPLE, she talked about their recent meeting, where she spoke about Jackson being her biggest idol and influence. Their meeting came after Jackson included a mash-up of Tinashe’s hit song Nasty with her own iconic 1986 single of the same name in her Together Again Tour setlist.
The 31-year-old R&B artist expressed her gratitude to Jackson, emphasizing how important it was to be recognized by her idol and to have her song featured on Jackson’s tour.
Meeting Janet Jackson: a career-defining moment for Tinashe
Tinashe described her meeting with Janet Jackson as deeply fulfilling, highlighting Jackson’s significant influence on her musical journey. She praised Jackson’s album The Velvet Rope as the greatest ever recorded and was in awe of Jackson acknowledging her existence.
Known for collaborations with top artists like Britney Spears, Tinashe recently talked about meeting Jackson, a pivotal moment in her career. She recalled feeling nervous and excited, starstruck, and likened the experience to being a celebrity herself.
Tinashe expressed her love and inspiration for Jackson during their meeting, showing deep appreciation for the encounter that impacted her significantly, emphasizing the importance of praise from someone she admires.
Tinashe’s musical milestones
Janet Jackson, known for her reserved nature and aversion to interviews, gave Tinashe special recognition, calling her an inspiration despite Tinashe’s usual reserve. Tinashe valued this exchange with Jackson.
Tinashe’s song Nasty, released in April, achieved success on the Rhythmic Airplay chart and the Billboard Hot 100. The track gained popularity on TikTok through user-generated videos featuring a popular dance trend.
Janet Jackson’s inclusion of Nasty in her live performances highlighted the song’s cultural impact and validation in the music industry. Madonna also showed support by releasing a TikTok video mashing up Tinashe’s Nasty with Britney Spears’ (You Drive Me) Crazy, solidifying Tinashe’s resurgence and appeal across generations of pop music fans.
With Madonna and Janet Jackson as her idols, Tinashe felt reassured by their support, boosting her confidence in her career direction. She revealed that Nasty will be featured on her upcoming album, Quantum Baby, set for release on August 16.
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