Janet Jackson sparked a frenzy on social media this weekend as she appeared to tease a return to the stage.
It’s been six years since the Control star dropped her last LP, the chart-topping ‘Unbreakable’, in 2015, and for the past year she’s been teasing its follow-up, ‘Black Diamond’.
Heading online, Janet, 54, shared a photo of herself showcasing her flexibility, with fans rushing to speculate the star’s preparing to unleash her next project.
Alongside the snap of she star down in the splits position, she simply wrote, “[Banana] split,” along with a winking emoji, with fans jumping to the conclusion she was rehearsing for upcoming performances.
The Black Cat hitmaker first prompted talk last month (March 21), when she updated her official website with a new photo of herself. However, she has yet to address the change or confirm a release date for new music.
Speaking about ‘Black Diamond’ during an interview on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ in early 2020, Janet explained: “Black diamond, it’s the toughest of the stones, of the diamonds, to cut. And I heard that immediately as hard to hurt, to destroy.
“In my recent years, I’ve come to realise that I’m incredibly strong,” she told Fallon. “And I see myself as this rock, you know, and just rough around the edges. And just want to share some of my strengths and stories.”
A ‘Black Diamond’ World Tour had been scheduled to take place in 2020, but was cancelled due to the pandemic. The shows had been set to feature a special performance of ‘Rhythm Nation 1814’.
Janet recently celebrated 35 years since the release of her seminal 1986 album ‘Control’, with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis going behind the scenes for a brand new interview revisiting the project.
In honour of its anniversary (February 4), fans pushed ‘Control’ to the No. 1 spot on Apple’s Top 40 Pop Album Chart, prompting the star to share a candid clip on social media thanking her followers for their support through the years.
“You’re so special to me and I want to thank all of you for making ‘Control’ No. 1 once again after 35 years,” the What Have You Done For Me Lately hitmaker shared.
“I never, never in a million years, I would never think that this would happen. I really appreciate you and I love you so, so much. Thank you.”
