Janet Jackson Vows to Keep Dancing at 60 After Icon Award

On October 23, 2025, the Dancers Against Cancer Gala of the Stars took place at the Beverly Hilton ballroom. The event honored dancers, singers, and choreographers, with a high-energy performance by Debbie Gibson kicking off the night. The show was hosted for the second year in a row by Dancing with the Stars champion Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

One of the highlights of the evening was the appearance of legendary performer Liza Minnelli, who introduced and presented the Icon Award to Janet Jackson. Jackson, who was last widely seen in public in 2022 when she presented at the Oscars, accepted the award and spoke about her lifelong love of dance, crediting her brothers as her first teachers and choreographers. She also thanked the dance community for their friendship and creativity over the years.

In a moving moment, the 59-year-old Jackson declared that she has no plans to stop dancing, even as she approaches her 60th birthday in the coming months. The pop icon's speech was met with thunderous applause from the star-studded audience, which included the likes of Jenna Dewan and Derek Hough.