Who became the 7th artist ever to receive the Billboard Music Awards’ Icon Award?

Janet Jackson became the seventh artist ever to receive the Billboard Music Awards’ Icon Award. She accepted the honor at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, where she also performed a medley of songs including “Nasty,” “If,” and “Throb.”

The Icon Award recognizes artists whose careers have had an exceptional, lasting influence on popular music. It was introduced at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards, making the award relatively young compared with Jackson’s decades-long career.

Jackson’s selection reflected her impact as a singer, dancer, songwriter, and visual performer. Albums such as Control, Rhythm Nation 1814, Janet, and The Velvet Rope produced major Billboard hits and helped shape contemporary pop and R&B. A common mix-up is confusing this honor with MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award or other awards that also use the word “Icon.”