Janet declined involvement in the Michael Jackson biopic, which stars her nephew Jaafar Jackson as the late pop icon
Janet Jackson is turning 60 in style!
The singer was surprised for her big birthday by friends and family and shared a reel of the celebrations on Instagram on Sunday, May 18.
"I'm so grateful for the outpouring of love today. You have all made my 60th so special," she began her heartfelt caption.
"Every single post, tribute, and wish touches my heart. I thank God for every additional day of life and for putting each of you in it. Wishing you all returned blessings & I look forward to seeing you soon," she added.
"I love you. ♥️ J," she concluded.
Janet appeared to be surprised by her loved ones for her special day with a balloon-filled pool party. She wore a sash featuring the words "Sixtylicious," and blew out the colorful candles on her huge cake. The casually dressed star danced with pals as well as her sister, La Toya, 69 at the bash, which featured a DJ, delicious looking food. Janet was also captured taking shots with friends around the pool as a friend proposed a toast to her.
"We are so blessed to celebrate who God made you and called you to be. Live, live live unconditionally and free," one friend said before Janet's group of friends cheered in delight.
Famous faces in the post's comments section included singer Kylie Minogue, 57, who wrote, "Happy 💓 Birthday," supermodel Naomi Campbell, 55, added, "Happy Birthday Queen 👑 !! Tons of blessings on your special day ❤️🎂❤️🎂❤️🎂," and rapper Ludacris, 48, added a crown emoji.
Rapper Snoop Dogg, 54, wrote, Happy. C. Day. J. J. From Cuzn snoop 💙🐾. " and actress Octavia Spencer, 55, added her own happy birthday wishes.
Meanwhile, La Toya has recently opened up on why Janet is notably absentt from the recent biopic, Michael, about their brother, Michael Jackson.
"She was asked and she kindly declined," La Toya told Variety at Michael's April 20 premiere in Los Angeles. "So you have to respect her wishes."
"I wish everybody was in the movie," she said while attending the event with members of her family, including her brothers Jackie, Marlon, Randy and Jermaine.
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Director Antoine Fuqua also addressed Janet's absence in the flick to the outlet, saying, "I have so much respect and love for Janet, but you know it's okay."
The biopic stars Jaafar Jackson, the son of Jermaine and nephew of Michael, in the titular role. It also features Nia Long and Colman Domingo as Michael's mother and father Katherine and Joe, respectively, plus Miles Teller as lawyer-manager John Branca and Laura Harrier as producer Suzanne de Passe.
The movie charts the rise of the pop star, who died in 2009 at age 50.
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