Janet Jackson Describes ‘Beautiful Impact’ Son Eissa Has Had on Her and Why It’s Important He Enjoys ‘Being a Child’

Janet Jackson is opening up about the joys of motherhood, which she describes as the “most important thing I’ve done.”

In an interview with The Guardian, published on Saturday, Sept. 21, the five-time Grammy winner shared details about her life with 7-year-old son Eissa Al Mana and the “beautiful impact” he’s had on her.

“The most important thing I’ve done, the biggest thing I’ve done, is become a mother, and it’s had a beautiful impact on my life,” Jackson, 58, said.

“I wanted to have three children, but thought, ‘I should stop there, that’s probably all I can handle.’ Because you have to give all of yourself,” she added. ”Obviously, you have to work, but you don’t come first any more. Your life completely changes. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

The “Together Again” singer, who first experienced the spotlight at 8 years old when she appeared on The Carol Burnett Show with her brothers, said that she and her son’s childhoods are “completely different, because I worked and he doesn’t.”

“And that’s it,” Jackson continued. “I want him to experience being a child, because you don’t get to do this over. You’re an adult for the rest of your life, so I want him to enjoy each and every minute of being a child.”

She welcomed Eissa on Jan. 3, 2017 at age 50, and shares her son with ex-husband, Wissam Al Mana.

Jackson also spoke about how she parents her child as it relates to the values she learned as a kid, telling the outlet that there are “some things you wish your parents had done differently,” which ultimately don’t get passed down. “Because if they had done this with me, it would have been much better for me as a child,” she explained.

“I hated it as a kid, but I’m thankful for it now,” Jackson said. “I have to give credit to my parents for keeping me grounded.”

The “All for You” singer is continuing to balance being a mom with sharing her musical talents, as she announced in August that she’ll be off to Las Vegas at the end of the year for a residency at Resorts World Theatre. As she wrote on Instagram at the time, she was “so excited to announce” the run of shows, which kicks off in December.

“This is going to be a lot of fun and I look forward to spending the start of the New Year with you!! We truly can’t wait! Sending so much love ♥️ -J,” Jackson wrote.

Jackson begins her Vegas residency with back-to-back performances on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, with additional gigs happening on Jan. 3, 4 and Feb. 5, 7, 8, 12, 14 and 15. A press release promised “world-class attitude, starpower, and the experience of a lifetime for fans from around the world.”

“Janet Jackson is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in pop music,” Bobby Reynolds, senior vice president of AEG Presents Las Vegas, said in a statement. “We could not be more thrilled to close out 2024 with her return to the Las Vegas Strip and her venue debut at our award-winning Resorts World Theatre, and to kick off 2025 with a run of sure-to-be-unforgettable shows. This is a residency fans won’t want to miss.”

Before heading to Vegas, the European leg of her Together Again Tour kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in Paris.