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CNN Larry King Live

Interview with Janet Jackson

Aired February 28, 2008 - 21:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, she's out to rock the music world again -- sexier ... smarter ... and slimmer than ever.
Janet Jackson puts it all out there, next on LARRY KING LIVE.

Here she comes -- a return visit to LARRY KING LIVE for Grammy- winning music superstar and the actress, dancer, all around bon vivant (ph). Her new CD is titled Discipline.

Janet, it's good to have you back.

JANET JACKSON, SINGER: It's very good to see you. How are you?

KING: I'm fine. You?

JACKSON: I'm very well.

KING: Tell me about Discipline and the title.

JACKSON: Discipline. It's the title track on the album, Discipline. But I wanted to name the album Discipline because it has a lot of different meanings for me but the most important would be work -- to have done this for as long as I have -- like you.

KING: Yes.

JACKSON: And to have had the success that I've had -- not excluding God by any means, but it takes a great deal of focus.

KING: So it means more than just having discipline?

JACKSON: Yes. I mean it takes a lot of focus and a lot of hard work. And I've had that since I was -- since I was very little, since I was a kid.

KING: Yes, you have.

JACKSON: Yes.

KING: A lot of attention, too.

JACKSON: Yes. Because of my brothers being so famous when I was like two-years-old, right?

KING: Is that good or bad?

JACKSON: What, the attention? KING: Yes.

JACKSON: No, not for me. It wasn't bad for me, not for me.

KING: Even though --

JACKSON: But being the baby -- you know, being the baby and always being around, you get -- you get a lot of attention from others.

KING: So you never felt like I wish more were on me?

JACKSON: Oh, no. I was very shy. Well, most -- -- everyone in my family was very shy, especially when were younger. But no, no, never that.

KING: And most of the family still is shy.

JACKSON: We are? I don't think I am.

KING: No, you're not. Michael is.

JACKSON: Yes, he is. You know, there are a few of us.

KING: Back to the CD. The title is racy, but some of the lyrics -- the title is Discipline, but some of the lyrics are pretty racy.

JACKSON: Um-hmm.

KING: Are you attracted to that? Do you like the edge?

JACKSON: I write about life experiences. So that's -- you know, it's not the first time I've done this. It seems like everyone is really focusing on that. But I think they got a glimpse of it with "Funny How Time Flies" -- just a little bit, that sensual side, which was the Control album.

Then again with "Someday Is Tonight" on Rhythm Nation. And then there was the Janet album that really celebrated my womanhood and my sensual side. And the whole album was like that -- "If," "Any Time, Any Place." And then there was Velvet Rope, as well, with "Rope Burn" and other songs.

KING: So it's always been you?

JACKSON: Yes.

KING: Do you always write your own material?

JACKSON: On this album, yes. In the past, yes -- lyrics, melodies. But with this album, it was -- it was different for me.

KING: Because?

JACKSON: Because the record company had told me that there were producers that knew that I was going back into the studio and they wanted to work with me. And they wrote songs for me and wanted to submit the songs and wanted me to give a listen.

So I started listening and it was stuff that I loved, so I started picking songs and started recording them. And more and more kept coming in. And before I knew it, I was done with the album.

KING: And that's the main thing, right? No matter who wrote it doesn't make a difference, as long as you like the song.

JACKSON: Well, it's more than that for myself. I have to have some sort of a connection to it. Either it has to be something that I have experienced or can relate to in some sort of way in my life, which every song on this album is that.

KING: So everything you sing is personal?

JACKSON: Yes. I've never kept a diary. I've never kept some sort of a journal. So I've always -- my albums have always, for the most part, been my journals.

KING: OK, you're on the cover of the April editions of both "VIBE" and "Ebony". And there we show those covers. I have them right here. These are a little in advance of their issuance. The "Ebony" cover says "Does Janet Still Have It?" Is that -- do you regard that negatively?

JACKSON: Do I still have it?

KING: Yes.

JACKSON: I...

KING: I mean like what do they mean by that?

JACKSON: ... I don't know. I guess I'd have to read the article to know. Can I see that? That's my first time I've seen that. It's this one you're talking about, yes?

KING: Yes, "Ebony". It comes out next week, I think. "Does Janet Still Have It?" Well, you'll have to read it.

JACKSON: Yes, I guess you'll have to read it to see it -- what they think.

KING: Well, it probably is laudatory, though. They've always been kind to you, haven't they?

JACKSON: Yes, they have. We go back -- the families go back a very good ways. And they have always been kind. But they're very -- they're very honest, too, so I'll be curious to see what they say.

KING: Do you think you have anything left to prove with all you've accomplished?

JACKSON: No. I do this because I love it, because I enjoy it. I'm not trying to prove anything. I have fun with it still. I enjoy this. KING: It's still a kick?

JACKSON: Yes.

KING: In person performing, as well as recording?

JACKSON: Yes. Are you kidding me? I still get excited when -- like the night before the album was to be released, we all stayed up -- all the dancers, myself. And we had a performance to do early that morning. We were all so excited, not nervous, but just excited. We're very -- it's -- I love this.

KING: It's always new, right?

JACKSON: Always. It hasn't gotten old yet and I doubt it ever will.

KING: By the way, you look terrific. Anyone would say that. Janet, you look terrific.

JACKSON: Thank you.

KING: And you've had weight problems, right?

JACKSON: Yes.

KING: How have you dealt with that? How do you -- for example...

JACKSON: I guess like everybody else.

KING: ... How do you lose it?

JACKSON: It's -- it becomes a way of life -- or it should be. It's what you put in your body and how you exercise and those kind of things.

KING: Is it difficult for you to diet?

JACKSON: No. Once again, Discipline. I mean that -- but...

KING: (INAUDIBLE) to that.

JACKSON: But, no, honestly. I'm -- that's another meaning for myself. It takes a great deal of discipline. And I have that within me in several different layers of my life, areas, avenues of my life. It takes a great deal of discipline. If you really put your mind to it, nothing is impossible.

KING: Do you -- did you ever need surgery?

JACKSON: No. No. No. No. No. No.

KING: Do you --

JACKSON: A lot of people thought that, though, that it was a... KING: Really?

JACKSON: ... the gastro bypass.

KING: Yes.

JACKSON: You have to be 100 pounds over to, I think, really --

KING: Right.

JACKSON: And I lost 60 pounds. I was going to do a film in Tennessee, so I put on all the weight. And then they pushed the date back for the film literally two days before we were supposed to fly out to rehearse for the film and start shooting. So it didn't work with the scheduling of going back in the studio for myself.

KING: Did you ever think of writing about it?

JACKSON: Yes, I am, actually writing --

KING: Are you going to do a book?

JACKSON: Yes, I am.

(LAUGHTER)

KING: About how you lost weight?

JACKSON: Yes. My -- it's not just about how I lost weight, but it's my journey. So it's coming from my soul, from my heart. And it's about whether being from emotional eating or whatever triggered it -- even from, as a kid, little triggers and things that happened in my life that made me -- comfort food and that kind of stuff.

KING: When you were overweight, were you uncomfortable with yourself? Did you look in the mirror and not like yourself?

JACKSON: Well, that had nothing to do with weight. I used to be like that even then.

KING: What?

JACKSON: Yes.

KING: Why?

JACKSON: I just -- I was never very fond of -- of -- of -- well, I'm getting embarrassed -- of --

KING: No.

JACKSON: It was hard for me to really like myself. I had to really learn to love myself. And I'm at that point now to really accept me for who I am. It was very -- it was very difficult for me in my 20s, in my 30s.

KING: Surprising.

My guest is Janet Jackson. The new CD is Discipline.

What's your favorite Janet Jackson song? That's the quick vote right now on our Web site, cnn.com/larryking. Head there now and vote.

We'll be right back with Ms. Jackson. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back with Janet Jackson. The new CD is Discipline. She's our special guest for the hour. It's always good to see her.

Valerie Bertinelli was here the other night.

JACKSON: She's good.

KING: She's lost a lot of weight, as well. And talking about her life and weight, she said that food had been a drug for her, a kind of source of comfort.

JACKSON: Yes.

KING: What was it to you?

JACKSON: It was -- it was definitely comfort. It was just, you know, when you're feeling down and feeling funky, feeling depressed -- which I -- that's no secret in my life. I went through that, as well so it was -- it was my best friend a lot of times.

KING: Twinkies?

JACKSON: I've never -- have I ever had a Twinkie? There are a lot of foods I've never had, a lot of --

KING: What was your favorite fat food?

JACKSON: I like french fries and I like sweets.

KING: Yes, chocolate?

JACKSON: I like caramel. I like candy apples.

KING: Oh, candied apples. Yes.

JACKSON: Yes.

KING: You mean all times of the year?

JACKSON: Yes, no, it doesn't have to be just the holidays. Are you kidding me?

KING: The last time you were on you talked about suffering from depression. How did you, for want of a better term, beat that?

JACKSON: I had -- well, obviously, the love of my friends and family. But there was -- we talked about it before, there was someone who came to me actually. And I never tell his name, but he was this cowboy...

KING: A cowboy?

JACKSON: ... A true cowboy, an older man. And just certain things he had said to me, it just -- it was as if he knew me and knew what I was experiencing, as if he had seen my entire life in a film. And it really threw me for a loop. And I started tearing up at that moment. And he says if you ever want to talk, give me a call.

KING: He wasn't a psychiatrist?

JACKSON: No. And it took me a minute because I thought, can I trust this guy? Can I -- I didn't know who he was. I went to this resort and I was on this horse and he happened to be there.

And I just threw caution to the wind and said I'm going to give him a call. And we still speak to this day. I spoke to him not that long ago. What a wonderful man. And he really was a great help to me.

KING: What did he do?

JACKSON: (LAUGHTER) He helped me see who I really am. He not gave me the answers, but let me find the answers for myself about different issues that I may have had at that time -- or I did have at that time.

KING: At the worst point of your depression, were you ever suicidal?

JACKSON: No. No.

KING: How bad was it at its worst?

JACKSON: I was very -- I was very unhappy. There was a -- you know, with depression, there's a lot of crying. You don't want to get out of bed. You can't speak. That happened to me a lot, where I so badly something wanted to come out, but it couldn't.

And people would talk to me and say, well, why can't you say anything? Why aren't you talking? And I just -- I wanted to, but it would not come out.

KING: Were you able to perform?

JACKSON: Yes.

KING: How do you explain that?

JACKSON: Maybe an escapism.

KING: So you could override it for an evening's performance...

JACKSON: I could...

KING: ... or recording an album?

JACKSON: ... Oh, I could definitely record an album. Once again, music being my -- very cathartic for me.

KING: Yes.

JACKSON: So it was very -- well, the Velvet Rope album, that's what -- it was about that period in my life and overcoming that. And all the songs on that album, for the most part, relate to that time in my life.

KING: So in a sense you used it?

JACKSON: Yes, I did.

KING: Musically. And when rough times occur, bad things happen, do you resort to this cowboy? Do you think about it? We all have bad days.

JACKSON: Look, of course, we do. And sometimes I do. But I've learned, you know, how to manifest it and kind of, for the most part, deal with it on my own. But there are times still when I'll call him and we'll talk and I'll tell him what's on my mind and we'll sit and we'll talk about it.

One of the other things, once again, that we talked about before was learning to first like myself, then learning to love who I am. And I remember he used to tell me to look in the mirror and pick out something that I liked about myself. And I could not do it and would just start crying.

KING: Did you turn to family at all?

JACKSON: In the beginning, no. In the beginning, I didn't want them to know.

KING: Then they did?

JACKSON: Yes, then they did. And they were very supportive and very proud that I was able to overcome and very worried and very supportive.

KING: Close now?

JACKSON: Um-hmm.

KING: You're looking happy.

JACKSON: Maybe because I am.

KING: On a scale of 10, where are you?

JACKSON: I -- maybe a nine. I don't want to say ten.

KING: There are no tens.

JACKSON: Yes, maybe a nine. I'm pretty high up there.

KING: Janet Jackson is our special guest. Discipline is the new CD.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back with the great Janet Jackson.

What's it like getting older? You're 42 now. We don't hide that.

JACKSON: No, I'm 41.

KING: Forty-one? Oh, Sorry.

JACKSON: That's OK.

KING: What's it like getting older in an industry that puts such a premium on youth?

JACKSON: It doesn't bother me at all -- at all. And that's just the way we were raised. It's just a number.

KING: So you don't think, oh, I wish I were 25?

JACKSON: No. No, not at all.

KING: You're still the baby of the family?

JACKSON: Yes, of course. Will always will be and proud of it, too.

KING: Are your siblings protective of you?

JACKSON: To this day, especially my brothers.

KING: When you got into show business -- how old were you when you stepped on a stage?

JACKSON: I was seven, seven-years-old.

KING: Looking back, good or bad?

JACKSON: It was great for me, but I don't know if I would take the same route for my children.

KING: Because?

JACKSON: I could see where it could be very difficult. It would have to be something that they truly really want to do. You don't get much of a childhood -- even though I got more than my other brothers and sisters. I did spend time in a regular school with friends, but I also worked a great deal, as well.

So I could see where it is very tough. I know where it is very tough and missing out on your childhood. And I think that's why I still have so much kid in me, which I don't ever want to lose.

KING: Michael has said he didn't have a childhood.

JACKSON: Yes, for sure.

KING: All right, now, that's sad, don't you think?

JACKSON: Yes, of course it is. Yes.

KING: You want to be like a normal kid.

JACKSON: But that -- you know, it's kind of like a catch-22. That was normal for me, as well. Like I saw it with my brothers and then I got into it. But, once again, I still had a, you know, a little taste of the other side, as well.

KING: You've sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. We're going to take just a look at a few of your greatest hits.

Watch.

(MUSIC VIDEO CLIPS)

KING: We've seen a lot of young stars crash and burn -- Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears. One, how did you avoid that?

JACKSON: I have to give the credit to my parents, really. They really made sure that we were grounded. You know, it might sound silly, but I always tell this story that, regardless of how many fans are screaming for you and to how many audiences you please -- thousands and thousands and thousands of people -- you come home at the end of the day and we had tons of chores to do.

Tons of chores to do. My parents -- well, they still do have like three acres. And they used to make us rake every leaf in the yard. We'd get up at like 7:00 a.m. Every day...

KING: No matter what you had done the night before?

JACKSON: No matter what you did you the night before. We used to get up early seven days a week. Seven days a week, very early.

KING: We have an e-mail question from Douglas at Rochester, New York: "I was lucky enough to meet Janet in New York City on Tuesday. She showed me her new tattoo, which is also the symbol on her CD booklet. What's the meaning of it?"

JACKSON: Oh, it's -- it's actually two tattoos in one, actually. One is from western Africa, from Ghana. And it means protected, loving, disciplined. And the other is -- they're Chinese characters and it's warrior.

KING: They're still -- considering Amy Whitehouse -- Winehouse, rather -- who had a public substance abuse problem...

JACKSON: Yes. KING: ... recently earned five Grammys. And some said that the music industry was rewarding bad behavior.

JACKSON: Yes, I heard that.

KING: What did you think of that?

JACKSON: You know, someone was just saying to me -- not that long ago, actually, that just a week before she had -- there was a paparazzi show with a crack pipe or something in her mouth, or something like that.

It came from Natalie Cole. And I think if anybody can say it, she can, because she lived that life. And it's not a secret that she was addicted to -- I believe it was heroin. And it's hard for me, because I am so against drugs and that whole thing. But at the same time, that's kind of what this field is about. It's like drugs, sex and rock and roll.

KING: Do you like her as a performer?

JACKSON: I think she has a wonderful album and she's singing from her heart -- I mean the "Rehab" song. It's a Catch-22 for myself, because I think it's a wonderful album, but it's unfortunate that she has this addiction. And, hopefully, you know, things will work out for the better.

KING: Did you ever fall prey to drugs at all?

JACKSON: No. I was very fortunate, very fortunate.

KING: In your industry, with all the things around you?

JACKSON: I remember being in Studio 54 when I was, what, 10- years-old -- which I shouldn't have been at a club at that age. But I'm so happy I experienced it. And I would see all these goings on. And I would sit there and I'd go why are these putting flour up their noses? I just didn't understand it.

(LAUGHTER)

JACKSON: And then I'd...

KING: Is it kind of weird, isn't it?

JACKSON: Yes. And then I'd get on the dance floor and dance. But it's in this industry. And I've seen it, but I've never -- thank god.

KING: Thank god.

JACKSON: Knock on wood.

KING: You're not kidding. Where is the tattoo, by the way?

JACKSON: It's here on my wrist. KING: Oh. Ah, there it is. Can we show it toward the camera?

JACKSON: Can you see -- or I am pointing to this. See, there it is. Do you see that? Or am I not -- there, you've got it.

KING: Yes, there -- turn it a little more that way.

JACKSON: This way?

KING: Yes.

JACKSON: No, this way.

KING: We'll figure it out.

And we'll be right back with more of Janet -- there it is.

Boy, glad we got that in. We'll be back with more of Janet Jackson right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Janet Jackson -- MTV named Janet its artist of the week. You did some promos for them, spoofing some of their top shows.

Let's look at you as part of the "Real World." Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't want to do this dance again. We're tired.

JACKSON: Come on. Don't you think I'm tired, too?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you?

JACKSON: OK, whatever. I'm over it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, really?

JACKSON: If you ever speak to me again like that, I will (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I will (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I'm done with this. I feel like I'm in this dance studio with a bunch of crazy people and it drives me crazy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Was that fun?

JACKSON: It was fun. It was a great day, a fun day. We had a lot of fun with that. Joel Schoomaker (ph) directed them.

KING: Joel Schoomaker?

JACKSON: Yes, he did.

KING: Major film maker.

JACKSON: Yes, major film maker.

KING: Screaming Diva Janet, where did that come from?

JACKSON: I have never heard it. This is my first time hearing it.

KING: Someone said they call you Screaming Diva Janet, where did that come from?

JACKSON: I never heard that one.

KING: Some people seem to think that any publicity is good publicity, as long as the name is spelled right. Do you ever think that's true, the way the current flow goes?

JACKSON: I'm not so sure. I think it brings more attention to yourself and makes more people aware of who you are. You become more of a household name, for sure. I don't know if it's always so great.

KING: At an expense though. Why do you think the Jacksons have always been the product of not only a lot of wonderful things, but also negative press?

JACKSON: I don't know. I guess you have to put it on someone, I suppose. We've had our moments with media. It's not just with us. It's with other people as well. You got to have some sort of flavor of the week or the month.

KING: Do you think some of it was deserved?

JACKSON: No. I don't think all of it was deserved, for sure.

KING: Many fire back. Have you ever fired back?

JACKSON: I can't say that I have. Just --

KING: Was there a desire to when you see yourself bum rapped?

JACKSON: It doesn't bother me so much when they're at me, as it does when they're at my family members.

KING: Really. So it is more protective of them.

JACKSON: Yes. I think it's vice versa for them.

KING: Would you like to tour as a family again?

JACKSON: I would love to. I get my brothers on the phone all the time. I'm the biggest fan of the Jacksons, the Jackson Five. I have conference calls all the time pushing them to do a huge tour. I tell them if they did, I would love to open for them.

KING: You would be the opening act? JACKSON: I have never opened for anyone. I never opened -- my very first tour I was the headline. It was a nation tour. I never opened for anyone. It would be an honor.

KING: What do they say?

JACKSON: They would love to, but one of them is on the fence. You have to respect that. He's worked very hard --

KING: Is that Michael?

JACKSON: -- at his solo career. I don't know. Maybe he'll come around. Still kind of working on him.

KING: What do you make of the anniversary of Thriller?

JACKSON: It's huge. It's big, number one everywhere. Good for him. Twenty five years, how fast did that go by?

KING: When that came out, when it was recorded, did you think it would be what it became?

JACKSON: I knew I loved it. I knew that I loved it. As a matter of fact, he played, as he always did when we were very close growing up, and every time he would complete a project, he would play the entire album. He had a great sound system in his car. We would sit in the car and we would listen to the album from front to back. I loved every song I heard.

KING: When you -- what's it like? Recording, is it pain staking for you? Are you a perfectionist? Let's do it again. Are you one of those?

JACKSON: You know, there's no such thing as perfect. I have a hard time with it still. I'm very quick to say, if you would like for me to sing this over, I would be happy to. Or I want to try another take to see if -- it's just really trying to do your best, always your best.

KING: The producer is important on an album. He or she is the key.

JACKSON: Very important.

KING: A number of years ago, you and Michael did a musical video together called Scream. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: What was it like working with him?

JACKSON: We had fun. That was our first time ever working together since we were kids, and he had asked me when I had done the Rhythm Nation album to do a song with him, but I wouldn't.

KING: Why not?

JACKSON: I hadn't felt like I came into my own yet. I didn't want anyone to think I was riding his coat tails. So then I did the Janet album and I was on tour and I got a call, dunk -- That's my nickname from my family, one of my nicknames. Dunk, let's do something together. I said all right. This time, I feel I'm ready.

KING: Where does Dunk come from?

JACKSON: Do you really want to know?

KING: Yes.

JACKSON: From a donkey. See now -- My body was shaped like a donkey. I got teased a lot as a kid. I got called a lot of names.

KING: Including Dunk?

JACKSON: Dunk, pig, cow, slaughter hog, horse.

KING: That had to be a lot of laughs. That was very good for you.

JACKSON: Laughs for somebody.

KING: Janet Jackson is our guest. Discipline is the new CD. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back. Janet is going to do a little dance at the end of the show. I asked her if she ever had dance lessons. Never and no one in the family ever did. Michael never had dance lessons?

JACKSON: None of us. My brother Jackie and my sister Rebie, when they were kids, they used to enter dance contests and won every single one of them. No, we never studied dance or anything. Just watched musicals and see a dance scene of Fred Estaire or Ginger Rogers or Eleanor Proulin (ph), just start tapping.

KING: You said now, you wished maybe you had some ballet.

JACKSON: Of course I wish I would have. I think it would been nice. It would have made it that much sweeter.

KING: You recently won the NAACP Image Award for best supporting actress for your role in Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married." Here's a clip from that film.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: Stop it. Stop it. Gavin, just it. Stop with your pretending. You pretend that you love me. Stop with all those lies. I can't take this. You know you hate me. I hate myself. This is my fault. No, don't touch me. Don't touch me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: You beat out Queen Latifah and Rubie V. Not bad.

JACKSON: Yes. I mean, it was such a shock to me.

KING: You did not expect to win?

JACKSON: No, not at all. It was such a surprise. I really didn't.

KING: Did you like the role?

JACKSON: I loved it. I really loved it. I like the character. I could relate to her in different ways.

KING: We have an e-mail question from Hampton in Houston -- we should say, by the way, we got a lot of similar questions: "Your relationship with Jermaine Dupri looks very solid, any wedding plans?" A lot of questions.

JACKSON: I haven't crossed that bridge yet. Everybody asks us that.

KING: How long have you been going together?

JACKSON: I think we're going into our seventh year. I should know, right?

KING: Do you it's normal then to ask at seven years?

JACKSON: I guess. I don't know. Is it?

KING: Do you want children?

JACKSON: I would love to have kids. Some day we will, some day.

KING: Do you think you will get married?

JACKSON: I don't know. I really don't know. I don't want him to feel pressured in any kind of way. There are times when I feel I've done it twice. I don't want to jinx it. It's good where it is.

KING: He's a music producer.

JACKSON: And a writer.

KING: Have you ever worked together?

JACKSON: We worked together on this album. He did four songs on this album. As a matter of fact, the new single, "Rock With You," he did. We did -- the last album he did with myself and Jimmy and Terry.

KING: Is it harder to work with someone you're in love with?

JACKSON: I don't know about other people, but for me, no. No, he's very easy in the studio. He's very easy to get along with, period. It's a joy and we know our roles, even though we kind of --

KING: So, once the light goes on, it's all business?

JACKSON: Not always. But he's very easy to work with. It's important to me that it's right. I'm always -- we had talked about before, do you want -- listen to this. If you want me to do the whole thing over, I will.

KING: You take direction well.

JACKSON: I believe I do, yes.

KING: Our guest is Janet Jackson. Anderson Cooper stands by. He'll host "AC 360" at the top of the hour.

What's up, Anderson?

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Larry, the royal secret is out. The story is breaking as we speak. Changing fast tonight. Today, the world learned that Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, has been serving his country on the front lines of Afghanistan. We've got the never before seen video.

Prince Harry was deployed back in December, but news organizations, including CNN, agreed not to disclose it for security reasons. That is until today, when the Web site the Drudge Report ran with it. Tonight, British newspapers say efforts are under way to bring Harry home, fearing his safety has been compromised.

We'll have the latest on that with Nic Robertson and Michael Ware in Baghdad, reporters who have been to the same places in Afghanistan as Prince Harry.

Also tonight, Larry, the latest from the campaign trail up close. The battle in Ohio and the one in Texas, and President Bush today jumping into the campaign for the first time, criticizing the Democrats. We'll tell you what he said and why it might help the Democrats more than hurt them. All of that and more, Larry, at the top of the hour.

KING: That's Anderson Cooper, "AC 360," 10:00 Eastern, 7:00 Pacific. I want to remind you about our special weekend show. It's a preview of the all important primaries in Ohio and Texas next week. Our great roster of guests will slice and dice the presidential possibilities. Check it out. It's live this Saturday night at 9:00 eastern, 6:00 pacific.

We'll be back with more of Janet Jackson when LARRY KING LIVE returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KING: We're back with Janet Jackson. You're going to receive GLAAD's Vanguard Award in April for your commitment to AIDS related charities and awareness. What drew you to that?

JACKSON: To want to get involved with the different organizations.

KING: To AIDS?

JACKSON: Yes, the different organizations relating to aids. I've had a lot of friends who have passed away from AIDS. I just wanted to do my part, really. I enjoy helping people. I told you before, I feel like we all have a job to do on this Earth that God has given us. We're here for a reason. Mine is really to help people, not just through music, but in other ways. I work with different charities and organizations.

KING: You started acting on television shows like "Good Times" And "Different Strokes" and "Fame."

JACKSON: Yes.

KING: Let's take a look back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: I'll be 10 my next birthday, but I'm very mature for my age.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I promise we'll study and I won't try anything.

JACKSON: Well, in that case, I'm definitely going.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want children, a lot of children. I want a big family.

JACKSON: Wait a minute. I can see what you're doing. I ain't no fool.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: What's it like to look at yourself?

JACKSON: It's embarrassing.

KING: Why? You look terrific.

JACKSON: No, it's just embarrassing. A little kid, just a baby.

KING: You were a little kid. You must have had fun doing it.

JACKSON: I loved it. I enjoyed it. It was a different family for me. It was like a second family for me.

KING: We have a video question from a big fan about your new CD. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Janet. My name is Chris Katcher (ph) and I go to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. First off, I wanted to tell you how much I love you. If you look and scroll through my room, you can tell how big of a fan I am. I wanted to let you know that I have my copy of Discipline. I'm planning on getting more, by the way.

I just wanted to know, on behalf of the fans, especially on the Internet, we heard a long time ago about a song called "Rough" and we also heard that "Stuck Inside This Groove" and "Clap Your Hands" were going to be released, but they never saw the light of day.

I was wondering if they were ever going to be released and also if the Rhythm Nation and Janet Tours were going to be released on DVD, too. Thank you. I love you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: That's sweet. That's very sweet. He was asking about Rough. I actually consider putting Rough on this album. It's a song I did for a different album and I didn't put it on there. I thought about kind of redoing it and putting it on this one, and I decided not to. Who knows, maybe it will be.

As far as the Rhythm Nation -- maybe I will, I should say, put it on the next album or release it at some point. And as far as the Rhythm Nation Tour, I'm going to. That and the Janet Tour I have never put on DVD. That's something I'm definitely going to do.

KING: Is it kind of weird or kooky to have fans like that, with your pictures all over your wall, buys a bunch of your albums. He's going to buy more. He obviously knows everything about your life. It's a great compliment.

JACKSON: Yes, there's a connection there. They love what it is that you do. They love your music. They enjoy you. I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

KING: When you come on a stage, do you know if you have the audience right away?

JACKSON: Yes, you do. You do.

KING: Are there nights you don't?

JACKSON: Have them?

KING: Yes, where you have to work at it?

JACKSON: Of course. Even when I know that they are there, I still give my all, and try to take them to another place, an unexpected place. There are nights when you have to work harder. Not every audience is the same. I love that.

KING: You do like it?

JACKSON: Yes. We help each other. Eventually, you see them loosening up and relaxing and really getting into it, and that's the nice part.

KING: You like that kind of challenge?

JACKSON: It's nice.

KING: Because the other is too easy?

JACKSON: No, it's not that it's too easy. I love that, too. But it's nice to know that you have to give that energy to one another to really make this crowd do what it is that you want them to do, and then eventually seeing that come to fruition, that's real sweet.

KING: Our special guest is Janet Jackson. When we come back, Janet is going to show us some of her dance moves. Don't go anywhere.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: I just want to say one thing seriously. I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, and how much you've inspired me, and how proud I am to be your sister, and how much I love you. I do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: OK, Janet, show me a trick. Do something.

JACKSON: Do something? I'm supposed to show you.

KING: OK, go.

JACKSON: You're going to push up that way. Don't hit me.

KING: I don't know what I'm doing.

JACKSON: You will take this arm and you're going to bring it out this way, like that. When you do that, you're going to move this leg out. You will move it out that way. Then you put this hand down, bring this leg in. At the same time, come across your body with the other one, with the other hand. Come across. Put this hand down. Come across.

KING: The struggling Jew.

JACKSON: No, relax this one. Bring this one across your chest.

KING: What is this dance called?

JACKSON: This is the dance in the video.

KING: The dance of the video?

JACKSON: Yes, isn't that what it's called. No, you're not hugging yourself, Larry. KING: I don't know what I'm doing.

JACKSON: I'm trying to show you.

KING: Let me watch you and then maybe I'll get an idea.

JACKSON: That's all you do. You see? Hit your chest and put your arm out.

KING: Same arm?

JACKSON: Yes, and let that leg go out at the same time. There you go. Bring this leg in and put that hand down. Hit your chest and push it out. Push this out and -- come here. Let's do this.

KING: You sure Gene Kelly started this way.

JACKSON: How's this.

KING: I'm fine. I'm following the clock.

"AC 360" is next with Anderson Cooper. Anderson, dance the night away.

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