Janet Jackson is revealing the lesser-known branches of her star-studded family tree.
As well as her musical stable of siblings, the “That's the Way Love Goes” singer shares ties to Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman and Samuel L. Jackson, she told BBC 2's “The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show” on Tuesday. Her radio appearance comes on the heels of an American leg of her career. Tour Together Againwhich will arrive in Europe this fall.
“Not many people know this. [Wonder is] “I’m a cousin of ours on our mother’s side,” Jackson told BBC presenter Scott Mills, who replied: “That blew my mind.”
He also called Chapman and Jackson “cousins,” adding, with a laugh, that despite sharing his last name, Jackson “is not my brother.” It should be noted that the “Pulp Fiction” actor previously denied that he and Michael Jackson were related in a 2017 interview with Cabling.
Online records do not immediately show links between Jackson and her “cousins.” However, the Jackson 5 alumna publicly available family tree A paternal uncle named Samuel Jackson was included.
TMZ reported that Wonder is a third cousin of the Jacksons, although the outlet did not cite a source.
Representatives for Janet Jackson, Wonder and Samuel L. Jackson did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment Wednesday. A representative for Chapman could not immediately be reached for comment.
Users were shocked by Jackson's claims after Mills re-shared a clip from her interview with the singer on X on Tuesday.
“Wow! What a dynasty!” One person commented.
“I need to visually see a family tree because WHAT? I met Stevie when I was older and I’m still in shock about it, but Sam and Tracey [sic] Also?! LEGACY! another wrote.
Genealogically or not, the Jackson family has ties to Wonder dating back to his 1980 collaboration with Jermaine Jackson on his song “Let’s Get Serious.” Wonder also sang alongside Michael Jackson on two duets: “Get It” and “Just Good Friends.”
