Janet Jackson & Madonna: 80s Ladies coming to Atlanta

Arts and Culture

Since both Janet Jackson and Madonna will make their way to Atlanta this fall, we thought we'd do a little comparison of their lives and careers.

THEY'RE BOTH LADIES OF THE 80's. That's when Madonna and Janet Jackson did their best work, but we're still fascinated with them. Their records may not sell in the massive quantities they once did, but whenever they hit the road, the world takes notice. Since both Jackson and Madonna -born about 8 years and 300 miles apart - will make their way to Atlanta this fall, we thought we'd do a little comparison of their lives and careers. -- Text By Shane Harrison / AJC

ACTING: Madonna has been pretty good in a few roles such as "Desperately Seeking Susan" in 1985 (here she's dressed as the film's main character Susan.) The film's plot: A bored suburban housewife, seeking adventure to her life, accidentally gets hit on the head, wakes up with amnesia, and is mistaken for a free-spirited New York City drifter named Susan.

And she was pretty good as the star of the film "Evita." (Here she is arriving at the Evita premiere in 1996 in Los Angeles.) But Madonna usually seems unable to act her way out of a wet paper bag.

RELATIONSHIPS: She's been linked with many well-known men over the years, including Warren Beatty (seen here) and Vanilla Ice.

In five decades, Madonna has had a host of relationships with famous men. We take a look back at her interests, both the short-term and the guys who stayed a little longer. SEAN PENN: The two married in 1985 and had a stormy relationship that ended in 1989. Penn blamed their problems on his pride and alcohol use.

Madonna had a child with fitness trainer Carlos Leon and has been married to British director Guy Ritchie since 2000. Here, Madonna stands next to Ritchie as he carries their son Rocco outside of Dornoch Cathedral in Scotland on Dec. 21, 2000, following Rocco's baptism. The two were married the next day in the country's Skibo Castle.

FAMILY: Madonna was the first in her family to hit the big time. For a time, her brother worked with her. Now he seems to be working against her with this year's catty memoir, "Life With My Sister Madonna." Here is Madonna with her brother in 1998 at a Vanity Fair Oscar Party in California.

THE GOOD STUFF: Our favorite Madonna albums begin with the words "Like a": 1984's "Like a Virgin" and 1989's "Like a Prayer."

LITERARY PURSUITS: Madonna has several children's books (including this one called "The English Roses") and one called "Sex." The latter is a picture book, and you can guess the rest.

Now let's compare her to Janet Jackson.....ACTING: From playing troubled youngster Penny on television's "Good Times" to a role as Tupac Shakur's leading lady (here is Janet with with Shakur) in the John Singleton film "Poetic Justice".....

....to the more recent Tyler Perry film "Why Did I Get Married?" Janet has always seemed a more natural actress than Madonna. In the Tyler Perry film, Janet (center) plays Patricia.

RELATIONSHIPS: Her first marriage to James DeBarge (of the family musical act DeBarge) was annulled. Her second, to Rene Elizando Jr. (seen here at right) was a secret for many years. The pair married in 1991, Elizando filed for divorce in 2000.

Marriage rumors are a constant with Jackson and current flame, Atlanta producer Jermaine Dupri. Here, she smiles at Dupri as he gives an interview following the BET awards in 2006.

FAMILY: We all know Jackson's family history. From the beloved Jackson 5 to brother Michael's bumpy career (Here he is seen leaving Santa Barbara County Superior Court on April 7, 2005, after another day of testimony in his child molestation trial)

At least the Jacksons (here is Janet with Michael in 1993) seem to stick together publicly with the possible exception of........

THE GOOD STUFF: Jackson's 1986 peak came with "Control," a memorable album that debuted at No. 1, spawned five Top 5 singles and remains a sure-fire party-starter.

LITERARY PURSUITS: Jackson (seen here in a 1997 photo) has announced that she has a book coming out chronicling her struggles with.....

....her fluctuating weight. (This photo, like the previous one, was also shot in 1997.)

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THEY'RE BOTH LADIES OF THE 80's. That's when Madonna and Janet Jackson did their best work, but we're still fascinated with them. Their records may not sell in the massive quantities they once did, but whenever they hit the road, the world takes notice. Since both Jackson and Madonna -born about 8 years and 300 miles apart - will make their way to Atlanta this fall, we thought we'd do a little comparison of their lives and careers. -- Text By Shane Harrison / AJC

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