Janet Jackson's 1986 'Control' album tops charts after Justin Timberlake's apology

The singer has thanked her fans for making the album number one 35 years after its release

Janet Jackson's 'Control' album has topped charts again 35 years after its release. AFP

Janet Jackson has thanked her fans after her 1986 album Control shot to number one on Apple's top US Pop Album charts.

The singer, 54, posted a video to Instagram, saying: "I was at home just the other day by myself and I began to cry. I was crying because I was so thankful for all that God has blessed me with, all he's given me.

"And I'm so thankful for him being in my life and I'm so thankful for all of you being in my life. You're so special to me and I want to thank all of you for making Control number one once again after 35 years."

The album, which was one of the originators of the new jack swing genre, was also one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the 1980s. It became Jackson's first album to top the Billboard Chart after it was released in February 1986, plus gained a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year and a win for Producer of the Year for Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

The news of Jackson's success comes on the back of Justin Timberlake's apology to the Nasty singer and Britney Spears.

Timberlake's past behaviour was called into question this weekend after the recently released Framing Britney Spears documentary highlighted the ways he'd benefitted from their split and how his actions may have led to the villainisation of Spears in the following years.

The way he dealt with Jackson's 2014 "wardrobe malfunction" during their Super Bowl performance was also being addressed.

"I've seen the messages, tags, comments and concerns and I want to respond," Timberlake wrote in a social media post on Friday. "I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right.

"I understand that I fell short in these moments in many others and benefitted from a system that condones misogyny and racism."

He specifically addressed both Spears and Jackson in his comments, "because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed".

He added: "I also feel compelled to respond, in part, because everyone involved deserves better and most importantly, because this is a larger conversation that I wholeheartedly want to be a part of and grow from."

Timberlake and Jackson performed together during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show in Texas, during which the Cry Me a River singer pulled some fabric from Jackson's clothes. This quickly became a long-running controversy that majorly affected Jackson's career, while largely leaving Timberlake unscathed.

"The industry is flawed," Timberlake continued in his statement. "It sets men, especially white men, up for success. It’s designed this way. As a man in a privileged position I have to be vocal about this.

"Because of my ignorance, I didn’t recognise it for all that it was while it was happening in my own life but I do not want to ever benefit from others being pulled down again. I have not been perfect in navigating all of this throughout my career."

He concluded: "I know this apology is a first step and doesn’t absolve the past. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports. I care deeply about the wellbeing of the people I love and have loved. I can do better and I will do better."