Janet Jackson fans in the Midwest are disappointed that she pulled out as headliner of the Cincinnati Music Festival in July.
Earth, Wind & Fire and Anthony Hamilton are also scheduled to take the stage at the festival.
Ms. Jackson would have headlined after a special tribute to Frankie Beverly, featuring Jubu Smith, with special guests Ron Isley, Joe, After 7, Dave Hollister and Raheem DeVaughn.
Fans from out of town bought plane tickets and made arrangements for hotels in Cincinnati to attend the festival to see their icon. However, Janet canceled at the last minute, leaving her fans upset.
Janet was scheduled to headline Saturday, July 26, but she canceled due to personal reasons.
Janet issued a statement apologizing to her fans for canceling on them again.
“To all my Cincinnati Music Festival fans, I’m so sorry that I won’t be able to be with you all in July. Some personal matters have come up and I am unable to attend. I look forward to seeing you all soon!”
Her announcement left festival organizers scrambling to find a replacement headliner on short notice.
“We just learned that Janet Jackson is unable to perform at the 2025 Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G due to personal matters,” reads a statement from the Cincinnati Music Festival. “Festival organizers are working quickly to fill her spot on the lineup.”
Some outraged fans took to social media and message boards to vent their frustration. They compared Janet to Lauryn Hill who is also notorious for canceling shows or showing up hours late.
One fan wrote: “This is just how [Janet] rolls. If you’re stupid enough to buy tickets to one of her performances, you have about a 50/50 chance of actually seeing her on stage. She cancels as much as she performs.”
Another fan wrote: “Possibly one of the most unreliable touring artists ever.”
A third person commented: “How does a personal matter today prevent you from performing in late July?”
