Janet Jackson's Road to 50

— -- intro: It's hard to believe Janet Jackson is 50.

So many of us grew up watching Michael's little sister on "Good Times." Her acting talent made her stand out from the rest of the musically talented Jackson family. At the same time, we loved when she decided to follow in her older siblings footsteps but did it her own way. With her third album, "Control," it was clear that Ms. Jackson was now in charge.

Jackson has helmed a recording career that has made her one of the best-selling artists of all time with a record-holding 18 consecutive Top 10 hits. We've rooted for her at concert halls and on movie screens, through marriages and breakups. As she reaches this mid-century milestone, we're excited about her latest endeavor: planning a family.

Here's a quick look back at Janet Jackson's road to 50:

quicklist: 1title: 'Good Times'text: Janet first stood out from her famous family as the cute, dimpled youngest child of 9. She got her start in acting on the family variety show "The Jacksons" in 1976, and soon landed a starring role as Penny Gordon Woods in the sitcom "Good Times." She went on to star in the short-lived sitcom "A New Kind of Family." Later she played Willis' girlfriend Charlene Duprey on three seasons of "Diff'rent Strokes." By the time she earned a spot on season 4 of "Fame," she already had two albums under her belt and a quickie marriage.

In 1984, Jackson eloped with James DeBarge, now 52, of the singing family group DeBarge. The marriage was annulled the following year. Jackson was now ready to take control of her music career and her life.media: 39047198

quicklist: 2title: 'Control'text: After her second album, arranged by her father Joe Jackson, failed to make a huge splash, Jackson went out on her own, teaming up with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for her third album. "Control" was a huge hit, spawning five hit singles, "What Have You Done for Me Lately," "Nasty," "When I Think of You," "Control," and "Let's Wait Awhile." It also established Ms. Jackson as a bonafide talent, separate from her super-talented brother Michael Jackson. Her videos became as well known on MTV as his, and helped establish her then-unknown choreographer Paula Abdul. media: 39047033

quicklist: 3title: 'Poetic Justice'text: Jackson followed up "Control" with the no. 1 album "Rhythm Nation" and a sellout tour. But she hadn't forgotten about her first love: acting. She made her film debut in 1993's "Poetic Justice," opposite rap genius Tupac Shakur. Her ballad "Again," written for the film, received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for "Best Original Song."media: 39046899

quicklist: 4title: 'Janet'text: With the release of her fifth studio album, "Janet," Jackson appeared topless on the cover, proclaiming her sexual maturity and becoming a worldwide sex symbol. The photo, which also appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, featured a man's hands covering her breasts. It turned out to be Rene Elizondo Jr., who directed several of her music videos and was a songwriter for "The Velvet Rope." Later, it was also revealed that he was her husband. The couple secretly wed in 1991 and and managed to keep their marriage a secret for the next eight years, until Elizondo filed for divorce in 1999.media: 39046255