Organizers of the Cincinnati Music Festival announced Thursday, March 20 that one of the headliners has pulled out of the event, scheduled for July.
Janet Jackson was set to headline the festival on Saturday, July 26 but is reportedly unable to perform, organizers said, according to WCPO Cincinnati.
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“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, per the outlet. “Festival organizers are working quickly to fill her spot on the lineup.”
Jackson did not explain what “personal matters” prompted her to pull out of the festival in a statement shared by the Cincinnati Music Festival.
“To all my Cincinnati Music Festival fans,” reads the statement from Jackson, per the report. “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!”
Jackson’s set would have been the grand finale of the festival, which runs from July 24-26. Other headliners include an all-star Celebration of Hip-Hop set for Thursday, July 24; Earth Wind & Fire on Friday, July 25 and another headliner to be determined to replace Jackson on Saturday, July 26.
Jackson does have an upcoming Las Vegas residency at Resorts World with dates on May 21, 24, 25, 28, 30 and 31.
The “Nasty” singer was in the news last fall when she repeated the false claim made by Donald Trump that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris was not Black. Jackson did not apologize but did speak out when a person claiming to be her manager issued an apology, saying that person was not authorized to speak on her behalf, per Variety.
Jackson is managed by her brother Randy and the siblings were unavailable for comment and mourning the loss of their older brother Tito, who died at age 70 on Sept. 15, 2024, around the same time this controversy erupted.
Next: Janet Jackson Breaks Silence on Major Family Loss With Heartfelt Tribute
