Janet Jackson celebrates Tupac Shakur's legacy with tribute outfit at BET Awards 2026

Janet Jackson looked like a 90s pop star diva as she arrived for the 2026 BET Awards, held on Sunday, at Los Angeles' Peacock Theater. The actress rocked an oversized pair of low-rise, wide-leg pinstripe trousers, which she paired with a matching top and accessorized with a black, corset element at her waist beneath a black and silver thick belt as well as a Michael Jackson-style fedora hat.

Janet Jackson used the major event to remember Tupac Shakur, who died in 1996. The 60-year-old singer paired her pants with a white dress shirt, which she layered with a gray T-shirt with “2Pac” written over it in a blueish-gray font. To complete her look, Jackson added bracelets and bangles on both her wrists, and a chain at her trouser pocket. A black fedora with birdcage elements and huge silver earrings enhanced her overall glam look. She was styled by Laurel Thomson.

Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur co-starred in the 1993 romantic drama film 'Poetic Justice.' Though they created magic as an on-screen couple, their real-life relationship was reportedly complex. It was said that Jackson wanted her co-star to take an HIV Test before filming the kissing scene in the movie. Shakur addressed it in an interview, saying, "I don’t know that it was Janet that it came from. But I know that suddenly, out of the blue, they wanted me to take an AIDS test for this love scene. I did not disagree." The artist further said he was ready to take "four AIDS tests" if it meant he would get a chance to film love scenes with Janet Jackson.

Janet Jackson had called Tupac Shakur "a good-hearted person" after his death. A year after his murder, the actress said in an interview, "I remember being on the set (of `Poetic Justice’) and Pac asking me how old do I want to be when I die. My grandfather was over 100 years old when he died, and I told him I’d feel very blessed if I could make it that far." She continued, "And I said, What about you?’ And he started shaking his head and said, I don’t want to grow old on this Earth.’ And I said, C’mon, ‘Pac.’ And he said, No, I want to die young; I want to die in my 20s.’ And I hadn’t thought about that until the day he passed away."

Janet Jackson also gave Teyana Taylor the Icon of the Year Award at the 2026 BET Awards. The icon, who is Taylor’s main artistic inspiration, also praised the 'One Battle After Another' star, saying, "It seems like only yesterday, our rose from Harlem grew out of the concrete and blossomed into our Icon of the Year. I’ve enjoyed watching you, as you know, over the years." She added, "Watching you defy expectations, rewrite the rules and lead with an unstoppable work ethic. The world is made more luminous with the art that you have given it. This year, it belongs to you."