In a recent interview with Scott Mills on BBC Sounds, Janet Jackson revealed some surprising family connections. Jackson confirmed that legendary singer Stevie Wonder is actually her cousin on her mother’s side. But the surprises didn’t end there, as Jackson also disclosed that both Tracy Chapman and Samuel L. Jackson are also cousins. The revelation left Mills, and likely many others, completely shocked.
While discussing their familial ties, Jackson humorously clarified that despite sharing the same last name, Samuel L. Jackson is not one of her brothers. The iconic singer is currently on tour celebrating her decades of hits, but she’s not the only successful Jackson family member.
Chapman, known for her privacy, recently experienced a career resurgence when country artist Luke Combs covered her 1988 single “Fast Car.” The cover reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart last year, making Chapman the first Black woman to achieve this feat since the chart’s establishment in 1990. Their performance together at the Grammys in February earned a standing ovation.
CNN has reached out to representatives for Wonder, Chapman, and Samuel L. Jackson for further comment on their unexpected family connection.