Janet Jackson is putting her Australian tour on hold and returning to the United States to be with her family in the midst of the trial of her brother Michael’s doctor.

A statement on Jackson’s website said that “after private discussions with her family regarding her late brother Michael Jackson, it became necessary” that Jackson leave Australia, where she had scheduled various stops on her Number Ones tour, for several days.

Dr. Conrad Murray is on trial charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson’s 2009 death from an overdose of the drug propofol and sedatives.

“When I planned these shows, the schedule in California was completely different. After talking with my family last night, I decided we must be together right now,” Jackson said in the statement posted on Sunday.

“I’m looking forward to being with you for the Gold Coast, Sydney, and the Melbourne concerts,” she added in a message to fans in Australia.

Concerts slated for Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in Melbourne have been rescheduled at the Rod Laver Arena for one night on Nov. 3.

Gold Coast and Sydney concerts are unaffected by her travels.

The statement quoted the tour’s promoter, Paul Dainty, as saying: “It is important that Janet is with her family at this critical point in the hearing.

“While Janet and our company apologize for any inconvenience for the reschedule of the Melbourne shows, we thank Janet for the great and successful concerts in Perth and Adelaide and eagerly await her return.”

Since Dr. Conrad Murray went back to his regular practice last month, late Michael Jackson’s family have been upset that he still maintains his medical license.

Sister, Janet Jackson and mom, Katherine Jackson are building a wrongful death law suit and “an appeal to U.S. authorities” to take away his license and the right to practice.

Jermaine Jackson told Larry King that Dr. Conrad Murray should have refrained from practicing at least until the end of the investigation, which is now going to continue into 2010.

“I’ll just say this. I’m very upset to hear that this doctor is able to go back and practice medicine. No charges… and to take our brother’s life and one of the biggest names in the world. Who is he going to practice on? I mean, he’s been marked. But I’m just saying that I’m very disappointed and they (the Jackson family) are, too, because he should not be where he is. He should be charged.”

Dr. Conrad Murray was pressured to return to work in order to start paying back the growing child support alimony he was ignoring.

Out of all the pop princesses who came after her, Janet Jackson holds a special place in her heart for one in particular.

Miss Jackson reveals to The Times that she “loves” Alicia Keys’ music and spirit. “She has such a beautiful soul,” she tells the U.K. newspaper. “I love her for that. There’s not a lot of them.”

In addition to Keys, the 43-year-old singer “enjoys” Lady Gaga and appreciates the flattery from her younger peers. “I think it’s great for someone to emulate you,” she says. “It lets you know that they’ve watched your work and admired what it is you’ve done.”

Jackson’s greatest hits album Number Ones is available now.

Janet Jackson will perform a medley of her greatest hits to open the American Music Awards.

Will she call attention to her infamous performance at the Super Bowl? Probably not.

ABC will air the American Music Awards from 8 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22.

The scheduled performers include Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Green Day, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Keith Urban, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, the Black Eyed Peas, Daughtry and Adam Lambert.

ABC said more performers will be announced.

Robin Roberts will have the privilege of interviewing Janet Jackson for her first lengthy interview since the passing of her beloved brother, Michael Jackson. The interview will be an exclusive one-hour ‘Primetime’ special that will air on ABC, November 18.

Janet Jackson’s Greatest Hits album, ‘Number Ones’ is out November 17. The album will include all the fan favorites such as ‘Rhythm Nation’, ‘That’s The Way Love Goes,’ and ‘Scream’ her duet with MJ. The album can be order via Amazon.

Are you looking forward to this interview?

Janet Jackson does not travel lightly. Arriving at Indochine on Wednesday night, where Glenda Bailey hosted a dinner in honor of Jackson’s October cover, the singer was followed into the restaurant by a bodyguard, her choreographer and four or so friends. Just another day, or night, in the life of a megastar who rarely finds herself alone. “You don’t want to be [alone]. It can get dangerous,” Jackson said.

Anyone who’s been in the tents this week and seen the manic frenzy that surrounds celebrities knows what Jackson is talking about. Fortunately, the atmosphere at Ralph Lauren’s show on Thursday, where Jackson sat in the front row with Dylan Lauren, was under control. “I love how he can be very feminine but at the same time mix in something that’s very masculine,” said Jackson of the designer. “I grew up as a tomboy, and I’m still a tomboy. That’s why he’s one of my favorite designers.”

After the show, the very private Jackson left to unwind after what turned out to be a very public week (she performed at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday and attended the Marc Jacobs/V party on Monday in addition to her appearances at Indochine and Ralph). “I’m going to kick off my shoes and massage my own feet,” she said, laughing. Out of all those people, there’s no one around to rub her feet? “Of course [there is],” she said. “But it takes a few hours before they can come to the house.”

After honoring her brother at the VMAs, Janet Jackson keeps his memory alive by releasing “Make Me,” an uptempo disco throwback produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins that invokes Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough.” The song, which Janet calls a “very special gift” to her fans, may be featured on her new album due in early 2010.

make me

Janet Jackson has put her bid in for custody of the late singer, Michael’s, three children.

Michael allegedly discussed his wishes for his children with Janet before his passing. The singer was even planning to draft a new will with different custody details in relation to Paris, 12, Prince MIchael I, 11, and Price Michael II, seven, in the event he passed, according to ContactMusic.com.

An unidentified source said: “There was a lot of rifts in the family, but Janet was the one person he spoke to regularly and he made sure the children kept in touch with her too.

“Ultimately, he wanted Janet to look after the children, with help from his mother Katherine, and was planning to draft a new will to reflect those wishes. He trusted Janet implicitly.

“When he had health concerns, he had a talk with Janet about how much she meant to him and the children, and how if anything happened to him, he wanted her to make sure the children would be loved and cared for in the same way he was raising them. She told him of course she would.”

Michael’s most recent will was written in 2002 and named the family matriarch, Katherine, as the guardian. However, Janet, who took the children to the family home to gather their belongings after the singer’s death last month, has the support of her siblings to take custody of the children.

The source added to Britain’s Grazia magazine: “The family think this could be a great idea – they are supportive of Katherine, but although she is in good health, she is nearly 80 and they are worried she is not up to the task.

“Janet is blossoming into a woman with tremendous untapped maternal instincts. The children automatically turn to her for comfort and direction.”

Two British tabloids quote LaToya Jackson as saying she believes her brother Michael Jackson was murdered as part of a conspiracy to steal his fortune.

She reportedly says her brother’s assets of more than 1 billion dollars made him a tempting target and that cash and jewelry worth roughly $2 million was taken from his home after his death.

Her comments were published Sunday. The News of the World quotes her as saying she knows who is to blame for her brother’s death and is determined to see them brought to justice.

She also reportedly says her brother did not want to perform 50 shows in London but was pressured to do so.

American singer Janet Jackson has received an acting career boost even as she mourns the death of her brother, King of Pop Michael Jackson.The singer/actress is reportedly set to star in a sequel to the 2007 romantic comedy Why Did I Get Married? a hit film in America, reports the Daily Express.

Buzz up!
Janet, 43, will reprise her role as successful author and psychologist Patricia in the new flick entitled Why Did I Get Married Too?, due for release next year. Her previous acting credits include the second Nutty Professor film and appearances in US TV shows
Fame and Diff’rent Strokes.