Global music icon, multiple GRAMMY® Award winner and multiplatinum-selling artist Janet Jackson will receive the first-ever “Impact” Award at the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards (RDMA), music’s biggest event for families, airing SATURDAY, JUNE 23 (8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT), on Disney Channel as well as multiple Disney-branded platforms, including Radio Disney, the Radio Disney app, the DisneyNOW app and Disney.com/RDMA. Ms. Jackson joins previously announced honorees including Carrie Underwood, who will be receiving the “Hero” Award, and Kelly Clarkson, who will be receiving the “Icon” Award.

The “Impact” Award is in recognition of Ms. Jackson’s influence on society and the world of entertainment – particularly women – across generations of fans. Artists like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Alicia Keys have all cited Jackson as having an indelible impact on their own careers.

Janet Jackson is one of the most influential entertainers of the modern era. Her music has won her six GRAMMY Awards, two Emmy® nominations, a Golden Globe® Award, a nomination for an Academy Award® along with dozens of American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. She has received accolades as an actress as well, including the NAACP Best Supporting Actor award. Janet is a published author, dancer, businessperson, philanthropist and one of the biggest-selling artists in popular music history. With sales of over 160 million records worldwide, Janet Jackson stands as one of the best-selling artists of all time with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture. Her music and artistry have opened doors through which other top artists have followed, many acknowledging her impact on their musical perceptions.
She will return to arenas and amphitheaters across the U.S. this summer with an extension of her outstanding and in-demand State of the World Tour beginning July 11 in Austin, Texas, and visiting cities across the country including Cincinnati, Hershey, Raleigh, Miami and more. These dates are in addition to her previously announced headlining dates, including the Essence Festival (July 8 – New Orleans), Panorama Festival (July 28 – New York), Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys (August 10 – Lake Tahoe) and Outside Lands (August 12 – San Francisco).
“As one of the most influential and transformative artists of all time, we are proud to celebrate Janet Jackson as the first recipient of the RDMA ‘Impact’ Award,” said Phil Guerini, vice president, Music Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide, and general manager, Radio Disney Network. “From her contributions to the world of entertainment and her humanitarian work to make a better tomorrow, we could not think of a better recipient to receive this inaugural award.”

Additional presenters scheduled to appear at this year’s show include Noah Cyrus, Mason Ramsey (“Walmart Yodel Kid”) and Lauv. Previously announced presenters include stars of Disney Channel’s hit series “Andi Mack,” Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph of Freeform’s “Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger,” Hollywood Records recording artist Sabrina Carpenter, Radio Disney’s “NBT” (Next Big Thing) JAGMAC, and the winners of ABC’s “Boy Band” and Hollywood Records group In Real Life.

The 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards will take place FRIDAY, JUNE 22, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, California, with scheduled performances by Carrie Underwood with Ludacris, Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor, Charlie Puth, Marshmello, Echosmith and “American Idol” winner Maddie Poppe.

Information on the Radio Disney Music Awards is available at www.Disney.com/RDMA.