In 1984, at just 18 years old, Janet Jackson married singer James DeBarge. DeBarge was part of the group DeBarge, known for '80s hits like "Rhythm of the Night" and "All This Love." In "Janet Jackson," she revealed that her marriage to DeBarge was partially motivated by her desire to gain independence from her controlling father and manager, Joe Jackson.
According to Jackson herself, their marriage ended due to DeBarge's frequent substance abuse, saying, "I cared so much for him, and I saw the good in him as well, and I just wanted that to take precedence as opposed to this ugliness. 'Cause I knew that he needed help. But I wasn't the help that he needed." The marriage was annulled in 1985.