Editing La Toya Jackson

{{short description|American singer (born 1956)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = La Toya Jackson
| image              = File:La Toya Jackson cropped.jpg
| image_caption      = Jackson in 2010
| birth_name         = La Toya Yvonne Jackson
| alias              = Toy
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1956|5|29}}
| birth_place        = [[Gary, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| occupation         = {{hlist|Singer|television personality}}
| years_active       = 1972–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Jack Gordon (entertainment manager)|Jack Gordon]]|1989|1997
|reason=div.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qcwDAAAAMBAJ&q=Jack+Gordon+Latoya+Jackson&pg=PA112|title=Ebony|first=Johnson Publishing|last=Company|date=July 1, 1992|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|access-date=April 11, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzsDAAAAMBAJ&q=Jack+Gordon+Latoya+Jackson&pg=PA34|title=Jet|first=Johnson Publishing|last=Company|date=June 3, 1996|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|access-date=April 11, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref>
| parents            = {{Plain list|
* [[Joe Jackson (manager)|Joe Jackson]]
* [[Katherine Jackson]]
}}
| family             = [[Jackson family|Jackson]]
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre = {{flat list |
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[Pop music|pop]]
* [[Dance music|dance]]
}}
| label = {{hlist|[[Polydor Records|Polydor]]|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Columbia Records|CBS/Columbia]]|Luco Music Group|[[RCA]]|[[Jive Records|Jive]]|[[Warner Music Group|Pump/Dino/WMG]]|[[Bungalo Records|Bungalo/Universal Records]]}}
}}
| website            = 
}}
'''La Toya Yvonne Jackson''' (born May 29, 1956) is an American singer and television personality. The fifth child and middle daughter of the [[Jackson family]], Jackson first gained recognition on the family's variety television series, ''[[The Jacksons (TV series)|The Jacksons]]'', on [[CBS]] between 1976 and 1977. Thereafter, she saw success as a solo recording artist under multiple record labels in the 1980s and 1990s, including [[Polydor Records|Polydor]], [[Sony Music]] and [[RCA Records|RCA]], where she released nine studio albums over the course of 15 years. Her most successful releases in the United States were her [[La Toya Jackson (album)|self-titled debut album]] (1980) and the 1984 single "[[Heart Don't Lie (song)|Heart Don't Lie]]". Jackson's other songs include "[[If You Feel the Funk]]", "[[Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin']]", "[[Hot Potato (song)|Hot Potato]]", "[[You're Gonna Get Rocked! (song)|You're Gonna Get Rocked!]]", and "[[Sexbox]]". Another one of Jackson's songs, "Just Say No" from her [[La Toya (album)|fifth album]] was composed for [[First Lady of the United States|US first lady]] [[Nancy Reagan]] and [[Reagan administration]]'s [[Just Say No|anti-drug campaign]].

She is a two time [[The New York Times Best Seller list|New York Times best-selling]] author. Jackson posed for ''[[Playboy]]'' magazine in 1989 and again in 1991 to promote her book ''[[La Toya: Growing Up in the Jackson Family]]''. In 1992, Jackson signed a contract with the [[Moulin Rouge]] to star in the successful Paris revue, [[Formidable (La Toya Jackson album)|Formidable]]. 
Despite subsequent musical success, Jackson's recording career began its decline in the 1990s as a result of her controversial marriage to entertainment manager [[Jack Gordon (entertainment manager)|Jack Gordon]], whom she divorced in 1997. After a period of public seclusion, she returned to the music industry in 2004 with the singles "[[Just Wanna Dance]]", "[[Home (La Toya Jackson song)|Home]]", and "[[Free the World]]", which saw success on the [[Hot Dance Club Play]] chart in the United States. In 2011, she was a contestant on the fourth installment of ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 11)|The Celebrity Apprentice]]'' and released an extended play, ''[[Starting Over (La Toya Jackson EP)|Starting Over]]'', which is her most recent release to date and was released alongside her [[Starting Over (autobiography)|best-selling autobiography]].

From 2013 to 2014, Jackson appeared in her own reality television series on the [[Oprah Winfrey Network (U.S. TV channel)|Oprah Winfrey Network]], ''[[Life with La Toya]]'', which aired for two seasons.

==Life and career==
===1956–1979: Early life and ''The Jacksons''===
[[File:Jacksonstvshow.jpg|left|thumb|upright|From left, back row: [[Jackie Jackson]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[Tito Jackson]], [[Marlon Jackson]]. Middle row: [[Randy Jackson (Jacksons singer)|Randy Jackson]], La Toya Jackson, [[Rebbie Jackson]]. Front row: [[Janet Jackson]] (1977)]]
Born on her sister [[Rebbie Jackson|Rebbie]]'s 6th birthday on May 29, 1956, at St Mary's Mercy Hospital in [[Gary, Indiana]], La Toya Jackson is the fifth of ten children born to [[Joe Jackson (manager)|Joe]] and [[Katherine Jackson]] and the middle female child between [[Rebbie]] and [[Janet Jackson|Janet]]. Growing up, La Toya tended to be shy. After her mother became a member of the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] in 1966, La Toya, along with the rest of her siblings followed. She would spend some of her time alongside her mother preaching door-to-door. "Every morning, Michael and I witnessed, knocking on doors around Los Angeles, spreading the word of Jehovah."<ref>{{cite book | last = Jackson | first = La Toya | author2 = Patricia Romanowski | title = [[La Toya: Growing Up in the Jackson Family]] | publisher = Dutton Publishing | year = 1991 | page = [https://archive.org/details/latoyagrowingupi00jack/page/54 54] | isbn = 0-451-17415-1 }}</ref> By 1974, at seventeen, La Toya joined her brothers in the spotlight with a [[tap dance|tap dancing]] routine when her father arranged for them to perform shows in [[Las Vegas]], among other cities.<ref>{{cite book | last = Jackson | first = La Toya | author2 = Patricia Romanowski | title = [[La Toya: Growing Up in the Jackson Family]] | publisher = Dutton Publishing | year = 1991 | page = [https://archive.org/details/latoyagrowingupi00jack/page/65 65] | isbn = 0-451-17415-1 }}</ref> La Toya attended the California Prep school in [[Encino, Los Angeles, California]], and aspired to be an attorney specializing in [[business law]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} She attended college for a short time before her father insisted that she pursue a career in show business like the rest of the family.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In 1976 and 1977, La Toya and her sisters Rebbie and Janet appeared in all twelve episodes of ''[[The Jacksons (TV series)|The Jacksons]]''—a [[CBS]]-TV variety program, with their brothers [[Jackie Jackson|Jackie]], [[Tito Jackson|Tito]], [[Marlon Jackson|Marlon]], [[Michael Jackson|Michael]], and [[Randy Jackson (The Jacksons)|Randy]]. Along with their brothers (sans [[Jermaine Jackson|Jermaine]], who stayed at [[Motown]] and left the family group when his brothers moved to [[Epic Records]]), La Toya and her sisters sang, danced, and performed skits. In 1977, during the filming of ''[[The Wiz (film)|The Wiz]]'', La Toya traveled with her brother Michael (who was cast as the [[Scarecrow (Oz)|Scarecrow]]), to New York. Sharing an apartment, it was the first time either of them had lived elsewhere as adults. Close siblings, Michael and La Toya would not move out of the family's Encino home until they were 29 and 31 respectively. Her dates during this period included [[Diana Ross]]' brother Chico and a young [[David Gest]].<ref>Laura B. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-7044964/my-first-love-celebrities.html 'My first love': celebrities recall the first time they were hit by Cupid's arrow.] ''[[Ebony magazine]]'' February 1, 1989</ref> Jackson also dated [[Bobby DeBarge]] and was the inspiration for [[Switch (band)|Switch's]] 1979 hit "I Call Your Name".<ref name="vibe">Michael A. Gonzales, [[Vibe Magazine]]{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/09/debarge_epi_2/ |title=The Rise and Fall of the Debarge Family |access-date=September 13, 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217101636/http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/09/debarge_epi_2/ |archive-date=December 17, 2007 }} , September 10, 2007.</ref>

Under Joe Jackson's tutelage, Rebbie, La Toya and Janet formed a short-lived musical group. However, they never performed live and soon separated because of creative differences about the act's future direction. Consequently, no related material was ever released by the trio.<ref name="thejacksons">{{cite book | last = Jackson | first = Joseph | title = The Jacksons | publisher = Random House Entertainment |date=September 2004 | page = 115 | isbn = 3-8090-3028-7}}</ref> The next year, La Toya began work on her first solo album.

===1980–1987: Solo debut and follow-up albums===
In 1980, Jackson released her [[La Toya Jackson (album)|self-titled debut album]]. In order to distinguish herself from her famous brothers, [[The Jacksons]], La Toya only wanted her first name on the album. "I begged just to have it 'La Toya'. But [[Joseph Jackson (manager)|my father]] said, 'It's your last name. You got to use it.' But I wanted to see what I could do as an individual."<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vq8SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pfkDAAAAIBAJ&dq=latoya-jackson&pg=3355%2C373664 Waiting for the day when she's not just 'his sister']" ''Spokane Daily Chronicle'', June 18, 1985</ref> The first single "[[If You Feel the Funk]]", became a modest hit, climbing into the Top 40 of the US [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] chart. Her second single, "[[Night Time Lover]]", was produced by younger brother [[Michael Jackson|Michael]], who provided backing vocals and co-wrote the song with La Toya. In turn, she provided the opening scream on her brothers', [[The Jacksons]], 1980 hit, "[[This Place Hotel]]" as well as backing vocals on brother Michael's 1983 solo hit "[[P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)]]". The ''La Toya Jackson'' album peaked at #116 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], #26 on the ''Billboard'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|R&B album chart]], and #178 on the [[UK Albums Chart|UK Top 200]], making it her highest placing album.

In 1981, Jackson released a follow-up album, ''[[My Special Love]]'', which generated two singles, "[[Stay the Night (1980 song)|Stay the Night]]" and "[[I Don't Want You to Go (Lani Hall song)|I Don't Want You to Go]]".

1984 saw the release of Jackson's ''[[Heart Don't Lie]].'' Jackson scored her biggest [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] hit with the [[Heart Don't Lie (song)|title track]], which peaked at number 56. Other singles from this album were "[[Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin']]", "[[Hot Potato (song)|Hot Potato]]", and a cover of [[Prince (musician)|Prince's]] "[[Private Joy]]." Jackson and Amir Bayyan co-wrote "[[Reggae Night]]" for ''Heart Don't Lie'' but the track did not make the cut. [[Jimmy Cliff]]'s recording of the song was a hit and was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album|Grammy]]. Cliff commissioned Jackson to write two more songs: "Brown Eyes" and "American Sweet."

In 1984, Jackson licensed her name to a fashion line; "David Laurenz for La Toya."<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-3271415/apparel-manufacturers-beat-michael.html] {{dead link|date=October 2019}}</ref> Apparel in the collection included Jackson's signature leather [[headband]]s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104103054/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-3235469.html David Laurenz, Latoya Jackson sign 3-year pact.], ''[[Women's Wear Daily]]'', April 24, 1984</ref><ref>By Peter Carlson, Roger Wolmuth [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20087744,00.html 'The Jacksons Continue to Gear Up for the Pop Cultural Event of the Year at a Pace—Slow—That Is Driving Fans and Potential Business Partners into a Frenzy'] ''[[People (magazine)|PEOPLE]]'' May 7, 1984 Vol. 21 No. 18</ref> Jackson starred in television and print advertisements for [[Nikon]] cameras and the following year she became the [[spokesmodel]] for cosmetics firm Mahogany Image and launched her own eponymous fragrance, ''La Toya''.<ref>Britton, A.G.[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-3934479/la-roya-hit-mahogany.html La Roya a hit for Mahogany Image] (La Toya Jackson) (Holiday Fragrance supplement) ''[[Women's Wear Daily]]'' September 13, 1985</ref>{{Listen|filename=Babysister.ogg|title="Baby Sister"|description=A sample from "[[Baby Sister]]", a single by La Toya Jackson.}}

In 1985, Jackson participated on the single "[[We Are the World]]", an appeal for famine relief in [[Ethiopia]]. That same year Jackson featured in anti-drug [[music video]] "[[Stop the Madness]]". Her 1985 single "[[Baby Sister]]" received one of five Outstanding Song Awards at the sixteenth annual [[World Popular Song Festival]] in Japan. "Baby Sister" was included on the 1986 album ''[[Imagination (La Toya Jackson album)|Imagination]]'', released just before Jackson's record label, Private-I, went bankrupt resulting in poor promotion.<ref name="WPSF1985">{{cite web|url=http://users.telenet.be/wpsf/WPSF1985.htm |title=16th World Popular Song Festival |publisher=Users.telenet.be |access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> Jackson went on to record two duets; "[[Oops, Oh No!]]" with [[Cerrone]], and "[[Yes, I'm Ready]]" with artist Jed. In 1987 Jackson was featured as a special guest at [[Minako Honda]]'s ''DISPA (Disco Party)'' concert, joining in for the song, "[[Funkytown]]".

=== 1988–1991: Public notoriety, abuse and exile from the Jackson family ===
In 1987, [[Jack Gordon (entertainment manager)|Jack Gordon]] was hired to co-manage La Toya by her father, [[Joseph Jackson (manager)|Joseph]]. He later took over her management completely. Under Gordon's management, Jackson's public image became increasingly sexualized. [[Katherine Jackson]] recalled her shock seeing La Toya dance in a suggestive manner in 1988 for the first time in her autobiography ''My Family, The Jacksons'': "she'd been so conservative that she'd once dropped a friend who had begun wearing low-cut tops and skirts with slits in them." Katherine believed that Gordon was distancing La Toya from her family so he could "become the dominating influence in her life."<ref name="ebony1990">Jackson, Katherine. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n12_v45/ai_8904374/?tag=rbxcra.2.a.22 Everything you always wanted to know about Michael, Janet and LaToya: mother of Jackson family tells all – excerpt from Katherine Jackson's 'My Family, The Jacksons'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016205113/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n12_v45/ai_8904374/?tag=rbxcra.2.a.22 |date=October 16, 2015 }} ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'', October 1990</ref> Around this time Jackson was [[disfellowshipped]] by the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. Defying her father, Jackson made a stormy exit from the family's [[Encino, Los Angeles, California|Encino]] compound to take up residence in New York City.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104103101/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3883232.html 'La Toya off on her own'], ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' May 2, 1988</ref> In late 1988, Jackson released the album ''[[La Toya (album)|La Toya]]'', which featured the singles "[[You're Gonna Get Rocked! (song)|You're Gonna Get Rocked!]]" and "[[(Ain't Nobody Loves You) Like I Do]]".<ref>{{cite book | last = Jackson | first = La Toya | author2 = Patricia Romanowski | title = [[La Toya: Growing Up in the Jackson Family]] | publisher = Dutton Publishing | year = 1991 | page = [https://archive.org/details/latoyagrowingupi00jack/page/207 207] | isbn = 0-451-17415-1 }}</ref> The album also included a track titled "Just Say No", which was written for the [[Reagan administration]]'s [[Just Say No|anti-drug campaign]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Jackson | first = La Toya | author2 = Patricia Romanowski | title = [[La Toya: Growing Up in the Jackson Family]] | publisher = Dutton Publishing | year = 1991 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/latoyagrowingupi00jack/page/205 205–206] | isbn = 0-451-17415-1 }}</ref> The album included four tracks produced by [[Full Force]], and three by [[Stock Aitken Waterman]]. 

In March 1989, Jackson posed topless for ''[[Playboy]]'' magazine. Jackson saw the pictorial as a declaration of independence from her conservative upbringing and "to show my parents they couldn't dictate to me any more—that I control my life."<ref name="ebony1992">Randolph, Laura B. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n9_v47/ai_12268048/ 'LaToya Jackson on: fame, family and her future in Paris'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016205113/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n9_v47/ai_12268048/|date=October 16, 2015}}, July 1992</ref>  In 1989, Jackson began recording her sixth album ''[[Bad Girl (La Toya Jackson album)|Bad Girl]]''. That year Jackson staged a live [[pay-per-view]] concert, ''A Sizzling Spectacular!'', from [[Bally's Reno|Bally's]] theatre in [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]]. The show featured special guest star [[Edgar Winter]].<ref name="Herald-Leader">{{cite web |date=September 5, 1989 |title=Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) – September 5, 1989 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73BA41EB22B55&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=June 24, 2010 |publisher=Nl.newsbank.com}}</ref> 

On September 5, 1989, after her ''Sizzling Spectacular'' concert in Nevada, Gordon and Jackson were married. Jackson later claimed she had been [[Forced marriage|forcibly married]], with Gordon claiming it was for her own protection against kidnapping by her family. La Toya Jackson states that this was both unplanned and against her wishes. According to Jackson, "I told him, 'No way, Jack! I can't marry you. You know what marriage means to me. I've never been in love; I don't even date... It's not right. I don't love you. I don't have feelings for you.'"<ref name="ebony1992" /> Jackson told ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'' magazine the marriage was "strictly in name only. It has never been consummated."<ref name="ebony1992" /> Six months into the marriage, Jackson asked Gordon for an [[annulment]] when in [[Rome, Italy]]. In response, Gordon repeatedly bashed her head against the corner of the hotel room table saying that he would never let her go. [[Paparazzi]] subsequently photographed Jackson with [[black eye]]s, which Gordon claimed were caused by an intruder.<ref name="abcnews">{{cite news |date=January 20, 2005 |title=LaToya Jackson Defends Michael |url=https://abcnews.go.com/2020/MichaelJackson/story?id=428847&page=1 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref><ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-15-ca-462-story.html 'LaToya Jackson Beaten in Rome'] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', June 15, 1990.</ref> From this point forward, Jackson lost all contact with her family and wrote an autobiography, ''[[La Toya: Growing Up in the Jackson Family]]'', which accused her father of [[physical abuse]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jackson |first=La Toya |author2=Patricia Romanowski |title=[[La Toya: Growing Up in the Jackson Family]] |publisher=[[New American Library]] |year=1991 |isbn=0-451-17415-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/latoyagrowingupi00jack/page/261 261]}}</ref> She posed again in ''Playboy'' in November 1991 to promote the autobiography. She later said that she initially refused to pose for the second spread, however, Gordon beat her into submission.<ref name="jet1996">"[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n9_v90/ai_18480043/ 'La Toya Jackson files gender-based violence suit against husband.'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016205113/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n9_v90/ai_18480043/|date=October 16, 2015}}, ''[[Jet Magazine]]'', July 15, 1996.</ref><ref name="larryking">{{cite web |date=March 4, 2003 |title=CNN.com – Transcripts |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0303/04/lkl.00.html |access-date=June 24, 2010 |publisher=Transcripts.cnn.com}}</ref><ref name="abcnews" />

For roughly the next decade Gordon controlled Jackson with threats, lies, and routine [[domestic violence]]. According to Jackson, "When he hit me, the first time I was in shock, I just recalled my ear ringing, just ringing so hard."<ref name="abcnews" /> Gordon confiscated Jackson's passport, transferred her bank accounts into his name, hired bodyguards to watch La Toya constantly and banned her from speaking to or seeing her family, monitoring her every phone call.<ref name="abcnews" /> La Toya's father Joseph stated in his book ''The Jacksons'' that he believed Gordon [[Brainwashing|brainwashed]] La Toya and made her fearful of her own family.<ref name="thejacksons" /> [[Katherine Jackson|Katherine]] also believed that La Toya had been brainwashed while Gordon claimed that Katherine had tried to kill her daughter.<ref>Lavin, Cheryl. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24486352.html?dids=24486352:24486352&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+11%2C+1991&author=Cheryl+Lavin 'Brawl in the family La Toya Jackson's book heats up the tug of war between her family and her manager'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107143659/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24486352.html?dids=24486352:24486352&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+11%2C+1991&author=Cheryl+Lavin |date=November 7, 2012 }}, ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' August 11, 1991.</ref> Sister [[Janet Jackson|Janet]] concurred with her parents saying at the time, "I think this guy who is with her has brainwashed her and made her like this... He keeps her away from the family, and now he's brainwashed her so much she keeps herself away from us."<ref name="jet1996" /><ref name="ebony1993">Norment, Lynn. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n11_v48/ai_13230337/ 'Grown-up Janet Jackson talks about racism, sensuality and the Jackson family'] ''[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]'', September 1993. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126081349/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n11_v48/ai_13230337/ |date=November 26, 2009 }}</ref>

In 1990, Jackson participated in the [[Sanremo Music Festival 1990|Sanremo Music Festival]], entering "[[You and Me (La Toya Jackson song)|You and Me]]" an English-language version of "Verso l'ignoto" by siblings [[Marcella Bella|Marcella]] and [[Gianni Bella]]. While "You and Me" did not win Best Song, it entered Italy's [[hit parade]], peaking at number twenty-eight. That year Jackson signed on with German-based BCM Records and released the single "[[Why Don't You Want My Love?]]" Jackson recorded other material with BCM, but the label went bankrupt and album plans were scrapped. Jackson signed with Dino Records quickly thereafter. 1991 saw the release of ''[[No Relations]]'', an album with strong [[house music|house]] and [[funk]] influences. This album featured Jackson's top twenty-five Netherlands hit "[[Sexbox]]".

=== 1992–2002: Further notoriety, financial difficulties, and escape ===
{{Further|Gordon v. Gordon}}

In 1992, Jackson signed a contract with the [[Moulin Rouge]] in Paris to star in her own revue, ''[[Formidable (La Toya Jackson album)|Formidable]]''. Jackson was to perform two shows a night, six nights a week. Jackson was the highest-paid performer in the cabaret's history, earning a reported $5&nbsp;million. Though ''Formidable'' was successful, selling out on most nights, Jackson departed half-way into her year-long contract owing the nightclub $550,000 in damages.<ref name="ebony1992" /><ref name="cohen">Cohen, Roger. [https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/29/world/paris-journal-today-s-lament-where-s-yesteryear-s-gay-paree.html?scp=3&sq=La%20Toya%20Jackson%20%22moulin%20rouge%22%20&st=cse 'Paris Journal; Today's Lament: Where's Yesteryear's Gay Paree?'] ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 29, 1993.</ref> In October 1992, while taping an ''Exotic Club Tour'' in [[Minneapolis]] Jackson approached sister [[Janet Jackson]], also in town recording her [[janet.|fifth studio album]] with [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]], to ask for help in escaping Gordon. Janet struck La Toya, accusing her elder sister of recording their conversation.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h7YiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GbUFAAAAIBAJ&dq=janet%20jackson%20la%20toya%20minneapolis&pg=6126%2C1156262 'Currents'] ''[[The Beaver County Times]]'' February 7, 1993</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title="Janet Jackson" |series=''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]'' |network=[[E!]] |airdate=October 19, 2003 |season=8 |number=3 }}</ref>

In 1993 in their New York home, Gordon beat Jackson repeatedly with a heavy brass dining room chair, leaving Jackson with black eyes, swollen lip and chin "the size of a clenched fist", cuts requiring 12 mouth stitches and contusions on her face, arms, legs and back.<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20110349,00.html 'Latoya Jackson's Marriage Becomes a Danger Zone'] ''[[People Magazine]]'', May 3, 1993 Vol. 39 No. 17.</ref><ref>Dominguez, Robert. [https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1996/01/10/1996-01-10_more_la_toya_stories_the_gra.html 'More La Toya Stories The Grande Dame of Dysfunction will reveal 'Family Secrets' on new new 900-Line'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117004802/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1996/01/10/1996-01-10_more_la_toya_stories_the_gra.html |date=January 17, 2011 }} ''[[New York Daily News]]'' Wednesday, January 10, 1996.</ref> Jackson lost consciousness during the beating, leading Gordon to believe she was dead. She recalled, "He called his friends and said, 'She's dead. I killed her,' because I was lying in a puddle of blood and I was out."<ref name="femalefirst">[http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/entertainment/LaToya+Jackson-2532.html 'La Toya Jacksons Ex Threatened To Kill Michael and Janet'], femalefirst.co.uk, January 25, 2005.</ref> Gordon was arrested but then released, claiming he beat Jackson in self-defense.<ref>[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24277911.html?dids=24277911:24277911&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+23%2C+1993&author=Tribune+staff+and+wires.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Self-defense+claim&pqatl=google 'Self-defense claim'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107143648/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24277911.html?dids=24277911:24277911&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+23%2C+1993&author=Tribune+staff+and+wires.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Self-defense+claim&pqatl=google |date=November 7, 2012 }} ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', April 23, 1993.</ref>
In December 1993, Gordon hastily arranged a press conference in [[Tel Aviv]], where he had Jackson read a statement claiming to believe the [[1993 child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson|sex abuse allegation]] against her younger brother [[Michael Jackson|Michael]] might be true.<ref>Weinraub, Robert. [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/21/arts/the-jackson-family-reunited-sort-of.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all 'The Jackson Family Reunited, Sort Of'], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 21, 1994.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121026130130/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-978759.html 'La Toya: Charges Are True; Family Says Jackson Never Molested Kids'] ''[[The Washington Post]]'', December 9, 1993.</ref> This was an abrupt reversal of her previous defense of Michael against the charges.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=tLkDAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22charges+against+him+have+come+from+sister+LaToya%2C+who+several+weeks+ago%2C+ironically%2C+defended+him+on+national+television%22&pg=PA52 'Jacksons refute LaToya's charge Michael kept boys with him at family home.'] ''[[Jet Magazine]]'', December 27, 1993 "...charges against him have come from sister LaToya, who several weeks ago, ironically, defended him on national television."</ref> Gordon claimed La Toya had proof that she was prepared to disclose for a fee of $500,000. A bidding war between US and UK tabloids began, but fell through when they realized that her revelations were not what she had claimed them to be.<ref name = "tara 534-540">{{cite book |last=Taraborrelli |first=J. Randy |author-link=J. Randy Taraborrelli |title=The Magic and the Madness |year=2004 |publisher=Headline |location=Terra Alta, West Virginia |isbn=0-330-42005-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U4HqGwAACAAJ&q=Michael+Jackson+The+Magic+and+the+Madness }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} p. 534-540.</ref> According to La Toya, Gordon threatened to have siblings Michael and Janet killed if she did not follow his orders.<ref name="femalefirst" /><ref>{{Cite episode |title="S8E1" |series="[[The Frank Skinner Show]]" |network=[[BBC One]] |airdate=October 14, 2004 |season=8 |number=1}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VnPqCAv47c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/3VnPqCAv47c| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=YouTube – La Toya Jackson on Frank Skinner |publisher=Au.youtube.com |date=August 12, 2007 |access-date=June 24, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 1993, Jackson claimed her father sexually abused her and her sister as children while her mother Katherine enabled it. Rebbie called the police on her father over the sexual abuse, and Katherine told the police nothing happened.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Iqbal |first=Nosheen |date=2024-09-21 |title='I shouldn't have listened to those around me': Janet Jackson on Michael, motherhood and how she's taking back control |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/21/janet-jackson-interview-on-bad-relationships-new-music-and-kamala-harris |access-date=2024-11-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Under Gordon's management, Jackson's career declined with his booking of disreputable jobs such as spokesperson for the [[Psychic Friends Network]]. By the mid-1990s, Jackson's finances were in disarray and she was forced to file for bankruptcy in order to stave off claims of $550,000 in damages to the [[Moulin Rouge]] for ending her contract early.<ref>Benza, A.J. & Lewittes, Michael. [http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/1995/07/20/1995-07-20_la_toya_s_franc_admission.html 'La Toya's Franc Admission']{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[New York Daily News]]'', Thursday, July 20, 1995.</ref> In 1993 Jackson held a concert at Poland's [[Sopot International Song Festival]] and released a [[step aerobics]] exercise video, ''Step-Up Workout''. In 1994, Jackson again worked for Playboy Entertainment, becoming one of the first celebrities to have a Celebrity Centerfold video. ''[[List of Playboy videos#Celebrity Centerfold|Playboy Celebrity Centerfold: La Toya Jackson]]'' was released in the first quarter of 1994 and sold roughly 50,000 copies. She later said that the video was filmed under duress by Gordon.<ref name="jet1996" /><ref name="larryking" /><ref name="abcnews" /> Jackson later released two albums, one of [[country music]], ''[[From Nashville to You]]'', and another of [[Motown]] hits, ''[[Stop in the Name of Love (album)|Stop in the Name of Love]]'', in the mid-1990s.

When Jackson became aware that Gordon was planning to feature her in a [[pornographic film]], Jackson phoned brother [[Randy Jackson (The Jacksons)|Randy]] who flew to New York to help her escape while Gordon was out.<ref name="abcnews"/><ref>{{Cite episode |series=[[Jensen!]] |network=[[RTL 5]] |airdate=May 14, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om8CjBgthJo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/om8CjBgthJo| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=La Toya on escaping Jack Gordon |website=YouTube |date=May 17, 2008 |access-date=June 24, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Days later, La Toya filed for divorce in Las Vegas and sued Gordon in civil court for years of abuse under the [[Violence Against Women Act]]. She changed her name from La Toya Jackson-Gordon to La Toya Jackson, thus dropping use of her former middle name Yvonne.<ref name="jet1996" /> La Toya Jackson ended her estrangement with the entire Jackson family and returned home to Hayvenhurst. Jackson forgave her parents for her stifled upbringing, reasoning, "I've come to realize that as we get older, we grow and learn a lot more. And I think that my father and my mother, they raised children the best way they know how."<ref name="larryking" /> According to La Toya, Michael knew that she was forced to attack him in the press against her will and he did not blame her.<ref name="mtv">Montgomery, James. [https://web.archive.org/web/20040904013833/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490607/20040827/jackson_latoya.jhtml 'LaToya Jackson Tries New Career As 'Toy,' Says 'Michael Knows My Heart' '] [[MTV]], September 1, 2004</ref> Jackson's last single of the 1990s was "[[Don't Break My Heart (La Toya Jackson song)|Don't Break My Heart]]".

After separating from Gordon, Jackson cloistered herself in her home and lived alone for the first time. Weary after her years of public scorn, she was afraid to perform again and struggled to rebuild her confidence.<ref name="mtv" /><ref name="larryking" /> After this time she started to perform in Europe and South America occasionally to start making money to pay off the huge debts which Gordon had accumulated in her name while they were married. In the wake of the [[September 11 attacks]] Jackson was moved to compose "[[Free the World]]". She performed the song for friends to a positive reception and began working on further material.<ref name="larryking" />

=== 2003–2011: Return to music and ''Starting Over'' ===
Jackson publicly re-emerged on [[Larry King Live]] on March 9, 2003. Her appearance caused [[CNN]]'s phone lines to stay busy for hours and was [[Larry King|King]]'s highest-rated show in three years.<ref name="vh1">{{cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/jackson_latoya/bio.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310225115/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/jackson_latoya/bio.jhtml |archive-date=March 10, 2008 |title=VH1 La Toya Jackson biography |work=[[VH1]] |publisher=[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]] |access-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref> Jackson announced her first musical project in six years, ''[[Startin' Over]]''.<ref name="larryking" /> ''Startin' Over''<nowiki/>'s [[lead single]] was 2004's "[[Just Wanna Dance]]", released independently through Ja-Tail Records. The song was released under her pseudonymous nickname "Toy" in order to avoid any prejudices DJs might hold against La Toya Jackson's name.<ref name="gaywired">Pratt, Paul E. {{cite web |url=http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=10&id=6391 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051023190056/http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=10&id=6391 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2005 |title='La Toya Jackson Learns Life's Lessons' |access-date=August 30, 2016}}, gaywired.com, 06.13.05.</ref> "Just Wanna Dance" reached #13 on the US ''Billboard'' [[Hot Dance Club Songs|Hot Dance chart]]. "[[Free the World]]" was released the following year. In February 2005, Ja-Tail Records secured a deal with [[Bungalo Records]] to distribute the project, but it was delayed for several years.<ref name="date">{{cite web |date=February 15, 2005 |title=La Toya Jackson Secures Distribution Deal With Bungalo/Universal Music and Video Distribution! |url=https://m.top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=13580&cat=}}</ref>

After Jack Gordon's death in 2005, Jackson was free to speak more openly about the control he had exerted over her life. She sent a security expert to eyewitness that Gordon had not faked his death a second time.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160311125146/http://latifaheaston.co.uk/latoya/interviews/natenquirer.htm 'La Toya's still haunted by her violent ex-husband']}} ''[[National Enquirer]]'', 2005</ref> In 2005 she appeared on [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] to recant her previous allegations and defend brother Michael against new [[People v. Jackson|charges of child abuse]].<ref name="abcnews" />{{Listen|filename=Idontplaythat.ogg|title="I Don't Play That"|description=A sample from "I Don't Play That", a single by La Toya Jackson.}}
On January 10, 2007, the [[reality TV]] show ''[[Armed & Famous]]'' premiered on [[CBS]] starring Jackson and other celebrities. The program documented Jackson's [[basic training]] and service as a [[Auxiliary police|reserve police officer]] with the [[Muncie, Indiana|Muncie]] Police Department. The show was eventually removed from the CBS lineup, due to its inability to compete with ''[[American Idol]]''. [[VH1]] subsequently aired the remaining episodes. She released the promotional single "[[I Don't Play That]]" on January 29, 2007. 

In January 2009, Jackson was paid [[£]]103,000 to appear as a contestant on the British television program ''[[Celebrity Big Brother (British TV series) series 6|Celebrity Big Brother 6]]'', which she placed 7th.<ref>Singh, Anita. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/big-brother/4077493/Celebrity-Big-Brother-begins.html 'Celebrity Big Brother begins'], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', January 2, 2009</ref><ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/International_Buzz/Jacksons_diva_demands_on_Big_Brother/articleshow/3937683.cms 'Jackson's diva demands on Big Brother'], ''[[The Times of India]]'', January 2009</ref> Jackson released "[[Home (La Toya Jackson song)|Home]]" on July 28, 2009, with all proceeds going to [[AIDS Project Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bungalorecords.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010414015741/http://www.bungalorecords.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 14, 2001 |title=Bungalo Records |publisher=Bungalo Records |access-date=June 24, 2010}}; [https://www.today.com/popculture/latoya-song-re-released-jackson-tribute-wbna31969547 'LaToya song re-released as Jackson tribute'], [[Associated Press]], July 17, 2009.</ref> In 2010, Jackson launched the hand cream "Dream Cream" with German cosmetics firm Alessandro International.<ref>Stone, Susan. [http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/la-toya-jackson-poses-for-alessandro-cream-ad-3017994?module=today La Toya Jackson Poses for Alessandro Cream Ad ],''[[Women's Wear Daily]]'', March 31, 2010</ref><ref>Odell, Amy. [https://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/03/la_toya_jackson_now_fronts_a_2.html La Toya Jackson Now Fronts a $227 Hand Cream With Diamond Dust], ''[[New York Magazine]]'', 3/31/10</ref> 

Jackson's second memoir, ''[[Starting Over (autobiography)|Starting Over]]'', was released in the United States on June 21, 2011, through Gallery Books, an imprint of [[Simon & Schuster]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://authors.simonandschuster.com/La-Toya-Jackson/77833635 |title=La Toya Jackson &#124; Official Publisher Page |publisher=Authors.simonandschuster.com |access-date=October 9, 2011}}</ref> Following numerous delays, Jackson's intended eleventh studio album was instead released as an EP, also called ''[[Starting Over (La Toya Jackson EP)|Starting Over]]'', on the same day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6IDtujAy68&feature=channel_video_title |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Y6IDtujAy68| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=La Toya Jackson Starting Over Promo |publisher=YouTube |date=June 21, 2011 |access-date=October 9, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2011, Jackson appeared in NBC's ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 11)|Celebrity Apprentice]].'' Jackson also served as a guest judge on ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]'' and on the 17th season of ''[[America's Next Top Model]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release – La Toya Jackson to Guest Judge on "RuPaul's Drag Race" |url=http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release-rss/la-toya-jackson-to-guest-judge-on-rupauls-drag-race-194053.php |access-date=April 7, 2013 |publisher=24-7pressrelease.com}}</ref>

=== 2012–present: Reality television ===
In 2013, Jackson started her own reality series called ''[[Life With La Toya]]'' on the [[Oprah Winfrey Network (U.S. TV channel)|Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)]].<ref name="Levine">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2012/tv/news/own-orders-la-toya-jackson-reality-series-1118057362/|title=OWN orders La Toya Jackson reality series|last=Levine|first=Stuart|date=August 1, 2012|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=August 4, 2012}}</ref> Also in 2013, Jackson rejoined the newest cast for ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 13)|The All-Star Celebrity Apprentice]]'', lasting until the 3rd episode of the season.{{cn|date=August 2024}} During the series, Jackson accused fellow contestant [[Omarosa Manigault]] of causing the death of her fiancé [[Michael Clarke Duncan]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2013/03/19/latoya-jackson-sued-for-accusing-omarosa-of-killing-her-fiance/ | title=LaToya Jackson Sued for Accusing Omarosa of Killing Her Fiance ? | date=March 20, 2013 }}</ref> Manigault threatened a lawsuit in response.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-omarosas-ugly-war-over-actor-michael-clarke-duncans-estate|title=Inside Omarosa's Ugly War Over Actor Michael Clarke Duncan's Estate |archive-date=2019-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205145815/https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-omarosas-ugly-war-over-actor-michael-clarke-duncans-estate|url-status=live|publisher=The Daily Beast|date= August 17, 2018|author=Amy Zimmerman}}</ref>

In September 2013, Jackson made her stage debut in a week-long engagement in the [[off-Broadway]] musical ''[[Newsical]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Adam Hetrick |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/181310-La-Toya-Jackson-Will-Join-Off-Broadways-NEWSical-The-Musical |title=La Toya Jackson Will Join Off-Broadway's NEWSical The Musical |magazine=Playbill |date=August 23, 2013 |access-date=June 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716211550/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/181310-La-Toya-Jackson-Will-Join-Off-Broadways-NEWSical-The-Musical |archive-date=July 16, 2014 }}</ref>
In 2013, she and business partner Jeffre Phillips were executive producers of the [[documentary]] ''Dancing in Jaffa'', which followed 150 young Jewish and Palestinian Israelis as they dance together in unity by putting their cultural differences aside.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ifcfilms.com/films/dancing-in-jaffa |title=Dancing in Jaffa – IFC Entertainment |publisher=Ifcfilms.com |access-date=June 29, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://imdb.com/title/tt2125480/fullcredits |title=Dancing in Jaffa (2013) – Full Cast & Crew |publisher=IMDb |date=May 1, 2009 |access-date=June 29, 2014}}</ref>

In 2016, she collaborated with [[Iranian-Armenian]] pop star [[Andy (singer)|Andy]] on the single "Tehran", sung in [[Persian language|Farsi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGmnLDtB5HM| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307005836/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGmnLDtB5HM&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2016-03-07 | url-status=dead|title=YouTube|website=Youtube.com|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/latoyajackson/status/705463569169514496?lang=en|title=La Toya Jackson on Twitter|publisher=[[Twitter]]|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7610595/la-toya-jackson-duet-andy-madadian-farsi|title=La Toya Jackson To Drop Farsi Duet With Iranian Singer Andy Madadian|date=October 6, 2015|website=Idolator.com|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>

In 2018, Jackson participated in a celebrity edition of [[Food Network]]'s ''[[Worst Cooks in America]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/shows/2018/3/a-fresh-batch-of-cooking-challenged-celebrities-enter-boot-camp|title=A Fresh Batch of Cooking-Challenged Celebrities Enter Boot Camp|work=Food Network|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> Coached by celebrity chef [[Tyler Florence]], she advanced to the final and beat out [[Ian Ziering]] to win the season; $25,000 was awarded to the charity Race to Erase MS in Jackson's name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.foodnetworkgossip.com/2018/05/worst-cooks-in-america-celebrity-winner.html|title=Worst Cooks In America Celebrity Edition Winner|website=Foodnetworkgossip.com|access-date=October 9, 2019}}</ref>

In 2019, Jackson was revealed to be "Alien" on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] reality series ''[[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|The Masked Singer]]'' during its [[The Masked Singer (American TV series) season 1|first season]].<ref name="Masked Singer">{{cite web |last1=Roots |first1=Kimberly |title=The Masked Singer Recap: Six Appeal |url=https://tvline.com/2019/02/13/the-masked-singer-recap-season-1-episode-7-alien-unmasked/ |website=TVLine |access-date=February 14, 2019 |language=en |date=February 14, 2019}}</ref> In 2021, Jackson competed as the Menina (Girl) in the Spanish edition ''Mask Singer: Adivina Quién Canta''.{{cn|date=August 2024}} In 2023, she appeared for a third time in the franchise, as Burger Gal in the [[The Masked Singer (Australian season 5)|5th season of the Australian edition of ''The Masked Singer'']].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bond|first=Nick|title=The Masked Singer's week seven reveal: Burger Gal revealed to be member of iconic music family|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/the-masked-singers-week-seven-reveal-burger-gal-revealed-to-be-member-of-iconic-music-family/news-story/11ff4225e919778f45cc3b91174da290|date=October 23, 2023|website=[[news.com.au]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|access-date=October 23, 2023}}</ref><ref name="MaskedSingerAU">{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|title=La Toya Jackson unmasked as Burger Gal|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/10/latoya-jackson-unmasked-as-burger-gal.html|date=October 24, 2023|website=[[TV Tonight]]|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>

== Vocal style and influences ==
La Toya Jackson has a three-octave vocal range reaching up to E{{flat}}<sub>6</sub> in her single, "[[Bet'cha Gonna Need My Lovin']]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://churchoflatoya.net/press/2007interviewtommymartin.html|title=Church of La Toya Exclusive: Tommy Martin Speaks to Church of La Toya|last=Emrick|first=Matt|date=December 1, 2007|archive-date=October 26, 2010|publisher=Church of La Toya|access-date=July 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026191736/http://churchoflatoya.net/press/2007interviewtommymartin.html}}</ref> ''[[The Evening Independent]]'' says that she has an "attractive, pleasant voice that is matured and controlled."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19801003&id=ZmBQAAAAIBAJ&pg=5489,81305|title=La Toya Jackson (Polydor)|work=[[Evening Independent]]|pages=10–B|access-date=December 22, 2011}}</ref> Andrew Hamilton of ''[[AllMusic]]'' describes her voice as a light, wispy "sexy whisper".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bad-girl-mw0000003872 |title=Bad Girl – La Toya Jackson |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=July 8, 2012}}</ref> Like her siblings, Michael and Janet, she is mainly a pop, R&B, and dance music performer but she has also dabbled in [[Rock music|rock]] as heard in her song, "No More Drama" and [[reggae]] in her signature song "[[Heart Don't Lie]]", as well as [[country music]].

Like many other Jacksons, most notably Michael, she cites [[James Brown]] as a "major influence".<ref name="askmen">{{cite web|url=http://www.askmen.com/celebs/interview_150/174b_latoya_jackson_interview.html|title=Interview: LaToya Jackson|author=[[AskMen]] Editors|work=[[AskMen]]|access-date=October 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322030450/http://www.askmen.com/celebs/interview_150/174b_latoya_jackson_interview.html|archive-date=March 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> When Jackson headlined the [[Moulin Rouge]] she paid homage to [[La Goulue]] and cited [[Josephine Baker]] as an influence. ''[[L'Express (France)|L'Express]]'' hailed Jackson as "the new Josephine Baker."<ref name="cohen" /> According to academic Bennetta Jules-Rosette, "Through careful planning, she was able to model a successful part of her career abroad on the master tropes of a Baker-like image. Jackson exemplifies [[Jean Baudrillard|Baudrillard]]'s notion that neither the message nor the content count as much as the referentiality of the signifier in postmodern performative discourse."<ref name="Bennetta">{{cite book|last=Jules-Rosette|first=Bennetta|title=Josephine Baker in Art and Life: The Icon and the Image|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hc-gM1YFjRoC&q=la+toya+jackson+grace+jones&pg=PA258|edition=1 |year=2007|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0252074127|page=259|chapter=8}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Jackson is reportedly vegetarian as of October 2023.<ref name="MaskedSingerAU" />
In early December 2013, USWeekly and others reported that Jackson had married her business partner Jeffré Phillips in Los Angeles on December 6, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=LaToya Jackson marries Jeffre Phillips in Los Angeles|url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2013/12/09/LaToya-Jackson-marries-Jeffre-Phillips-in-Los-Angeles/UPI-48861386602443/?spt=rln&or=1|work=upi.com|publisher=United Press International, Inc.|access-date=March 24, 2014|date=December 9, 2013}}</ref> Entertainment media outlet [[TMZ]] reported that La Toya and Jeffre stated that they have not married,<ref>{{cite web|title=Latoya calls BS, I am Not Married|url=https://www.tmz.com/2013/12/16/la-toya-jackson-married-jeffre-phillips-business-partner/|work=tmz.com|date=December 16, 2013 |publisher=EHM Productions, Inc.|access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> which they reaffirmed in an appearance on ''[[Oprah: Where Are They Now?]]''.{{cn|date=August 2024}} The confusion appeared to result from Phillips proposing to Jackson publicly in a recently aired episode of Jackson's reality series ''Life with La Toya''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoffman |first=Michael |url=http://tvimpulse.com/life-with-la-toya-episode-guide-jeffre-pops-the-question=13150 |title='Life With La Toya' Episode Guide (June 21): Jeffré Pops the Question |publisher=TVImpulse.com |date=June 21, 2014 |access-date=June 29, 2014}}</ref> Phillips' decision to propose to La Toya purportedly was prompted by their friend Brenda Harvey Richie, who had noted that they had been best friends for 15 years, after Phillips became La Toya's business partner; per Jackson, Phillips' proposal was made with the blessing of La Toya's father.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/06/la-toya-jeffre-phillips_n_5455782.html |title=Joe Jackson Gives La Toya Jackson's Fiancé His Marriage Blessing (VIDEO) |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |access-date=June 29, 2014}}</ref> As of February 2015, Jackson and Phillips have annulled their engagement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Billups |first=Andrea |url=http://www.people.com/article/la-toya-jackson-jeffre-phillips-end-engagement |title=La Toya Jackson and Jeffré Phillips Annul Engagement |date=February 27, 2015 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|La Toya Jackson discography}}

===Studio albums===
* ''[[La Toya Jackson (album)|La Toya Jackson]]'' (1980)
* ''[[My Special Love]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Heart Don't Lie]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Imagination (La Toya Jackson album)|Imagination]]'' (1986)
* ''[[La Toya (album)|La Toya]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Bad Girl (La Toya Jackson album)|Bad Girl]]'' (1990)
* ''[[No Relations]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Formidable (La Toya Jackson album)|Formidable]]'' (1992)
* ''[[From Nashville to You]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Stop in the Name of Love (album)|Stop in the Name of Love]]'' (1995)

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2018
| ''[[The Last Sharknado: It's About Time]]''
| Cleopatra 
| TV movie
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1976-77
| ''[[The Jacksons (TV series)|The Jacksons]]''
| Herself
| Main Cast
|-
| 1985
| ''[[The Fall Guy]]''
| Herself
| Episode "Rockabye Baby"
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Counterstrike (1990 TV series)|Counterstrike]]''
| Sandrine Carter
| Episode "Skin Deep"
|-
| 1998
| ''[[MADtv]]''
| Herself
| Episode "La Toya Jackson"
|-
| 2000
| ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]''
| Herself
| Episode "La Toya Jackson"
|-
| 2003
| ''[[The Anna Nicole Show]]''
| Herself
| Episode "Derby Daze/Kentucky Derby"
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Airport (TV series)|Airport]]''
| Herself
| Episode "Fire and Emergency"
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Armed & Famous]]''
| Herself
| Main Cast
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2009
| ''[[Celebrity Big Brother (British series 6)|Celebrity Big Brother]]''
| Herself
| Main Cast: Season 6
|-
| ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]''
| Herself/Co-Host
| Episode "Episode #13.7" & "#13.9"
|-
| ''[[Peter Andre: My Life]]''
| Herself
| Episode "Episode #1.6" 
|-
| 2011
| ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 11)|The Celebrity Apprentice]]''
| Herself
| Fired Episode 8
|-
| 2012
| ''[[90210 (TV series)|90210]]''
| Marilyn
| Episode "Blood Is Thicker Than Mud"
|-
| 2013
|''[[All-Star Celebrity Apprentice]]''
| Herself
| Fired Episode 3
|-
| 2013
|''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]''
| Herself
| Season 5, Episode "Can I Get An Amen"
|-
| 2013–2014
|''[[Life With La Toya]]''
| Herself
| 
|-
| 2018
|''[[Worst Cooks in America]]''
| Herself
| Winner
|-
| 2019
|''[[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|The Masked Singer]]''
| Alien/Herself
| 7th unmasked
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Mask Singer: Adivina quién canta (season 2)|Mask Singer: Adivina quién canta]]''
| [[Las Meninas|Menina]]/Herself
| 1st unmasked
|-
| 2023
|''[[The Masked Singer (Australian TV series)|The Masked Singer Australia]]''
| Burger Gal/Herself
| 7th unmasked
|}

==Awards and other achievements==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%;"
|-
! style="width:3%;"| Year
! style="width:23%;"| Award
! style="width:23%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominated work
! style="width:5%;"| Result
! style="width:5%;"| Ref.
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1980
| rowspan="2"| ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' Awards
| Top New Female Vocalist - Pop
| rowspan="2"| ''[[La Toya Jackson (album)|La Toya Jackson]]''
| {{won|place=3|3rd place}}
|  <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1980/CB-1980-12-27.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|title=Pop Album Awards|issue=27 December 1980 |page=36 |access-date=July 4, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| Top New Female Vocalist - Black Contemporary 
| {{won|place=3|3rd place}}
|  <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1980/CB-1980-12-27.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|title=Black Contemporary Album Awards|issue=27 December 1980 |page=50 |access-date=July 4, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1981
| [[Billboard Music Awards]]
| Top Female Artist
| ''[[La Toya Jackson (album)|La Toya Jackson]]''
| {{draw|46th place}}
| <ref name="Billboard19610828">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1981/BB-1981-12-26.pdf|magazine=Billboard |title=Year End Charts|issue=26 December 1981 |page=55 |access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1985
| [[World Popular Song Festival]]
| Outstanding Song Award
| "Baby Sister"
| {{won}}
| <ref name="WPSF1985"/>
|}

* Jackson received a [[United States Congress|US Congressional]] Tribute for her participation in a "Beat It" rally and Stay In School Campaign<ref>[http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3726117 US Congressional Tribute to La Toya Jackson] "La Toya Jackson participated in a 'Beat It' rally and the Stay in School Campaign, and this letter recognizes her contribution of time and leadership. [[Louis Stokes]], [[Ohio's 21st congressional district|Congressman for the 21st District]], signed this tribute letter, written on US Congress letterhead."</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Toya-Jackson/193570900693194 Official Facebook Page]
* {{IMDb name|id=0413765|name=La Toya Jackson}}

{{La Toya Jackson}}
{{Jackson family}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, La Toya}}
[[Category:La Toya Jackson| ]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American disco musicians]]
[[Category:American house musicians]]
[[Category:Singers with a three-octave vocal range]]
[[Category:American sopranos]]
[[Category:American women pop singers]]
[[Category:African-American women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American women singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American dance-pop musicians]]
[[Category:American soul singers]]
[[Category:Former Jehovah's Witnesses]]
[[Category:Jackson family (show business)|La Toya Jackson]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:Musicians from Gary, Indiana]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Writers from Gary, Indiana]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[Category:American women memoirists]]
[[Category:African-American memoirists]]
[[Category:African-American women memoirists]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Indiana]]
[[Category:American women autobiographers]]
[[Category:American autobiographers]]