Eissa, the seven-year-old son of Janet Jackson, is beginning to display his musical abilities, suggesting he may be following in the footsteps of his famous mother.
Here’s a closer look into the young boy’s life:
As the youngest of ten Jackson siblings, Eissa is a descendant of a musical legacy. Janet, now 57, began her career on the variety show The Jacksons, which showcased her eight siblings. Tragically, her twin brother Brandon died at birth in 1957, leaving Janet and her siblings to navigate the world of music together.
Janet’s brothers—Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, and Michael—rose to fame as the Jackson 5 after signing with Motown Records in 1968, while her sisters Rebbie and LaToya also forged their paths in the music industry.
Path to Fame
After the family show ended in 1977, 10-year-old Janet landed a leading role in the hit TV series Good Times, followed by parts in Diff’rent Strokes and Fame. However, it was her music that propelled her to fame. Known for hits like “Together Again,” “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “Nasty,” and “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” Janet has earned numerous accolades and has several multi-platinum albums, including Control, Rhythm Nation 1814, and Janet. Her 1982 debut album, Janet Jackson, marked the beginning of her success, but it was her third album, Control (1986), that established her as a major artist in her own right, separate from her brother Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop.” Control earned her three Grammy nominations and nine American Music Award nominations, winning two.
Eissa Jackson Today
Born on January 3, 2017, Eissa Al Mana is inheriting the musical gifts of his mother, who was 50 at the time of his birth with then-husband Wissam Al Mana. Although the challenges of giving birth at that age were daunting, Janet’s delivery was healthy and without complications.
“Janet Jackson and husband Wissam Al Mana are overjoyed with the arrival of their son Eissa Al Mana. Janet had a smooth delivery and is resting comfortably,” a representative stated.
However, just three months after Eissa’s birth, the couple ended their five-year marriage, marking Janet’s third divorce.
According to her brother Randy, Janet faced “verbal abuse” from Al Mana and felt “trapped in her own home.” Randy mentioned, “Enough is enough. There’s a lot of pain. Janet’s been through a lot with her divorce… It was quite an abusive situation that escalated over time.”
In June 2018, Janet called the police for a welfare check while Eissa was with his father, fearing he might be exposed to drugs. Fortunately, Eissa was found safe, and the situation was clarified as a misunderstanding. Neither Janet nor Wissam has commented on the incident.
After the separation, the “When I Think of You” singer expressed her commitment to being an active mother. “Being a working mom is tough. I don’t have a nanny. I handle everything myself. If my mother managed with nine kids, I can too,” Janet reflected, referring to their matriarch, Katherine, who turned 93 in May.
First Photo of Eissa
Janet adeptly juggles her demanding career and motherhood. “I’m in a wonderful place,” she shared. “I have a beautiful son.”
Her friends even call her Superwoman, though Janet humbly disagrees, crediting her newfound energy to Eissa’s inspiration.
The superstar is protective of her son’s privacy, but occasionally shares glimpses of their life. She posted the first photo of Eissa when he was just 14 weeks old, shortly after her separation from Al Mana. She also shared pictures with Eissa and his classmates enjoying gifts from the show Paw Patrol.
In an Instagram clip, Janet excitedly updates fans about her tour when she is interrupted by Eissa seeking her attention.
During her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech in 2019, Janet fondly acknowledged Eissa. “I want to thank my beautiful son. He wakes me up every morning singing his own melodies. You are my heart and my life, and you’ve shown me what true, unconditional love is. Mama loves you, Eissa.”
While appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2020, she shared that Eissa has a passion for music. “He loves classical music. He’s incredibly talented,” she noted. “On his first day of school, he brought a violin. By the third day, he asked to take a cello. I told him we didn’t have a cello, but he insisted I should turn his violin into one.”
Despite Eissa’s evident musical potential, Janet has stated she wouldn’t pressure her children into the entertainment industry unless it was their genuine desire. “They need to understand the challenges they would face,” she explained.
Above all, Janet feels immensely grateful for the love of her son. Eissa is currently being raised in London, where Janet shares parenting responsibilities with her ex-husband.
“Eissa has shown me that love can go deeper than you ever thought possible. It’s limitless,” Janet expressed. “Having been raised in showbiz, where self-interest often prevails, I’m fortunate to prioritize someone else’s welfare above all else.”
Growing up as a gay child, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper thought he would never be able to have his own children
Nearing sixty, Anderson Cooper had already ended his relationship with Benjamin Maisani, his longtime partner, when he became a father. The two ex-couples did, however, reunite, but not in a romantic setting.
It took years before Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani’s relationship was made public because they were so secretive about it. The couple’s dating history dates back to 2009.
The pair was revealed to be residing together at Anderson’s firehouse home by Daily Mail in March 2018. He later made renovations to the $4 million Manhattan, Greenwich Village home he purchased.
In March 2018, after a decade of dating, Anderson’s spokesperson confirmed that the journalist and Benjamin had separated. According to reports, the CNN anchor explained the split by saying:
“Benjamin and I separated as boyfriends some time ago. We are still family to each other, and love each other very much.”
Anderson explained that he and his ex-boyfriend remained best friends and would continue sharing their lives. During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, the television personality revealed one of the reasons that caused them to break up.
He shared how Benjamin wasn’t sure he wanted to have children. However, Anderson didn’t wait to have another partner before working on his dream of becoming a father and fulfilling it at age 53.
In 2020, when reaching the end of his segment on CNN, Anderson revealed that his first child and son, Wyatt Morgan, had been born. He also opened up about why the milestone was especially significant for him, stating:
“As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child.”
The star shared his gratitude for the people who paved the way for him to realize his dream. He also shared his appreciation of the nurses and doctors who took part in helping welcome his son.
Following ten years of dating, Anderson’s representative said that the journalist and Benjamin had split up in March 2018. The CNN host reportedly stated the following to explain the split:
“A while back, Benjamin and I called it quits on our relationship. We still love and care for one another as if we were family.
Anderson clarified that he would continue to share their lives and that he and his ex-boyfriend were close friends. One of the reasons behind their breakup was disclosed by the television personality in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres.
He revealed that Benjamin wasn’t certain he wanted to start a family. But Anderson didn’t wait to find a new partner to work toward and realize his 53-year-old dream of becoming a father.
At the conclusion of his CNN segment in 2020, Anderson disclosed the birth of Wyatt Morgan, his first kid. He also revealed the reason the achievement held particular significance for him, saying:
“As a gay child, I never imagined that having a child would be possible.”
The celebrity expressed his appreciation to everyone who helped him achieve his dream. He also expressed his gratitude to the medical professionals that assisted in the birth of his son.
In addition, the TV celebrity shared four photos of his infant son on Instagram. The first picture shows him tenderly nursing Wyatt. He disclosed that the boy was just three days old in the caption of the photo.
He gave an explanation of how the child’s first name matched that of his own father, who died when he was only 10 years old. The second name belonged to his mother’s side of the family, Gloria Vanderbilt, and was also favored by his parents.
Anderson claimed at the time that he had discovered a list his parents had created 52 years prior while choosing his name. At birth, Wyatt reportedly weighed 7.2 pounds and was hailed as “sweet, soft, and healthy.”
The journalist also expressed gratitude to the surrogate mother for bearing him, providing him with a loving and sensitive watch, and giving birth to the boy. He also expressed gratitude to the surrogate’s family for their help both before and after the procedure.
In closing, Anderson expressed his hope that his brother Carter, mother, and father could have seen his son grow up. But he made the decision to think they could see his child, and he saw them cuddling up to each other while grinning and laughing.
He was content that their family line will live on and that their love was still present in both Wyatt and him. Anderson learned in August 2020 that Wyatt was sleeping on an unusual schedule for a youngster who was just about four months old at the time.
The newborn was getting twelve hours of sleep every night! The CNN anchor clarified that he was receiving help from a nurse and made a joke about not knowing what she did—but she didn’t use booze or Ambien—to put the youngster to sleep so much!
Anderson had one requirement, despite having help from someone else in caring for the child. The celebrity declared that he opposed having a single parent raise his child.
In May 2020, Anderson gave an explanation for his decision to not raise his child by himself on “The Howard Stern Show.” The celebrity talked about how his mother raised him and his brother as a single parent after losing his father and how she wasn’t very paternal.
He wished there had been another adult in his life to cover that absence. Someone who occasionally offered to take him out to lunch or a ball game, or who suggested having a conversation with him; the journalist added:
“Therefore, I reasoned that I would be in favor of more people loving my son and being in his life, even if nothing bad happened to me.”
He mentioned how, if it were possible, he would want to have two parents. Ironically, because of their good relationship, he and Benjamin continued to live together in their house after their breakup.
Anderson said that things were “weird” between him and the nightclub owner. Despite his early reluctance, Benjamin eventually changed his mind and is today a wonderful co-parent to young Wyatt.
The former couple resided in the Greenwich Village firehouse that Anderson purchased and remodeled in 2009. According to the celebrity, Wyatt would likely refer to Benjamin as “Papa” whereas he would be called “Dad” or “Daddy” because he was French.
Anderson quipped that the businessman was speaking to the young child in his own tongue and that he might be manipulating Wyatt by not understanding what he was saying! But the journalist denied that the ex-couple might reconcile when asked if it would be possible.
In August 2020, Anderson talked to WSJ magazine about how becoming a father had made him realize how much life had changed. Despite being 53 at the time, he talked about how he felt like he was waiting for his real life to start.
The actor claimed that he had been concentrating on moving forward or telling a tale, but that concentrating on Wyatt brought order to the situation. The anchor for the news said, “It’s changed everything.”
Due to his night shift employment, Anderson used to wake up late as well, but after Wyatt’s arrival, he now wakes up at seven in the morning. Since his son’s awakening marked the highest point of his day, it was his objective to rise before him.
Benjamin [Maisani] and the infant [Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper], who weighed 6.8 lbs. at birth, would also share co-parenting duties.
When the young boy saw him, he delighted to see him stretch and smile. From the third floor, Anderson went to his son’s room on the fourth, where he waited for him to make noises to let the star know he was awake before entering to see how he was doing.
The TV celebrity stated to People magazine in June 2020 that he would be willing to grow his family in the future. But first, he needed time to get a better night’s sleep and clear his thoughts!
It would be wonderful, he thought, to have a brother or sister for Wyatt. Then, on “Anderson Cooper 360°,” in February 2022, Anderson revealed that he had welcomed Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, his second son, via surrogacy!
Benjamin and the infant, who weighed 6.8 pounds at birth, would also share co-parenting duties. The celebrity also disclosed at that time that Wyatt’s last name would be changed to Maisani-Cooper and that his former partner was in the process of adopting the child.
But in December 2020, following Wyatt’s birth, Anderson acknowledged that he was “tired more than I’ve ever been.” He did, however, adore being a father and “wouldn’t change it for the world,” and he frequently broke down in tears when he saw his kid.
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