Janet Jackson

Despite reports that Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri are getting back together, the singer referred to Dupri as her "ex" in an interview on Atlanta's The Bert Show.

That doesn't mean they're not close still. While chatting with the radio show, Jackson included Dupri on the short list of ex-boyfriends with whom she keeps in touch.

"I'm not the type of girl that stays in touch with your ex," Janet Jackson said. "But Jermaine is one of my best friends. I love him to death. We're still connected."

"We're still good friends. We still talk."

Jermaine Dupri and Janet Jackson remain broken up, but tight.

It has been a tough year for Jackson since her brother Michael's death in June - which she blamed on Dr. Conrad Murray during an interview with ABC this week.

A month after MJ died, she and Dupri broke off their eight-year relationship. They reportedly reunited in September for Dupri's birthday in Lake Como, Italy.

"There is a still a lot of love there," a friend of the couple said, and for once, this anonymous Us Weekly source may not be too far off the mark at all.

"We're absolutely still there for one another," Jackson said.

"I think it will remain that way for the rest of my life."

In an interview with ABC's Robin Roberts, Janet Jackson is not holding back when it comes to Dr. Conrad Murray, the man she believes killed her brother Michael.

Of Michael Jackson's former personal physician, the target of an LAPD homicide investigation, Janet says: "He was administering ... I think he is responsible."

Dr. Conrad Murray has admitted to administering Propofol, a powerful anesthetic, to Michael Jackson to help him sleep, but claims he didn't kill the King of Pop.

In the interview, airing Wednesday, Janet says Murray, who may face manslaughter or even murder charges, should no longer be allowed to practice medicine.

Of Michael's death, she adds "It's been a tough year ... You have your days where it's just hard to believe. And a day doesn't go by that I don't think about him."

Janet Jackson is opening up about her brother's tragic death.

She recalled the fateful day of June 25, when she learned her brother passed away. "I was at my house in New York. You know, another day. Another morning."

"Then I get a call ... [my assistant] said, 'Your brother's been taken to the hospital. It's on CNN right now. I called everyone. I spoke to mother. I spoke to my brother Tito. I spoke to my nephew Austin. I spoke to my sister La Toya."

A tearful Janet Jackson added, "I told them to call me when they got to the hospital. And I remember thinking nobody's calling me back, so I tried calling again, and that's how I found out that he was no longer ... I couldn't believe it."

"It just didn't ring true to me. It felt like a dream. It's still so difficult for me to believe. It's, you know, you have to accept what is. But it's so hard. You have to move on with your life. You have to accept what is and I understand that."

More excerpts and quotes from MJ's sister to come as they become available this week. Follow the jump for an ABC promo of Janet Jackson's interview ...

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards were something else.

• An extended New Moon trailer aired.
• Beyonce was totally fierce. Sasha Fierce.
• Lady Gaga showed up looking like ... well, Lady Gaga.
• Kanye West acted like a little bitch and ruined Taylor Swift's big moment.

But the night was, in part, a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. Madonna opened the show with a heartfelt speech about her relationship with him.

A highly-anticipated tribute performance followed with well-known dancers doing the King of Pop's moves to "Thriller," "Bad" and "Smooth Criminal."

Then it was Janet Jackson's turn for a moving tribute. Giant screens inside the event kicked into the beginning of Janet and Michael's duet, "Scream."

Janet was removed from the video and sang and danced for real next to her brother, whose documentary, This Is It, was also previewed at the event.

It was impressive, entertaining and so much more:

Janet Jackson MJ Tribute

In an interview with Harper's Bazaar - her first since her brother Michael's death - Janet Jackson says she been unable to watch TV since he died June 25.

"It will drive you crazy," she says. "People can have rhinoceros skin, but there's a point when something's going to hurt you. Not everyone is stone, stone."

"I haven't watched the news in weeks. I had to ask my chef, 'How's Obama doing?' I haven't read a newspaper. On top of that, we lost a family member."

At times during the interview, Janet - who will perform a tribute to her late brother at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards - was at a compete loss for words.

"My brother is, I mean was..." she said, shifting on the couch, staring at the floor. "You have to forgive me, because it's really hard to believe he's passed."

Michael was laid to rest last week. His death, caused by "acute propofol intoxication," has been ruled a homicide; several doctors are under investigation.

She did not discuss her brother's prescription drug history, but Janet says he seemed in good spirits the last time she saw him: May 14 at a family gathering.

"We had so much fun that day," she says, noting that ate Thai food and tormented each other. "We kept calling each other after and saying how great it was."

As for how she is coping, "I've been doing okay," Janet Jackson says. "Work helps focus all of that energy on something that is of value to you."

She says she was touched when Michael's daughter Paris Jackson, 11, spoke at her father's memorial: "I was so proud. People said to me that Michael's daughter speaking really gave them a sense of how he was as a father, in her words."

"Paris is incredibly smart; they are all so smart. She's a sweet girl. The kids are doing well. They're with all their cousins; that family love will keep them going."

Janet also confirms that she's split from beau Jermaine Dupri.

She doesn't know if she'll get married again (she is twice divorced), but as for kids, "I'd like to adopt," Janet says. "And I think that if I'm really supposed to have kids, it will happen, if that's God's plan for me."

Click to enlarge more Janet Jackson pictures from Harper's ...

Needless to say, it's been a difficult month for Janet Jackson.

At the memorial service for her late brother, there were rumblings about the absence of longtime boyfriend Jermaine Dupri and we can now confirm why: the couple has broken up.

"His friends are telling people it's over," a source told Us Weekly, while another chimed in: "They have been moving in different directions for a while."

So, what was the cause of the break-up? Conflict over the fact that Dupri produced several of Jackson's recent singles, reportedly.

"You shouldn't mix business with pleasure," said a friend. "Janet felt their lives were too crossed and they should have kept things sepa­rate."

As for Janet's reaction to brother Michael's death? Things haven't gotten any easier for her, said a source close to the situation.

"She's devastated. She's busy caring for Michael's kids. Janet's the family's backbone."

Just when you think OK! Magazine cannot lower the celebrity gossip bar any further, then come out with a new cover that proves you wrong. Kudos, guys.

While Michael Jackson’s mom, Katherine Jackson, was named guardian of the three children of the late singer in his will, it’s Michael’s sister Janet Jackson who has emerged in the eyes of many as their favored caregiver.

“All three want Janet Jackson to read to them at night,” a Jackson family friend says. “They just melt into her arms when she walks into the house.”

So much so, the magazine reports, that adorable Prince and Paris Jackson, 12 and 11, plus little Blanket, 7, have reached out to Janet and said ...

“Janet has completely bonded with those children in the last two weeks,” the friend continues. “She has been the rock for [Paris, Prince and Blanket]."

"It’s clear to everyone that they are looking to her for comfort and guidance.”

It's clear to everyone? Really? No one's doubting Janet Jackson is probably an awesome aunt, but do the kids even know her? Do they love Katherine less?

We also enjoy the trumping up of Debbie Rowe and her role in all this, as if she is trying to break up the family. While that would be good drama, it's untrue.

One semi-legitimate point raised is that at 79, caring for three kids might be too much for Katherine Jackson, a problem eased by Janet Jackson’s presence.

“Janet is not only willing to raise those children, she is also the only relative of Michael's who really knows how to protect them,” an insider tells OK!.

“Janet knows the value of a private life and knows how to keep her personal life out of the news. She is determined to do that for Michael’s children. She says that he would want no less for them, pointing out how far he went to shelter them.”

It does sound nice. But just in case you forgot the publication that is reporting this, here's a look back at their previous two Michael Jackson covers ...

The Jamie Foxx moonwalk stole the show at the BET Awards Sunday night, but Janet Jackson's poignant tribute to her brother Michael Jackson was a close second.

"My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful so they elected me to speak with you," she told the crowd at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A.

"I would just like to say that to you, Michael is an icon," said Janet, who wore all white. "To us, Michael is family, and he will forever live in all of our hearts."

Janet Jackson, 43, is the youngest of the nine Jackson children.

"On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all your love; thank you for all your support," she went on, tearing up near the end. "We miss him so much."

As she exited the stage, Jamie Foxx, Stevie Wonder and Ne-Yo performed a cover of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" as Michael Jackson photos played on screen.

Here's the video of Janet's tribute, followed by Foxx & Co.'s performance:

Janet Jackson: BET Awards

At halftime of the 2004 Super Bowl, Janet Jackson had her nipple exposed by Justin Timberlake. The indecent exposure cost CBS a hefty fine, until that amount was overturned on appeal this week.

Below, these two singers recreate the infamous wardrobe malfunction.

OR DO THEY?

Is this actually a shot of the nipple in question and the artist that has brought sexy back, or merely fake figures of Jackson and Timberlake?

You decide in this edition of Real or Wax...

Follow the article's jump right now to learn the answer...

Move over, Ricki Lake. There's a new thin celebrity in town.

And it's an old thin celebrity: just how has Janet Jackson remained so thin? She recently shed some light on the endeavor with Us Weekly:

 On keeping the weight off:
"I have a great support system to keep me on track… But I still don't like working out. It's hard for me. I have to push myself to want to do it."

On the fear of packing on the pounds again:
"I have moments - I crave chocolate, or just want to eat. One thing that helps is getting my clothes altered to fit so I can tell when I gain or lose. I used to wear overalls all the time, and my mom said, ‘Baby, don't do that or you won't know how much you lose.'"

* The Hollywood Gossip note: Nicole Richie has a similar problem - when she turns sideways and disappears, she can't tell... anything about herself.

On how you can look like her:
"If I can do it, anybody can do it. Eating light and clean helps, but you really shouldn't think of it as a diet, otherwise you feel like you're depriving yourself. If you crave something, you should have a little bit of it, then let it go and move on. Do a little exercise so you're back on track."

* The Hollywood Gossip note: It also helps to read about the fake love between Andy Baldwin and Tessa Horst. This will cause you to vomit.

On eating right:
"It's about control and it's a balanced diet. Of course I have cheat days! Especially with my dancers, who love to eat. And after a hard day of work, they want to unwind and grab a drink, and alcohol is not good for my diet with all the extra calories. I try to have a glass of wine, but then somebody comes with a lemon drop and it's so good.

You feel like you're drinking cough syrup or candy, and before you know it, the next day comes and you feel it. I make up for it with a few more reps when I lift weights."

Is Kevin Federline a good luck charm?

We would assume anything but, but evidently, Janet Jackson and boyfriend Jermaine Dupri believe he is. Mr. Britney Spears rolled up to the couple during his jaunt to Vegas this week and did something he's not known for -- he made money!

It all went down after the one-year anniversary party for TAO nightclub in Las Vegas. Federline ventured down to play some craps at 3:30 in the a.m., but there was a problem -- the high roller table he approached was packed and marked as 'reserved' for Janet and Jermaine.

Unfortunately, it seemed all K-Fed could do was watch. Luckily, Federline is tight with a member of Jermaine's entourage, who invited the aspiring, inspirational rapper to join the group.

As soon as Sutton Pierce's daddy bought in for $1,000, Janet picked up the dice. Dupri then announced to everyone that his woman had never played craps before and this would be her first roll.

We are not sure if Janet rolled a 7 or 11, but a short time later, the table erupted with cheers and everyone won money.

The fun reportedly lasted roughly 15 minutes, because the famous couple had to return to their private blackjack table. K-Fed proceeded to play all by his lonesome... but according to recent reports, he's got an ace in the hole -- an eight-figure one.

The New York Post reports that Federline's walk-away package, in the event that he and Britney Spears ever split up, is $10 million -- far more than has ever been reported.

"Britney was leaving Kevin but then got pregnant again," according to a family friend.

He would have gotten his $10 million, but has apparently stuck around at least to reap the professional fringe benefits of his rather more famous wife, like cameo appearances on a TV show and a rap album. Go, K-Fed.