Janet Jackson's landmark debut album will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a two-part documentary on the life of the pop star.

Broadcasting on Lifetime and A&E, the networks announced that Janet is projected to premiere in early 2022.

The pop icon, who serves as an executive producer along with Randy Jackson on the project, has granted unprecedented access to her personal life. The four-hour documentary will include archival footage, never-before-seen home videos and celebrity interviews, directed by Ben Hirsch.

Chronicling her professional career and turbulent life, the documentary has been in the works for three years and follows Jackson and her family as they grieve her father Joseph, the patriarch of the Jackson dynasty who died in 2018. Jackson also discusses her controversial 2004 Super Bowl performance with Justin Timberlake, the death of her brother Michael Jackson, and her becoming a mother to Elissa aged 50.

Timberlake recently apologised to Janet Jackson over the incident, which saw her breast exposed on live television accidentally and led to a ban of her music on MTV - heavily impacting the future of her career. 54-year-old Jackson bore the brunt of the criticism while Timberlake's solo career flourished.

A&E has described the documentary, which will run for four hours in two episodes, as being "an intimate, honest and unfiltered look at her untold story".

"Janet has enjoyed immense success but also seen incredible tragedy," the broadcaster said in a statement.

"She has endured a tumultuous private life in the face of extraordinary public scrutiny. With no stone left unturned, Janet lifts the lid on her private life for the very first time and reveals the most intimate moments of the star ever caught on camera."

Jackson has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, won five Grammy awards, performed at Glastonbury Festival and joined the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2019.