Janet Jackson Janet Jackson has spoken about her disbelief that her big brother Michael is dead.

The singer has admitted in her first interview since his death: "It's really hard to believe he's passed."

In the interview with the US edition of Harper's Bazaar, Janet recalls the last time she saw her megastar brother at a family gathering in May.

"We had so much fun that day... (he) would laugh so hard, he would just start crying," she said.

And it seems Michael's sense of humour is one of the things Janet misses the most: "Sometimes his humour would be corny, sometimes dry."

Giving a glimpse into their relationship she added: "He was always very protective of me," and in turn she tried to look out for her big bro.

"When I was 14, I would shop for him, washed his clothes, cleaned his room.

"When mother would go out of town, she'd say ‘I'm leaving you in charge, take care of Mike.' I would head home from school, see what he needed, then go straight to the stores."Michael Jackson

Janet was filming a movie in Atlanta when she got the news about Michael, and immediately flew to LA to be with the rest of the Jackson clan.

And she says that inner strength has got her through the dark times over the last few months.

"I always wanted to have my mother's strength, but I didn't know if it was really there."

"Now at least I know that I can step up to the plate and not crumble when I'm needed.

"When it comes to something like this that is so, so serious, so painful, so traumatic, I can handle it."