Janet Jackson will lead off this year’s American Music Awards with a “special opening performance,” following her tribute to brother Michael at the MTV Video Music Awards last August. Michael Jackson received five posthumous nominations for the upcoming ABC award show.

“We’re thrilled about having Janet Jackson open this year’s show,” American Music Awards producer Larry Klein said in a release. “She is an incredibly dynamic performer, and I think the audience will be excited to see what she has in store.”

The 2009 American Music Awards airs live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles Nov. 22 @ 8:00 PM EST on ABC.