Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson isn't engaged as some rumors have stated - she and Wissam Al Mana secretly married last year, it has been revealed.

The 46-year-old singer and her 37-year-old businessman husband had a ''quiet, private, and beautiful ceremony'' and made contributions to their favorite children's charities in lieu of wedding gifts.

They said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight: ''The rumors regarding an extravagant wedding are simply not true. Last year we were married in a quiet, private, and beautiful ceremony.

''Our wedding gifts to one another were contributions to our respective favorite children's charities. We would appreciate that our privacy is respected and that we are allowed this time for celebration and joy. With love, Wissam and Janet.''

Janet has been dating Wissam - who is almost a decade younger than her - since summer 2010 and has insisted there is nothing wrong with dating younger men as long as the couple are happy.

The singer - who was in a seven-year relationship with music producer Jermaine Dupri - said: ''My mother always raised us to believe that age was just a number. All of us - my sisters, my brothers - we'll just tell you our ages because it's all about where you are mentally and how you feel about yourself. It doesn't matter.''

The wedding announcement comes after it was claimed they would wed in a $20 million ceremony, after spending $3 million to fly in 500 wedding guests to Doha, Qatar, from all over the world.

Wissam was also said to be planning to give all attendees a $10,000 Rolex watch each as a thank you for attending.

A source said: ''Wissam is going to splash big when he marries Janet. It's going to be the wedding of the century.''

© Bang Showbiz