SHORT TAKES : Janet Jackson Surprises Hosts

Rock singer Janet Jackson surprised this Florida Panhandle city, where she has been rehearsing for the past two weeks for her first world tour, with an unscheduled benefit concert Tuesday night.

Proceeds will be used to help homeless people and other local charities in the area.

“Janet had such a good stay; she has gotten such a tremendous amount of work done that she feels ready to perform, and she wants to thank the people of Pensacola,” said Lee Esckilsen, director of the Pensacola Civic Center, the concert site.

Jackson had used the arena as a rehearsal hall to practice for a world tour that opens Thursday in Miami.

“She is a generous person,” Esckilsen said. “She wants to give something back to the Civic Center and Pensacola for allowing her to work here comfortably.”

Her brother, Michael Jackson, also used the facility to rehearse two years ago for his “Bad” tour. He did not give a charity concert, but he did let hundreds of inner-city school kids in for his last full-dress rehearsal.

Tuesday’s concert was announced only a day ahead of time and the $10 tickets, limited to four per person, did not go on sale until Tuesday morning.

All 7,600 tickets had been sold within three hours, Civic Center officials said.