Tinashe Was 'Starstruck' Meeting Janet Jackson After the Icon Mashed Up Their 'Nasty' Songs in Concert (Exclusive)

Before Tinashe's viral hit "Nasty," there was Janet Jackson's iconic 1986 smash of the same name.

Jackson recently incorporated a mash-up of both "Nasty" songs into the setlist of her Together Again Tour, and Tinashe later got the chance to thank her in person during a backstage meeting after a recent show.

"It’s such a full-circle moment for me to have a Janet recognition, to have her put my song in her show," the R&B star, 31, tells PEOPLE at Spotify's Songs of the Summer event in New York City. "She is my biggest idol, my biggest reference. I’m constantly referring to her. The best album of all time, to me, The Velvet Rope is top-tier. Just to see her acknowledge my presence is amazing."

Having collaborated with the likes of Britney Spears in the past, Tinashe is no stranger to meeting superstars — but standing in front of Jackson, 58, felt especially monumental. "I was honestly a little starstruck. I was kinda word-vomiting. I don’t really know what I said, but I told her that she’s such an inspiration to me, and I love her. It was amazing," she says.

Jackson, who recently expressed no longer wanting to do interviews, has made herself known as a woman of few words. However, she had a few special ones for the "2 On" artist. "I said she was an inspiration, and she said I was as well," she recalls. "I think I blacked out at that moment, ‘cause like, to get a compliment from Janet Jackson — are you kidding me?"

Since its release in April, "Nasty" has reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 — her first entry on the chart in nearly eight years — and No. 7 on the rhythmic airplay chart. It's also soundtracked over 4.4 million videos on TikTok, where a viral dance helped propel the song to success.

In addition to Jackson adding the song into her stage show, Madonna recently shared a TikTok soundtracked by a mash-up of Tinashe's "Nasty" and Spears' "(You Drive Me) Crazy," marking another major moment for the "Needs" musician.

"It’s a very affirming moment for me to know we’ve got Madonna, we’ve got Janet. All the people that I’ve idolized as queens of pop, queens of music have really shown me love," she says. "It really, truly means so much to me. I feel like I’m doing something right. I’m on the right track."

"Nasty" will appear on Tinashe's upcoming album, Quantum Baby, out Aug. 16.