Paris Jackson may only be 26-years-old, but she has already accomplished a lot in her life. Although she has some incredibly famous family members, she did her best to stay out of the spotlight until needed. Since then, she has taken the entertainment industry by storm, trying out all career facts, like modeling, acting and performing. It’s no surprise that she has so many talents since her father was the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson.
Michael continues to be considered as one of the most iconic people in music of all time. Born in Gary, Indiana, just outside the city of Chicago, his career started at a young age, joining a musical ensemble with his siblings. The group showed off their beautiful harmonies and stunning singing voices. Michael was instantly a star, captivating audiences with his sweet yet strong vocals and impeccable dance moves.
His daughter has taken the world by storm with her talents, as well as her love for activism and sustainability. Paris has worked to master her craft while creating a platform to help spread awareness about topics important to her. She has worked at finding her place in the entertainment industry under such a large shadow left by her famous father. While he may no longer be in her life today, Michael had a positive impact on his daughter and helped her grow into the bright young woman she is today. Paris has managed to make a name for herself while making her father proud, revealing even more details about him as time progresses and carrying on his famous name.
The Jackson 5
Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson (circa 1968), (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Michael was born on August 19, 1958, and was raised in his humble family home. He came from a large family, including three sisters and five brothers. When he was just a boy, he joined the family band that was created by his father. Michael, along with his brothers Marlon, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine were originally known as the Jackson Brothers. Michael had initially joined the group to serve as a background musician, lending his vocals and tambourine skills. Once his strong vocal abilities were recognized, he was moved up and began sharing the lead vocals with his brother Jermaine in 1964. The group’s name was then changed to the Jackson 5.
The group went on to perform covers of songs in front of a ton of people at talent shows, clubs, cocktail lounges and at amatuer nights. After recording a few songs professionally to release, the group began working its way up in the industry, finding fame along the way. Their first big hit came with “I Want You Back,” now known as a classic Jackson 5 song. It became the first song from the group to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1970, staying at the top for the following four weeks.
The band’s lineup changed a couple times as some members entered the group while others left to depart on solo endeavors. The Jackson 5 had also signed with a few different labels throughout its incredibly long run from 1965 to 1989, and again in 2001. The band’s name was once again changed in 1975 due to switching record labels, and landed on the simple name, the Jacksons. The group has been active again since 2012, and is considered to be currently active, with their latest tour concluding in 2013.
Michael’s Rise To Fame
Michael Jackson (1983), (Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
Michael had begun working on his own music while still being involved with the Jackson 5. He released solo music with Motown Records between 1972 and 1975. The 1979 release of his studio album “Off the Wall” was a huge success, reaching number three on the Billboard 200 chart, an accomplishment for an artist at any calibre. Michael finally had the spotlight to himself with his solo work, being able to show off more of his vocal range, songwriting abilities and iconic dance moves.
He made another great move in his career, this time with his siblings, when the Jacksons partnered with PepsiCo in a $5 million promotional deal. Their first campaign launched the company’s “New Generation” theme, including a tour sponsorship, public relations events and plenty of displays in various stores. Michael helped with the creative process behind the campaign, offering up usage of his song “Billie Jean” and reworking some of the lyrics to be used in the commercial. The final product ran from 1983 to 1984.
With a rising amount of fame came a rising amount of criticism. Michael’s skin had gotten palmers throughout the 1980s, drawing attention and widespread media coverage. He met with a dermatologist, finding out he had vitiligo. The skin condition is characterized by having patches of the skin losing their pigment and sensitivity due to sunlight. He was diagnosed with the condition in 1986, as well as diagnosed with lupus in 1983. Michael had previously tried to cover the pale patches up, but only made his condition worse. He also had plastic surgery and a handful of cosmetic procedures done in order to achieve the look he was searching for.
How Being “Bad” Skyrocketed Michael’s Career
Michael Jackson (1987), (Liaison/Getty Images)
Michael had taken some time away from putting out new music while figuring out his health status. The break lasted five years, coming to an end with the 1987 release of his hit album “Bad.” The record became the first album to produce five number-one singles in the United States, featuring the tracks “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Bad,” “Dirty Diana” and “Man in the Mirror.” Another popular song, “Smooth Criminal,” just missed out on the top five, peaking at number seven on the charts.
The songs were instant radio hits, filled with catchy melodies and fun lyrics, accompanied by Michael’s iconic dance moves. The album went on to receive love and positive reviews from both the fans and the critics, taking Michael’s career to the next level. The “Bad” album won the Grammy for Best Engineered Recording — Non Classic in 1988. Michael won another Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form with “Leave Me Alone” in 1990. The pop star also won an Award of Achievement at the American Music Awards in 1989 due to the success “Bad” had generated for him.
Michael had already reached an insurmountable level of success, but kept climbing his way up in the music industry. He released more music, continuing to show face on the charts and receive plenty of great reviews and adoring fans along the way. He was given the opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl XXVVII halftime show in Pasadena, California, in January 1993.
The Loss Of A Legend
Michael Jackson (1993), (John Barr/Liaison/Getty Images)
Something incredibly meaningful to Michael was being able to use his platform to talk about issues that mattered to him. He released “Earth Song” in late 1995. While some of his previous songs depicted his feelings toward societal issues and self-esteem, this song was about his advocacy for the environment and animal rights. Michael had both writing and producing credits on the final track. The music video for “Earth Song” captured the message Michael tried to relay, showing scenes of the earth being destroyed and rebuilt, with images of pollution and deforestation.
Michael’s final work came from an announcement of a huge tour set to take place from July 2009 until March 2010, with a total of 50 shows throughout the tour. This was going to be Michael’s final moments on stage before he would finally retire from music altogether. The series of comeback concerts, titled “This Is It,” unfortunately never saw the light of day, as Michael died from cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009. This was less than three weeks before the sold-out tour was set to begin. A documentary filmed with concert rehearsal footage was released with the same name in October of 2009, allowing fans to see their favorite star on stage one more time.
A memorial service was held July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. A number of celebrities performed and gave eulogies in honor of the late popstar. Michael had made a huge impact on the music industry, from his well-selling albums, to his high-charting singles, to his long list of awards and accolades. He was best known for his voice, songwriting and out-of-this-world dance moves.
Carrying On Michael’s Legacy
Lisa Marie Presley, Michael Jackson (1994), (Stephane Cardinale/Sygma/Getty Images)
During his life, Michael had yearned to have a family and be a father. In 1994, he married Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley and actress Priscilla Presley. Michael and Lisa’s marriage was short-lived, with the couple divorcing in 1996.
Michael met dermatology assistant Debbie Rowe the same year. Rowe worked at the office where Michael was being treated for his vitiligo, and was a longtime fan of the popstar. She became pregnant with their first child together before getting married in Sydney, Australia, in November 1996. The newlyweds welcomed their first child, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., just a few months later in February 1997. The couple had one another child together, Paris Jackson, in April 1998. Their marriage also didn’t last, with the pair divorcing in late 1999. Rowe gave full custody of the children to Michael, receiving a house in Beverly Hills, California, and an $8 million settlement in return. She later received visitation rights in August 2009, shortly after Michael’s untimely death.
Michael used a surrogate mother for his youngest child, Prince Michael Jackson II, who was born in February 2002. He is commonly referred to as “Blanket,” while his older brother is commonly referred to as “Prince.”
The children were raised on Neverland Ranch, located in Santa Barbara County on the edge of Los Padres National Forest. It was Michael’s home from 1988 until 2005. The ranch was a wonderland for his children, with their own private amusement park. Neverland Ranch had three railroads, a ferris wheel, carousel, pirate ship ride, bumper cars, roller coaster and an arcade. The facilities were closed in 2006 since Michael no longer lived there, and the property was renamed as Sycamore Valley Ranch.
Meet Paris Jackson
Michael Jackson ranch (2004), (Paul Harris/Getty Images)
Michael’s only daughter Paris has found success in the entertainment industry. She signed a contract with IMG Models in March 2017 and made her acting debut with a guest starring role on the television show “Star” around the same time. Paris made her film debut in 2018 with a role in “Gringo.”
During an interview with Rolling Stone in January 2017, Paris opened up about how she coped with losing her father when she was 11-years-old, and how she carries his legacy with her today. At the time, Paris had 50 tattoos, with nine dedicated to her late father. “He’s brought me nothing but joy,” Paris explained, “so why not have constant reminders of joy?”
Paris was interviewed by Naomi Campbell in March 2021 for Campbell’s segment, “No Filter with Naomi.” They talked about Paris’ career and activism, and what it was like being raised by Michael. Paris explained how she was raised all over the world. “It was a blessing and privilege to be able to experience so much at such a young age,” she said. “My dad was really good about making sure we were cultured, making sure we were educated, and not just showing us the glitz and glam.”
Paris explained how Michael raised her and her brothers to work for what they wanted. “If we wanted five toys from FAO Schwarz or Toys “R” Us, we had to read five books,” she said. “It’s about earning it, not just being entitled to certain things.” Paris has brought this mindset into her current work ethic. “I’m also a full believer that I should earn everything,” she explained. “I go to auditions, I work hard, I study scripts, I do my thing.”
Making Her Father Proud
Michael Jackson (circa 1986), (Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images)
Michael also had an influence on her taste in music. “I’m obviously a fan of his music,” Paris said about her dad’s discography. “I know all of the lyrics to all of the songs and, you know, I will definitely jam out to them.” Her childhood was her biggest musical influence since she was able to hear different genres of music growing up due to Michael’s eclectic taste.
The rising star released her solo studio album, “Wilted,” in 2020. During an interview with ET Canada, Paris talked about how she implemented the stages of grief within the album. “I wrote the songs as I was experiencing these things, so each song represents a time in my life where I truly was writing in the moment,” she said. “I found so much healing through creating this.”
Paris talked about how her father would’ve responded to the album if he were still here today. “I hope he would be happy, and I think he would be stoked that I’m happy,” she said. Making the album was a cathartic experience for the singer, and although she wanted people to respond honestly, she hoped that it would bring similar feelings to anyone who gave it a listen. “I kind of want people to take what they want from it,” she explained. “I hope it brings healing to other people.”
Paris has journeyed throughout the entertainment industry. With her father as one of her biggest personal influences and an impactful person on the world in general, Paris had great inspiration from the start and has used it to her advantage. She has found a way to showcase all her abilities through modeling, acting, singing, songwriting and activism. Paris is definitely helping to carry on Michael’s legacy.
Paris Jackson (2019), (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
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