Michael Jackson

When it comes to growing up in public, the King of Pop wrote the book. Born in Gary, Indiana, in 1958, Michael Jackson became the biggest-selling singer on the planet, but when he started his career, he was just a kid trying to catch up with his big brothers. The Jackson 5, which Michael joined in 1964 when he was just six, became a Motown hit machine in 1970. But Michael’s undeniable vocal charisma made a solo career inevitable—and his began in 1971. After a few major early hits, he exploded with 1979’s Off the Wall, a funk-pop-disco marvel that marked Jackson’s full musical maturation. Its 1982 follow-up, Thriller, became an international phenomenon with mega-singles including “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and the unmistakable title track. It became the best-selling album in history, and in 2024, it was also named the No. 2 best album of all time on the Apple Music 100 Best Albums list. Following that wasn’t easy. Still, 1987’s Bad—made again with Quincy Jones—spawned a history-making five consecutive No. 1 singles, including “Man in the Mirror,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” and “Dirty Diana.” Dangerous, released in 1991, found Jackson embracing new jack swing alongside pop and R&B, along with more socially conscious lyricism, while 1995 brought double album HIStory - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE - BOOK I. His final studio album, 2001’s Invincible, arrived as his personal life grew increasingly turbulent. Michael, a biopic focusing on Jackson’s early life, premiered in 2026.