In addition to being one of the world’s most famous singers, songwriters and dancers, late Hollywood icon Michael Jackson was also proud dad. The King of Pop welcomed three children before his death at age 50 in June 2009: Michael Joseph “Prince” Jackson Jr., Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael “Blanket” Jackson II.
Prince was born on February 13, 1997, to Michael and his second wife, Debbie Rowe. On April 3, 1998, the couple welcomed their second child, Paris. After the pair divorced in 1999, the “Billie Jean” singer welcomed his third child and second son, Blanket, on February 21, 2002, with a surrogate whose identity remains publicly unknown.
During an April 2018 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Michael’s famous sister LaToya Jackson revealed the late star’s wishes for his children, especially his daughter, Paris, before he passed away.
“He’s always watching over her, I believe, to make sure that she’s on the right, proper path. He used to say things before [he died], ‘OK, if something happens to me, make sure you watch over Paris, ’cause Paris has a personality. She loves the business, but I wanna make sure she’s OK,’” the “Heart Don’t Lie” singer revealed.
Michael’s three children have continued to grow up in the showbiz spotlight and honor their father’s memory any way they can. Though Prince admitted he can’t sing or dance like his famous father, he hopes “to go into production.” He told the Los Angeles Times in 2016, “My dad would ask me what I wanted to do, and my answer was always producing and directing.”
Paris, on the other hand, has built quite a career for herself as an actress, model and singer. She starred in an episode of MTV’s Scream series in 2019, before taking on a role in the FX anthology spinoff American Horror Stories in 2021 alongside Kaia Gerber. In October 2020, Paris signed a deal with Republic Records. Her debut album, Wilted, was released in November 2020. Her music is inspired by her father, one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.
“I think he’ll always influence everything I do in some way, whether it’s subconscious or intentional,” she told The Evening Standard in April 2021. “I was around that creativity all the time, so I’m sure I learned a lot of what I have from that.”
Blanket, who also goes by “Bigi,” made a rare television appearance on Good Morning Britain in 2021 at his older brother’s Thriller Night Halloween Party. The event raised proceeds for the Heal Los Angeles Foundation and was held at the family’s Los Angeles home.
“There’s a lot of history in this house and the studio here,” he said standing in front of some of his father’s memorabilia. “That’s what he was all about. That’s what each of us want to do: make things that people can enjoy and hopefully benefit their lives.”
Keep scrolling to see Michael’s kids’ transformation over the years.
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