19 Thrilling Fun Facts About Michael Jackson: Discover the King of Pop's Quirky Secrets!

1. Hidden Grammys

Picture this: Michael Jackson all dressed up as the King of Pop, constantly hunting for his misplaced Grammy Awards so he could moonwalk on the edge of complacency, only to remind himself, "Hee-hee, ain't gonna display them here!": In an interview in 2005, Michael revealed that he deliberately chose not to showcase any of his awards, including his 13 Grammy wins, inside his home because he believed it would make him feel like he had already reached his peak, whereas he wanted to maintain an insatiable drive to constantly improve and create.
Source => cnbc.com

2. Breaking MTV Barriers

Before moonwalking his way into history, Michael had to dethrone the "King of Pop" of MTV – which, of course, was a tall order for a Black artist: In a groundbreaking move, "Billie Jean" became the first music video by a Black artist to enjoy heavy rotation on MTV, paving the way for future artists of color to shine on the popular network.
Source => liveabout.com

Did you know Elvis Presley had his own mini-zoo at Graceland, complete with a chatty mynah bird and gifted wallabies? Discover more about The King's love for animals!

=> Fun Facts about Elvis-Presley

3. Vocal Symphony Master

Who needs sheet music when you're the king of pop? Michael Jackson, aka the Mozart of Moonwalk, could whip up symphonies with his vocal cords alone, composing iconic tunes with a beatboxing swagger and a hum-happy precision: Such was the extraordinary prowess of Jackson's songwriting that he didn't need to read or write music. Instead, he crafted his masterpieces verbally by singing every note, chord, harmony, melody, and rhythm. His engineers and producers marveled at his talent, as he was able to record complete string arrangements on a micro-cassette recorder – all without formal training!
Source => nme.com

4. Surgical Playlist

In a world where even a potato can get a facelift, Michael Jackson was no stranger to going under the knife: From nose jobs to cheek implants, eyelid lifts to chin enlargements, the King of Pop experienced an orchestra of surgeries that left him with a playlist of complications, including breathing difficulties due to his multiple nose-tinkering symphonies.
Source => dailymail.co.uk

5. Defying Gravity

Who needs a gym membership when you've got the King of Pop's moves? Michael Jackson could make the Earth feel like Moon and even defy gravity, all with a lean and a swoosh: Turns out, his iconic 45-degree tilt that left audiences mesmerized wasn't just thanks to some nifty shoes, but also his incredible core strength and muscle control in his spine and lower limbs. So much so, that even pro dancers struggle to lean beyond 25-30 degrees without straining their Achilles tendon. Next time you try to channel your inner MJ, remember: anti-gravity footwear and Herculean muscle strength are the prerequisites to becoming a Smooth Criminal!
Source => npr.org

6. Golf Glove Glamour

When the King of Pop moonwalked into a Michael's craft store to bedazzle his wardrobe: Michael Jackson's iconic white glove from the Motown 25 television special in 1983 wasn't adorned with crystals as many believe, but rather custom-cut faceted rhinestones hand-stitched onto a standard golf glove. And for those curious palm-readers, the rhinestones only covered the back of the glove, leaving the palm area free and clear. This "Made in Korea" masterpiece was later gifted to Walter "Clyde" Orange, a founding member of the Commodores, by Michael himself.
Source => julienslive.com

7. Neverland Zoo

In a tangled web of peculiar delights, the King of Pop's affinity for arachnids was rivaled only by his menagerie of exotic creatures that could give Doctor Dolittle a run for his money: Michael Jackson boasted an impressive private zoo at Neverland Ranch, with beasts ranging from lions and tigers to orangutans and giraffes, as well as his beloved elephant, Gypsy. Other notorious members of his furry entourage included Bubbles the chimpanzee, a rescued lab subject who turned out to be quite the a-peel-ing companion, retiring to a Floridian sanctuary where he perfects his artistic flair between playdates with fellow chimp, Ripley.
Source => celebritypets.net

8. Marvel Movie Ambitions

With great power comes great desire to don the red spandex: Michael Jackson was so keen on playing iconic characters like Spider-Man, Willy Wonka, and Peter Pan that he met with Stan Lee to discuss snagging the role of our friendly neighborhood web-slinger and even contemplated purchasing Marvel Studios to ensure his star turn in the spidey suit. Alas, the King of Pop never swung into action as the cinematic Spider-Man.
Source => giantfreakinrobot.com

9. Chimp Moonwalk

Who let the chimps out, Moonwalk style: Known for his menagerie of eclectic pets, Michael Jackson's musical muse came in the form of a little rat named Ben, while his simian sidekick Bubbles gained fame for his Moonwalking prowess. Contrary to popular belief, there's no proof indicating that giraffes were MJ's favorite critter, nor that he named one of his children after a long-necked resident at Neverland Ranch.
Source => baltimoresun.com

10. Million-Dollar Jacket

Whoever said "money can't buy happiness" clearly never snagged a piece of king-sized memorabilia, because one lucky fan moonwalked away with pure fashion gold: Michael Jackson's iconic red "Thriller" jacket fetched a staggering $1.8 million at a 2011 auction, with proceeds donated to the Shambala Animal Kingdom for the care of Jackson's Bengal tigers. Designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis' creation rocked the '80s with its V-shaped black stripes, peculiar front buttons, and power-packed shoulders, turning the jacket into a sought-after treasure by fans and celebrities alike.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Chimp Tea Party

Forget tea with the queen, Michael Jackson's chimpanzee partied with the Mayor of Osaka: On the legendary Bad tour in 1987, Michael Jackson's pet chimp Bubbles became his mascot, joining him on global adventures and even sharing a hotel suite and tea session with the Mayor of Osaka in Japan. Sadly, due to Bubbles' increasing size and risk to Michael's newborn child, he was moved to a California ranch in 2003, and later to the Centre for Great Apes in Florida, where he now enjoys dabbling in painting and jamming to some flute tunes.
Source => smoothradio.com

12. Anthem Origins

If "State of Independence" was a cake, Quincy Jones skillfully picked apart its ingredients to bake a whole new delicious treat called "We Are The World": Back when Donna Summer recorded "State of Independence," Quincy Jones rallied an ensemble of iconic musicians for the choir, including a young Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, and Stevie Wonder. Inspired by this collaboration, Jones, Jackson, and Richie went on to concoct the chart-topping anthem "We Are The World," with several musicians from that original session lending their talents to what would become Michael Jackson's Thriller album.
Source => songfacts.com

13. Simpsons Cameo

Who's bad, who's bubbles, and who's Bart Simpson's buddy all in one episode? That's right, it's the King of Pop making a cameo in Springfield: Michael Jackson lent his voice to the character Leon Kompowsky in "The Simpsons" third season episode "Stark Raving Dad," but was credited as "John Jay Smith" due to contract reasons. Although he voiced the character, the singing parts, including the "Happy Birthday, Lisa" song, were performed by Kipp Lennon.
Source => simpsonswiki.com

14. Star-Studded Road Trip

In a scene straight out of the wildest Hollywood buddy flick: Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marlon Brando embarked on a road trip from New York City to Ohio after the 9/11 attacks, complete with Brando's fast food pit stops and plenty of celeb shenanigans.
Source => washingtonpost.com

15. Captain EO

Blast off to Neverland: In an astronomically exciting escapade, Michael Jackson starred in the cosmic "Captain EO" space fantasy attraction, premiering at both Disneyland and Epcot Center in Florida, where visitors enjoyed a 3-D extravaganza set to the King of Pop's rockin' tunes.
Source => washingtonpost.com

16. Sibling Success

When the King of Pop met his Queen of a sister, they created a cosmic ruckus that stands the test of time: Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson's 1995 music video masterpiece "Scream" won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form, and bagged 11 MTV Video Music Award nominations, ultimately scoring wins for Best Dance Video, Best Art Direction, and Best Choreography.
Source => michaeljackson.com

17. Jacksons and Jehova's Witnesses

When the Jacksons go knocking, it's not for candy or bordeaux: Michael Jackson's oldest sister, Rebbie, along with his mother, Katherine, were devout Jehovah's Witnesses, while LaToya was excommunicated. Joseph introduced the teachings to the family, but never joined himself - as for the rest, they toyed with its tenets until adulthood and then moonwalked away down their own spiritual paths.
Source => lasentinel.net

18. Philanthropic Songwriting

Before he moonwalked across stages worldwide, Michael Jackson was moonlighting as a lyrical philanthropist in his bedroom sanctuary: The King of Pop co-wrote "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie in just a week of nightly sessions, composing the first solo and paving the way for the star-studded charity anthem to raise millions for those in need.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

19. Posthumous Success

This Is It or is it?: In a twist of fate that even Spielberg couldn't have dreamed up, Michael Jackson's 50-show residency at the O2 Arena was cut short, rather ironically, by a premature curtain call to the afterlife just 18 days before the opening night; yet, death was no match for the King of Pop: The concert film "Michael Jackson's This Is It," released posthumously in 2009, moonwalked its way to over $260 million in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing concert films in history.
Source => en.wikipedia.org