Blog

Marlon Jackson smiling, with an inset of young Michael Jackson on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1969

Michael Jackson’s brothers walked back into the house in Gary. They say the singing began with something that broke.

Carolyn Steber

Marlon, Jackie and Jermaine Jackson went home to Gary, Indiana, and told how the singing began: something broke, and there was no money to fix it.

TJ Jackson smiling in an interview, with Michael Jackson in a cap in a round inset

TJ Jackson was about 5 when Uncle Michael and Aunt La Toya played a hiding game. His big brothers always won.

Emma Stout

TJ Jackson, Tito's youngest son, remembers the hiding game Uncle Michael and Aunt La Toya played with him and his two big brothers.

Producer Terry Lewis smiling in a record store, with an inset of Michael Jackson in the Scream video

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis say Michael Jackson flew to Minneapolis in midwinter. The cold did him a favor.

Alexis Morillo

Michael Jackson heard Janet's "Scream" vocal and told Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, "I'm coming to Minneapolis." He stayed almost a week.

Stacy Lattisaw smiling in the 1980s, with Michael Jackson singing in a round inset

Stacy Lattisaw opened for Michael Jackson at 14. On her 16th birthday, the phone rang.

Alyssa Lapid

Stacy Lattisaw opened for the Jacksons at 14. On her 16th birthday her mother called her to the phone, and Michael was on the line.

B.J. Novak smiling in a talk-show interview, with Michael Jackson in a white hat in a round inset

B.J. Novak was 12 when he sat next to Michael Jackson at dinner. Then the parlor game started

Nolan Feeney

B.J. Novak of "The Office" was 12 when he was seated next to Michael Jackson at a dinner party. He told David Letterman how the night went.

Tommy Chong smiling, with an inset of young Michael Jackson singing in 1970

Tommy Chong shared a dressing room with little Michael Jackson. He never forgot what the boy did at the mirror.

Rob Sheffield

Tommy Chong was a Motown guitarist when his band shared a Chicago dressing room with the Jackson 5. Here's what he saw little Michael do.

A young John Travolta smiling, with Michael Jackson in a round inset

John Travolta says Michael Jackson wrote him a song. Months later, he had to ask where it was

Kevin Myers

John Travolta says Michael Jackson phoned to say he'd written a song for him. Months later, Travolta asked him backstage where it went.

Austin Brown smiling, with Michael Jackson in a round inset

Michael Jackson’s nephew Austin Brown grew up without Christmas. His uncle and aunt quietly made sure he wasn’t left out

Alexandria Lettman

Michael Jackson's nephew Austin Brown grew up with no Christmas and no birthday celebrations. He says Michael and Janet made sure he felt included.

Zach Top

Zach Top bought a place of his own. The house on it will sit empty for now.

Jada Gomez

Zach Top says he'll be moved in before the end of November, but not into the house he bought. Find out where he's headed, then watch him tell it.

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Tim McGraw keeps his new songs from Faith Hill until the last minute. Then she gets her say.

Kevin Myers

Tim McGraw won't play a new song for Faith Hill until it's nearly finished. Find out what he does once she finally hears it and speaks up.