By 1981, Michael Jackson was already a star in his own right. But one night in California, he briefly became a fan again.
On February 5, 1981, Diana Ross was performing her hit “Upside Down” during a concert being filmed for a CBS television special. Michael was sitting in the audience when Diana spotted him and called him onto the stage.
The reaction was immediate.
Michael walked up smiling, clearly surprised, while the crowd erupted. What followed was not a carefully rehearsed duet. It felt loose, playful, and completely natural.
Michael Jackson Joins Diana Ross for “Upside Down”
The moment meant even more because Michael and Diana already had a long history together.
When The Jackson 5 joined Motown, Diana Ross was one of the label’s biggest names. Motown famously promoted her as the person who had “discovered” the group, and she became closely connected with Michael during his early years in the business.
Their relationship continued as Michael grew older. In 1978, the two starred together in The Wiz, with Diana playing Dorothy and Michael appearing as the Scarecrow.
By the 1981 concert, their bond was familiar enough that Diana could tease Michael onstage and get a genuine reaction.
During the performance, she joked that he’d grown up and gotten handsome. Michael, still known for being shy offstage, laughed and covered his face before telling her, “You’re embarrassing me!”
Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in The Wiz
Looking back, the clip captures an unusual point in Michael’s career.
He was no longer just the child star from The Jackson 5, but he had not yet reached the unimaginable level of fame that would come with Thriller.
For a few minutes, there was no giant production and no perfectly planned choreography.
It was simply Diana Ross and Michael Jackson laughing, dancing, and sharing a stage, years before Michael became the biggest pop star in the world.