Imagine going to a party, winning four big prizes, and walking out with a brand-new name that the whole world would remember forever. That is exactly what happened to Michael Jackson on the night of April 12, 1989.
Michael was already one of the biggest stars on Earth. He was only 30 years old, but he had been singing and dancing since he was a little boy. He had just finished a massive world tour where over 4 million fans came to see him perform. His album Bad had done something no album had ever done before: it created five number-one songs. Because of all this success, Michael went to the Soul Train Music Awards in Los Angeles to collect some well-deserved trophies.
That night, Michael won four awards. Two of them were for his hit song “Man in the Mirror.” The other two were special career honors, including a brand-new prize named after his friend and hero, Sammy Davis Jr. Winning four times in one night was amazing, but the most famous moment of the evening did not come from a trophy. It came from a short speech given by his close friend, the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor.
When Elizabeth walked onto the stage to introduce Michael, she did not just read his name off a paper. She spoke from her heart about how talented he was. Then, she called him “the true King of Pop, Rock and Soul.”
Michael Jackson – 3rd Annual Soul Train Awards (April 12, 1989)
Newspapers had already called Michael a “king” a few times, especially after his album Thriller. But everything changed when Elizabeth Taylor said it on TV. Soon, fans were writing “King of Pop” on signs, printing it on T-shirts, and screaming it outside his hotels.
Later in his life, some critics claimed Michael gave himself that fancy royal title. But Michael always said that Elizabeth Taylor started it, and the fans picked it up. Over time, his team made sure TV hosts used the name whenever Michael released new music, turning a sweet moment between two friends into the most famous nickname in music history.
Michael Jackson went home that night with four heavy trophies in his hands. But the greatest thing he received at the 1989 Soul Train Awards was not made of metal or wood. It was a crown made of words—one that stayed on his head for the rest of his life.