Diana Ross Michael The Jackson 5 A brief story- By Franco -

Michael told to Diana Ross I want to be just like you Diana She said You just be yourself Michael Jackson' s Love for Diana Ross Continues Even in Death - July 2 2009 It may have come as a surprise to some that Diana Ross was mentioned in Michael Jackson's will as a secondary caregiver to his three children but her inclusion was not unexpected to those who had tracked their longstanding relationship dating back to Jackson's early childhood In his will Jackson specified that if his mother Katherine Jackson his first choice to become guardian for his three young children died before he did then he named Ross to take custody of the kids Omitted from the will was Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe the mother of his two older children 'Michael was obsessed with Diana Ross but his mother feared she would corrupt him ' On 3 July 2009 J Randy Taraborrelli explains the deep friendship Michael Jackson had with Diana Ross The 18-year-old Michael Jackson was coy when I interviewed him back in 1978 and we got on to the subject of his friends I asked about teenage actress Tatum O'Neal with whom he was supposed to be going out 'She's nice ' he said 'She's teaching me to drive ' I pressed him further 'Any other friends ' 'Well I do have one ' he said 'A very dear close friend that I can tell my deepest darkest secrets to because I know she won't tell anyone else Her name is 'He paused for dramatic effect 'Miss Diana Ross ' It proved to be quite a friendship lasting the rest of his lifetime It emerged earlier this week that in his will drawn up in 2002 he named the 65-year-old singer as the person he wanted to be the guardian of his children should his mother be unable to care for them Jackson had a thing about divas All his life he was drawn to powerful women who seemed self-sufficient There was Elizabeth Taylor Jane Fonda Liza Minnelli even Jackie Kennedy But Diana Ross was the first She was a very important influence on him from the very start of his career Indeed legend has it that Miss Ross - then lead singer in the The Supremes - actually discovered Michael Jackson Michael and his brothers in the Jackson Five had already auditioned for the same recording company as Ross and had been signed up when they met her The Jackson Five were performing at a charity event - the 10-year-old Michael with his Afro hair bouncing around in front of his brothers and leading the vocals as usual He recalled looking out into the audience 'and there was Diana Ross I almost lost it' Afterwards they were introduced to her looking regal in a white silk gown her smile almost as overwhelming as the diamonds she wore at her ears and around her neck 'I just want to tell you how much I enjoyed you guys ' she said 'I hear we're going to be working together ' A wide-eyed Michael couldn't believe what he was hearing 'We are ' he asked She turned to him 'And you you're just so cute ' When she pinched his cheek he blushed They next saw her a few months later at her home All their mouths dropped open as she swept into the room in black satin hot pants and gold hoop earrings - 'like a goddess' Michael's brother Jermaine recalled

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