Skip to content

Top Navigation

PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com
    • All News
    • Coronavirus
    • Crime
    • Human Interest
    • Politics
    • Heroes
    • Stories to Make You Smile
    • All Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Country
    • Awards
    • Sports
    • Theater
    • Books
  • Royals
    • All Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Parents
    • Home
    • Pets
    • Food
    • Tech
    • Travel
  • PeopleTV
    • All Shopping
    • People Tested
    • All Podcasts
    • Me Becoming Mom
    • People Every Day
    • PEOPLE in the '90s

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
Login
Subscribe

Explore PEOPLE.com

PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Rita Moreno Says She Dated Elvis as Revenge Against Cheating Ex Marlon Brando: 'It Was Wonderful'

      Rita Moreno Says She Dated Elvis as Revenge Against Cheating Ex Marlon Brando: 'It Was Wonderful'

      Rita Moreno revealed she dated Elvis Presley to get back at her ex-boyfriend Marlon Brando for cheating on her Read More
    • Machine Gun Kelly Poses with Daughter Casie at the 2021 American Music Awards

      Machine Gun Kelly Poses with Daughter Casie at the 2021 American Music Awards

      The American Music Awards, hosted by Cardi B, are broadcasting live from Los Angeles on Sunday Read More
    • Jennifer Lopez Sings from the Heart in New 'On My Way' Music Video

      Jennifer Lopez Sings from the Heart in New 'On My Way' Music Video

      Jennifer Lopez released the official music video for her song "On My Way," which is featured in her upcoming rom-com Marry Me Read More
  • News

    News

    See All News
    Stars Who Opened Up About Their Sexuality and Gender Identity in 2021

    Stars Who Opened Up About Their Sexuality and Gender Identity in 2021

    • Coronavirus
    • Crime
    • Human Interest
    • Politics
    • Heroes
    • Stories to Make You Smile
  • Entertainment

    Entertainment

    See All Entertainment
    The Best (& Worst) Jeopardy! Celebrity Guest Host Show Moments

    The Best (& Worst) Jeopardy! Celebrity Guest Host Show Moments

    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Country
    • Awards
    • Sports
    • Theater
    • Books
  • Royals
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle
    Billie Eilish Ditches Her Blonde Hair for Brunette Tresses: 'Miss Me?'

    Billie Eilish Ditches Her Blonde Hair for Brunette Tresses: 'Miss Me?'

    The singer revealed that she dyed her hair dark brown after debuting her blonde look earlier this year
    • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Parents
    • Home
    • Pets
    • Food
    • Tech
    • Travel
  • PeopleTV
  • Shopping

    Shopping

    See All Shopping
    • People Tested
  • Podcasts

    Podcasts

    See All Podcasts
    Sen. Tammy Duckworth Calls Going Back to Work After Having a Miscarriage 'Inhumane'

    Sen. Tammy Duckworth Calls Going Back to Work After Having a Miscarriage 'Inhumane'

    "Even though we cleared my calendar for the day, I was still on the phone. There was no resting, you just kept on going," Tammy Duckworth says on an episode of PEOPLE's podcast Me Becoming Mom
    • Me Becoming Mom
    • People Every Day
    • PEOPLE in the '90s

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. People.com
  2. Celebrity
  3. Michael Jackson's Unlikely Friends and Odd Couplings

Michael Jackson's Unlikely Friends and Odd Couplings

He married Lisa Marie, took Madonna to the Oscars and bonded with Liz Taylor – look back at his wild and wacky relationships
By People Staff Updated June 25, 2009 08:05 PM
Skip gallery slides
FB Tweet

1 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

LISA MARIE PRESLEY

LISA MARIE PRESLEY
Credit: Mark Cardwell/Reuters/Landov

It was the kiss that was seen – and buzzed about – around the world: Michael Jackson and his bride, the King of Rock's daughter, declared their love for one another with an electrifying lip-lock at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. But after 20 months of marriage, Presley, 27, filed for divorce from the then-37-year-old pop star.

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

DIANA ROSS

DIANA ROSS
Credit: Everett

Ross first got a glimpse of Jackson's talent when she watched him and his older brothers perform at Motown head Berry Gordy's Detroit mansion. Jackson, then 10, even lived with his Supreme mentor, whom he once said he confided his "deepest, darkest secrets." More than a decade later, the pair starred in 1978's The Wiz, an all-black version of The Wizard of Oz.

2 of 10

3 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

ELIZABETH TAYLOR

ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Credit: Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty

Through all the child molestation allegations Jackson faced, he had the staunchest support from his longtime friend Dame Elizabeth Taylor, who the singer told Oprah Winfrey in 1993 was the one who anointed him the King of Pop – a moniker that stuck. What bonded the seemingly mismatched pair? Taylor told Larry King in a 2006 interview that "both had horrible childhoods."

3 of 10

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

DEBBIE ROWE

DEBBIE ROWE
Credit: Celebrity Photo

Who in the world is Debbie Rowe? The world found out in November 1996 when Jackson and the 37-year-old assistant to the singer's dermatologist confirmed news that they were expecting a baby together. Ten days after learning he was going to be a dad, the King of Pop married his 6-months-pregnant companion in a civil ceremony Down Under.

4 of 10

Advertisement

5 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

LIZA MINNELLI

LIZA MINNELLI
Credit: Brad Elterman/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic

Longtime friends (photographed together at a party in 1982), Jackson made a love connection for pal Minnelli, introducing her to her fourth husband, David Gest, at his 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration in 2001. Minnelli repaid the gesture by having the singer serve as a co-best man and ring bearer at her star-studded 2002 wedding to Gest.

5 of 10

6 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

MACAULAY CULKIN

MACAULAY CULKIN
Credit: Everett

A frequent guest at Jackson's Neverland Ranch as a young child, Culkin struck up a friendship with Jackson after appearing in his "Black or White" music video. In 2005, Culkin took the stand in the pop star's molestation trial where he testified that the singer never molested him as a child, calling the allegations "absolutely ridiculous."

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

TATUM O'NEAL

TATUM O'NEAL
Credit: John Barr/Liaison/Getty

Though they disputed the nature of their relationship, this much is true: O'Neal (pictured with Jackson in 1979) met the singer at an L.A. club when she was 12 and he was 17, according to her book A Paper Life. The two developed a friendship, talked frequently and, reportedly, shared a kiss at her home. Jackson later described in ABC's Living with Michael Jackson documentary that O'Neal attempted to seduce him, which she denied.

7 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

CHER

CHER
Credit: Barry King/WireImage

Cher and Jackson maintained a connection over the decades after the pop star appeared on The Sonny amp Cher Comedy Hour with his older brothers as part of the Jackson 5. In recent years, Cher (photographed with Jackson at a Dreamgirls opening party in 1983) grew critical of the singer, especially as a parent. She told TV Guide in '03, "I cannot imagine putting my children what he put his children through."

8 of 10

Advertisement

9 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

BROOKE SHIELDS

BROOKE SHIELDS
Credit: Ron Galella/WireImage

Linked in the '80s (and photographed with Emmanuel Lewis at a Grammy party in 1984), Jackson once told Oprah Winfrey about their relationship: "We try not to be everywhere, go everywhere. It's mostly at home. She'll come over. I'll go to her house because I don't like going out in public."

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

MADONNA

MADONNA
Credit: Globe

Talk about stealing the show: Jackson took the Material Girl as his date to the 1991 Oscars, creating a worldwide paparazzi frenzy. Madonna, decked out in a Bob Mackie gown and $20 million in diamonds, found her match in Jacko, who stepped out in gold-tipped cowboy boots, a diamond brooch and not one, but two gloves for the starry occasion. The two went on to reportedly collaborate on a song for Jackson's Dangerous album.

10 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By People Staff

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 10 LISA MARIE PRESLEY
    2 of 10 DIANA ROSS
    3 of 10 ELIZABETH TAYLOR
    4 of 10 DEBBIE ROWE
    5 of 10 LIZA MINNELLI
    6 of 10 MACAULAY CULKIN
    7 of 10 TATUM O'NEAL
    8 of 10 CHER
    9 of 10 BROOKE SHIELDS
    10 of 10 MADONNA

    Share & More

    Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    PEOPLE.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab. People is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Manage Push Notificationsthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab

    Manage Push Notifications

    If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Google Chrome and Android, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge.
    © Copyright PEOPLE.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://people.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Michael Jackson's Unlikely Friends and Odd Couplings
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.