Elizabeth Taylor Crowned Him — Michael Jackson

THE FACT

The title 'King of Pop' was not invented by a journalist or by Michael himself — it was coined live on stage by Elizabeth Taylor while presenting him the Heritage Award at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards. She said: 'The greatest entertainer of the past century, the King of Pop, the King of Rock, the King of Soul — Michael Jackson.' Michael adopted the title within weeks.

WHAT MOST DON'T KNOW

Taylor and Michael had been close friends since meeting at a film-screening dinner in 1984, when she was 52 and he was 25. She had been an early defender of him through the late-eighties tabloid wars over his physical appearance. The Heritage Award presentation at Shrine Auditorium was their public coming-out as best friends. Michael was so moved that he insisted Sony and CBS use the phrase 'King of Pop' in all subsequent press materials, contractually requiring its inclusion on print coverage of the upcoming Dangerous album. The Taylor/Jackson friendship lasted until her death in March 2011 — exactly 22 months after his own. He left her substantial gifts in his will, including a copy of the Captain EO master print and several pieces of jewellery. They had planned to travel to Tokyo together on what would have been his 51st birthday week, two months after his death.

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THE MOMENT

Elizabeth Taylor crowns MJ 'King of Pop' — Soul Train Awards 1989 — The exact moment the title was minted, on live national television.

SOURCES

King of Pop — Wikipedia ↗