Katherine Jackson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katherine Jackson
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Katherine Esther Scruse
May 4, 1930 Clayton, Alabama, U.S.
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| Occupation | Author |
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| Family | Jackson |
Katherine Esther Jackson (born Scruse; May 4, 1930) is a well-known American author. She is the mother of many famous entertainers from the Jackson family. Her children include music superstars Michael and Janet Jackson. Both Michael and Janet dedicated their popular albums, Thriller and Rhythm Nation 1814, to her. In 1985, a magazine called Essence honored her as "Mother of the Year." This was to recognize her positive influence on her children's successful music careers.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
Katherine was born on May 4, 1930, in Clayton, Alabama. Her birth name was Kattie B. Screws. When she was two years old, she got an illness called polio. This left her with a slight limp. In 1934, her father changed their family name to Scruse. He also changed her name to Katherine Esther Scruse.
As a child, Katherine dreamed of becoming an actress. She also wanted to be a country singer. However, she noticed there were no famous Black country stars at the time. Her parents divorced when she was young. She later joined her high school band. This was when she attended Washington High School in East Chicago, Indiana.
The Jackson Family Matriarch
In 1947, Katherine Scruse met Joseph "Joe" Jackson. They lived in the same town of East Chicago, Indiana. They started dating after Joe's earlier marriage ended. After dating for a year, Katherine and Joe married on November 5, 1949. In January 1950, they bought a small house in Gary, Indiana. It had two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen.
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Between 1950 and 1966, Katherine and Joe had ten children. One son, Brandon, was Marlon's twin. Sadly, Brandon passed away just hours after birth. Their children are:
- Maureen Reillette "Rebbie" Jackson (born May 29, 1950)
- Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (born May 4, 1951)
- Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (October 15, 1953 – September 15, 2024)
- Jermaine La Jaune Jackson (born December 11, 1954)
- La Toya Yvonne Jackson (born May 29, 1956)
- Marlon David Jackson (born March 12, 1957)
- Brandon David Jackson (March 12, 1957 – March 12, 1957)
- Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)
- Steven Randall "Randy" Jackson (born October 29, 1961)
- Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966)
The Jackson 5's Beginnings
The famous music group The Jackson 5 started in 1964 in Gary, Indiana. It first included brothers Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine. Soon after, younger brothers Marlon and Michael joined them. The group performed in talent shows and clubs. They signed with Steeltown Records in 1967.
In 1968, the group signed with Motown and Berry Gordy. They made history by having four songs in a row reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. These hits included "I Want You Back" and "ABC".
In their early years, Katherine sang with Joe as he played guitar. Joe also worked as a crane operator to support his family. Katherine, a devoted Jehovah's Witness, worked part-time at Sears. She also played the clarinet and piano. She noticed her son Michael loved music from a very young age.
One day, her son Tito secretly played Joe’s guitar and broke a string. After it was fixed, Tito played for Joe. This moment helped inspire the family to form a group. It was first called “The Jackson Brothers 5” and later became the Jackson 5. While Joe led rehearsals, Katherine designed and sewed the boys' stage outfits. She also sang harmonies with them. Katherine was truly the backbone of the family.
Personal Life
Katherine filed for divorce from Joe Jackson in 1973 but later decided not to go through with it. She filed for divorce again in 1982, but again changed her mind. They remained legally married until Joe's death in 2018. Katherine always denied rumors that they were separated.
In 1990, Katherine released her autobiography titled My Family, The Jacksons. This book shared stories about her early life and her relationships with her husband and children. Eight of her children wrote special messages to her in the book's foreword. Katherine and her daughter La Toya had a difficult period in the late 1980s. However, they later became close again in 1997.
Tributes and Recognition
Michael dedicated his famous 1982 album Thriller to his mother, Katherine. Janet also dedicated her 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814 to her. In 1985, the national urban magazine Essence recognized Katherine as "Mother of the Year." This honor celebrated her positive influence on her children's successful music careers.
In a 2010 interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Katherine shared that her husband had admitted to using physical discipline with their children.
Later Life and Family Care
After Michael Jackson's passing in 2009, Katherine became the guardian of his three children: Prince, Paris, and Bigi. She reached an agreement with Debbie Rowe, the mother of Prince and Paris, for their care.
In 2011, Katherine moved to Calabasas, California. She lived with her grandson, TJ Jackson, and his family. In 2012, her guardianship of the children was temporarily paused by the court. This was due to concerns about her well-being. Guardianship was briefly given to Michael's nephew, TJ Jackson. Later, Katherine's guardianship resumed, with TJ Jackson as a co-guardian.
On November 1, 2017, Katherine decided to step down as co-guardian for Michael's youngest son, Bigi. She explained that her advanced age was a reason. Also, Michael's older children, Prince and Paris, were now adults, and Bigi was 15 years old. TJ Jackson then became the sole guardian of Bigi.
Portrayals in Media
Katherine Jackson has been played by different actresses in movies and TV shows:
- Angela Bassett in the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream
- Patricia Idlette in the 2004 VH1 movie Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
- Nia Long in the upcoming 2025 film Michael
