Jackson's Mom Gets $86K a Month

Judge sides with executors named in 2002 will

(NEWSER) - An LA judge shot down Katherine Jackson’s request to keep control of her son’s estate today, handing the keys instead to the executors named in Michael’s 2002 will, the LA Times reports. Katherine Jackson said she wasn’t challenging the will’s legitimacy, but argued that a more recent will may exist. She said she was concerned that the named executors, John Branca and John McClain, weren’t the right men for the job. More»

Joe Jackson unloads on Katherine Jackson in UK tabloid

(NEWSER) - As the first anniversary of Michael Jackson's death approaches, his father is honoring his memory by blaming the late entertainer's mother—his wife of 60-plus years—for his death. "In Michael's final months alive I said to her many times that I couldn't get through to him—and that she needed to help her son," he tells the UK tabloid News of the World . More»

Teen queen snags artist of the year in an upset

(NEWSER) - Taylor Swift unexpectedly captured artist of the year honors at tonight's American Music Awards, preventing a sweep by Michael Jackson. The 19-year-old country-pop crossover sensation called being included in the same category as the King of Pop an "unimaginable honor." She won five awards; Jermaine Jackson accepted two of his brother's four trophies wearing a sequined glove on his left hand, the AP reports. More»

Response to 'This Is It' tepid from critics, all over the place from fans

(NEWSER) - Michael Jackson’s posthumous single was released to much hype, but the critical response is lukewarm and fan reactions are mixed. A sampling:

• In a roundup of fan comments on Michael Jackson’s website, the Times reports that while some are pleased—“This single is great, even better than I thought it was gonna be”—many others are calling it “garbage.”

'This Is It' was written in 1991 but left off Dangerous

(NEWSER) - Michael Jackson's first posthumous single premiered this morning on his website, featuring backing vocals by his brothers. "This Is It" was written for the 1991 album Dangerous, but was cut before the album was released; it will be the only new song on a double CD coming later this month. The midtempo ballad is a plea to a lover, but the late King of Pop begins on a grander scale: "This is it, here I stand, I'm the light of the world." Click the link at left to listen. More»