Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson’s father and the brain behind the Jackson 5, has died, according to TMZ. He was 89 when he lost to a battle to cancer in Los Angeles.
TMZ earlier (June 22) reported that Joe Jackson had been battling cancer “for some time” but it was “at the end stages” and could not “be treated.”
Joe was hospitalized in June and his wife, Katherine, had been at his bedside along with some of Joe’s children and grandchildren.
#BREAKING: Joe Jackson, the patriarch of the Jackson family, has died. R.I.P. https://t.co/llc4qfsuKQ
— TMZ (@TMZ) June 27, 2018
In 2014, Joe opened up about his health in an open letter to his daughter, Janet.
“When I suffered four strokes last year, and was in the hospital recovering, only two people in my family traveled all the way to see me in the hospital. My granddaughter Brandi (Jackie’s daughter) and my baby girl Janet,†he wrote. “She sat right next to me as I lay in bed, spent time with me, talking about a lot together. It meant a lot to me. I lay there listening to her as she talked about how she was going to get married. I am happy for her and wish her nothing but the best! I never tell you this, but I am proud of you Janet.â€
Daughter Janet Jackson paid tribute to her dad at the Radio Disney Awards on June 22, where she was honoured with the Impact Award. “My mother [Katherine] nourished me with the most extravagant love imaginable, my father, my incredible father, drove me to be the best that I can,†she shared.
Joe is survived by wife Katherine; sons Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy; and daughters Rebbie, La Toya and Janet.
