Diana Ross: Michael Chose Her As Back-Up Mom
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Stop in the name of love: Michael Jackson, I am told by sources, chose his one and only idol, Diana Ross, as alternate guardian for his three kids.
When Michael’s will is filed today in Los Angeles Surrogate Court, it should reveal the following: Michael Jackson wanted Diana Ross to take Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket if anything prevented his mother from raising them.
It’s unclear if Ross knew this, or when she last saw Jackson. But the ex-Supreme was often incorrectly cited has having discovered the Jackson 5. (In reality it was Gladys Knight and Motown’s Bobby Taylor.)
On the face of it you might say, Diana Ross? But on the other hand, Michael might have had a good idea. Ross has raised a family of five accomplished, achieving and scandal-free children of her own. The eldest, Tracee Ross, has been a successful’actress for some time.’Rhonda Kendricks Ross is also an actress and singer. A third daughter is’married and especting a child. Ross’also has two sons by’late billionaire Arne Naess.
Jackson’s will, signed in 2002 and prepared by John Branca, his longtime lawyer, should be pretty solid when it’hits court. Branca and longtime Jackson pal John McClain are the executors. Branca and Michael’split up in the mid 00’s but recently got back together. McClain helped put Janet Jackson on’the map with her “Control” album in the 1980s. In 1998 he tried to put together a Jackson 5 reunion CD for A&M Records.
Branca in particular’couldn’t be a better choice’to protect the’rights’of Michael’s kids going forward.’It was Branca who put together the deal for the Beatles catalog.’He also kept Michael out of trouble during his difficult post-1993 years after the Chandler scandal.’It was because of’Branca that Jackson’s estate will get his master recordings back in five years. That’s a rarity in the music business. Branca also has a special affinity for the rights of musicians. He’s on the board of Musicares, the Grammy foundation that supports indigent musicians.