A real war has broken out between the members of the Jackson family who want Michael Jackson’s money and his kids. A member of the family just told me that Michael’s kids are “lying” about not hearing from their grandmother. Meanwhile, I can tell you exclusively that Katherine Jackson is NOT visiting with her granddaughter in Arizona. I just got off the phone with someone in Stacy Brown’s house in California. She is right at home, and simply not in Arizona. The Sheriff’s Department in Pima County, Arizona says they saw Katherine Jackson, and the tabloid photo site X17 Online somehow has a picture Katherine and some family members playing Uno at the dinner table last night.

Whoever Katherine is with, it’s NOT her 44 year old granddaughter, the daughter of eldest child Rebbie and her husband Nathaniel Brown. Stacy is married to a music producer and they live in Los Angeles. Katherine Jackson does have cousins in Phoenix, but their numbers don’t answer. A source close to the Jackson saga confirms: “You know the family is going to try and get Katherine to sign papers and they won’t let her leave til she does.” By the way, Rebbie and husband Nathaniel live with Stacee and her husband in Los Angeles–so none of them are in Arizona, thanks.

Mariah Carey was named a judge on “American Idol” this afternoon. I told you about this ten days ago, before anyone, and on Saturday I told you about Mariah’s new single, “Triumphant.” I also told you that Randy Jackson manages Mariah, and that he’ll be re-signed as a judge imminently. Here’s a press release–confirming the single, too:

also read: http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/07/21/mariah-carey-new-single-may-be-titled-triumphant-to-mark-idol-deal

PLATINUM-SELLING GLOBAL MEGASTAR MARIAH CAREY
JOINS “AMERICAN IDOL” AS NEW JUDGE

Mariah Carey, one of the best-selling female recording artists of all time, has joined AMERICAN IDOL as a new judge. A five-time Grammy Award-winning global superstar with more than 200 million records sold worldwide and more No. 1 songs than any solo artist in history, her 18 Billboard No. 1 singles (17 of which Carey wrote) rival all but The Beatles. Carey joins the judges’ panel when AMERICAN IDOL returns in January 2013 on FOX.

“As a singer, songwriter and producer, it’s going to be fun and rewarding to help find new talent and give back with AMERICAN IDOL,” said Mariah Carey. “I’m currently in the studio working on my new album and its first single, ‘Triumphant,’ which will be out early next month. I can’t wait to channel my creative energy as a part of this show which is a massive global phenomenon.”

“We are proud to have one of the world’s greatest-ever female singers join our show,” said IDOL creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “Mariah defines the word ‘Idol’ and will inspire every singer that has the honor of performing in front of her.”

“Mariah Carey is a global icon whose list of musical accomplishments is unprecedented,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia. “Having sold more than 200 million records worldwide, she’s a true artist, ideally suited to identify and nurture AMERICAN IDOL’s next great music superstars. We warmly welcome her to the IDOL family.”

“Mariah Carey is the real deal. Not only is she one of the best-selling artists and performers on the planet and one of the world’s most gifted vocalists, she also is a successful songwriter, record producer and actress,” said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “She has a deep knowledge of music and a career insight that will make her a really amazing asset to our judges’ table and to our contestants. It’s the dream of almost everyone who auditions for IDOL to sing like Mariah and we couldn’t be happier to have her be part of the show.”

With a distinct five-octave vocal range, prolific songwriting and producing talent, Carey has defined the modern pop performance. As a singer/songwriter/producer, she has been recognized with five Grammy Awards, nine American Music Awards, Billboard’s Artist of the Decade Award, the World Music Award for World’s Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium and BMI’s Icon Award, to name a few. She has two consecutive and unparalleled Billboard Song of the Decade titles: “One Sweet Day” (with Boyz II Men); and “We Belong Together,” further marking her massive presence on the charts since her 1990 song debut “Vision of Love.” Mariah became the second artist in history and the first female performer to have a song debut at No. 1 with “Fantasy” (1995), the groundbreaking collaboration with O.D.B. of the innovative rap group Wu-Tang Clan. Carey’s original holiday classic, “All I Want For Christmas is You,” redefined its place in pop culture as one of the greatest holiday hits of all time when it reached

No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 2011, 17 years after its debut. Carey’s influential and stellar contribution to the music industry spans multiple genres and is showcased through a multifaceted hit catalogue as well as a long list of diverse collaborations.

Carey’s ongoing impact transcends the music industry and has left an indelible imprint upon the world at large. She recently made a substantial mark in film with her critically acclaimed role as a social worker in “Precious,” the 2009 film based on the novel “Push,” by Sapphire. A Congressional Award recipient, Carey has generously donated her time and energy to a range of domestic and international philanthropic causes near to her heart, including The Fresh Air Fund/Camp Mariah (a retreat where inner-city children explore career development), Save the Music Foundation and Make-a-Wish Foundation, among several others.

Carey is currently in the studio, writing, recording and executive-producing her next album for Island Def Jam Music Group, with the lead single “Triumphant.”

Paris Jackson went to the Greek Theater last night in L.A. not to support her uncles–but to see her grandmother. She and her adult cousins–who are watching Paris, Prince, and Michael–were told grandmother Katherine Jackson would be at the show. She was not. As far as anyone knows, KAtherine Jackson is still in Phoenix with her daughter Rebbie and cousins. She has not had any communication with her custodial grandchildren. My sources say her cell phone and laptop have been removed.

“The children are very worried,” says a source– and rightly so. Mrs. Jackson went to Phoenix with the intention of seeing her four sons appear in three shows–in Phoenix and Las Vegas. She never appeared at any of them and has not been heard from since. And now the brothers have played in Los Angeles, and still Mrs. Jackson is missing. She is not “fine” by any means if she’s being prevented from contacting her grandchildren and her attorneys. As of this afternoon, no one has heard from her. This is a serious situation.

For one thing, she is the legal guardian of three minor children. Second, she is the heir to a large estate–her son Michael’s. The feeling is that she won’t re-surface until she agrees to the demands that five of her children laid out in a letter to Michael Jackson’s executors last week. This is unbelievable. Certainly Rebbie Jackson Brown can be made to produce her mother in a court if pressed by the guardian ad litem for the children. More to come…

PS Paris Jackson has been pulled off of Twitter. There have been no new messages since yesterday.

And TMZ is wrong–Katherine was not taken to Phoenix to a spa…

Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises” set a record this weekend–biggest opening for a non 3D movie. Got that? Warner Bros. is not releasing box office figures in deference to the Aurora, Colorado victims and survivors. But the news is out that “TDKR” will end up between $160 and $162 million including the $30.6 million Thursday overnights. More on the box office tonight when all the numbers are in.

Since the middle of the night, Paris Jackson, whip-smart 14 year old, has been Tweeting that her grandmother and guardian, Katherine Jackson, is not home. Paris says she has not spoken to her grandmother in a week. Mrs, Jackson is the legal guardian of three minor children including Paris–her brothers Prince, 15, and Blanket, 10. If she has not been home for a week in Calabasas, California, then who is taking care of these children?

Jermaine Jackson has Tweeted that his mother is getting rest in Arizona, and nothing is wrong. But something is very very wrong if a 14 year old girl has to resort to Twitter to alert the world that her beloved grandmother and guardian is AwoL. The Jackson kids have lawyers and a court appointed guardian, as well. Plus, the Jackson estate should be concerned that one of their heirs is unaccounted for.

What makes all of this so suspicious is that it comes at the end of several days of infighting among the Jacksons. For years Michael Jackson used to give his mother chunks of money which she disbursed to his siblings who needed it. But since Michael died, the money is controlled by the executors of his estate. The executors must account for this money to the probate court. The gravy train for the Jackson family ended on June 25m 2009 when Michael died. Now they scramble to earn a living. There is grave concern that the siblings are pressuring Mrs. Jackson to turn against the executors, or gain conservatorship over her.

Michael’s children are not stupid. They can read the internet. By now they know that uncles Jermaine and Randy are not so interested in them. They are interested in their own futures. But I doubt scaring Paris Jackson and mobilizing her to this point will ingratiate the brothers with Michael’s kids. Let’s hope Katherine Jackson is returned to her home pronto, and that the lawyers and others representing the kids can prevent this from happening again.