If you’ve spent any time following the endless saga of the Jackson family, you know that keeping track of who is where—and who is still with us—can feel like a full-time job. It’s been well over a decade since the world lost Michael Jackson, and honestly, the family dynamic hasn't gotten any less complicated. People are constantly asking: is Michael Jackson's mom and dad still alive?
The answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no" because we are talking about two very different paths. One parent is still the reigning matriarch of the family, while the other passed away several years ago, leaving behind a legacy that people still argue about in barbershops and on Twitter.
What Happened to Joe Jackson?
Let’s start with the patriarch. Joseph Walter Jackson, the man who basically engineered the Jackson 5 in a tiny house in Gary, Indiana, is no longer alive. Joe Jackson died on June 27, 2018. He was 89 years old.
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He had been battling pancreatic cancer for a while. Toward the end, it was pretty rough. He was hospitalized in Las Vegas, and while some of the family gathered around him, there were those classic Jackson family reports about "gatekeeping" and certain family members being blocked from seeing him. He passed away just two days after the ninth anniversary of Michael’s death.
Joe was always a polarizing figure. You can't talk about him without mentioning the "iron fist" coaching style. He was the one who pushed Michael, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie, and Marlon until they were the biggest stars on the planet. But Michael was very open about the fact that this discipline often crossed the line into physical and emotional abuse. When Joe died, the tributes were mixed. Some saw him as the visionary who saved his kids from a life of poverty; others saw him as the villain in Michael’s story. He’s buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale—the same place where Michael is interred.
Katherine Jackson: The 95-Year-Old Matriarch
Now, if you’re asking about Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson, the story is very different. As of early 2026, Katherine Jackson is still alive.
She turned 95 on May 4, 2025. Think about that for a second. This woman has lived through the Great Depression, the rise of Motown, the unthinkable heights of her son's fame, his tragic death in 2009, and now the deaths of her husband Joe and her son Tito, who we lost more recently in 2024.
Katherine has always been the "glue." While Joe was the drill sergeant, Katherine was the one Michael turned to for comfort. Even in his will, Michael made it clear: he wanted Katherine to have custody of his kids—Prince, Paris, and Bigi (formerly known as Blanket).
How is Katherine doing lately?
Honestly, she’s stayed mostly out of the spotlight in the last couple of years, but her name keeps popping up in court documents. Being the mother of the King of Pop isn't just about memories; it's about a massive, billion-dollar estate.
Lately, there’s been a lot of friction between Katherine and the executors of Michael’s estate, John Branca and John McClain. The big drama? A massive $600 million deal to sell half of Michael’s music catalog to Sony. Katherine wasn't a fan. She tried to block it in court, arguing that the executors were overstepping.
Just recently, in late 2025 and moving into 2026, the legal battles have stayed messy. Even Bigi Jackson, her grandson, ended up on the opposite side of a legal filing regarding whether the estate should keep paying Katherine’s legal fees for these appeals. It sounds cold, but from a legal standpoint, the "kids" seem to think the fight is over and it's time to stop spending estate money on lawyers.
The Current Family Status: Who's Still Here?
To keep it 100% clear, here is the breakdown of the immediate family elders:
- Joe Jackson (Father): Deceased (Passed June 27, 2018).
- Katherine Jackson (Mother): Alive (Age 95).
- Tito Jackson (Brother): Deceased (Passed September 15, 2024).
- Michael Jackson: Deceased (Passed June 25, 2009).
The rest of the siblings—Janet, La Toya, Rebbie, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy—are all still with us.
It’s kind of wild to realize that Katherine has outlived two of her sons. That’s a heavy burden for anyone, let alone someone in their mid-90s. Most of the recent updates we get about her come through Janet Jackson’s social media. Janet usually posts a sweet tribute on Katherine's birthday, calling her a "living testament to grace."
Why People Keep Searching for This
The reason people are still asking is Michael Jackson's mom and dad still alive is because the Jackson family is basically American royalty—just with way more lawsuits.
There’s also a lot of misinformation that floats around. Because Katherine is so private, every few months a "death hoax" will start trending on Facebook or TikTok. You’ll see a grainy photo with a caption like "RIP Katherine Jackson," and everyone freaks out. But unless you see it from a major outlet like Associated Press or a direct post from Paris or Janet, take it with a grain of salt.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you're trying to keep tabs on the Jackson family legacy or the state of the estate in 2026, here’s what you should actually watch:
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- The Biopic "Michael": With the big-budget movie about Michael’s life having been in the works, pay attention to how Katherine and Joe are portrayed. It’s going to spark a whole new round of debates about Joe's parenting.
- Court Filings in LA: If you really want the truth about Katherine's status, look at the Los Angeles County probate court records. That’s where the real "tea" is. As long as she is filing objections or receiving her monthly allowance from the estate (which is reportedly around $67,000 a month), she’s active.
- Estate Transparency: The current legal spat between Paris Jackson and the executors (Branca and McClain) over legal fees is the main thing to watch right now. It tells you a lot about how the third generation of Jacksons is starting to take the reins.
Katherine Jackson remains a quiet, resilient figure in a family that has seen more drama than a decade of soap operas. Joe is gone, but his shadow still looms large over the music industry. For now, the matriarch is still holding on, even as the world around her continues to fight over the King of Pop's throne.