Michael Jackson gives first live interview to Oprah Winfrey - Cover Story

Jet, Feb 8, 1993

During Black History Month -- February 1992 -- megastar Michael Jackson, "King of Pop, Rock and Soul," traveled to Africa, where he was the first American crowned honorary "King of Sani" in the gold-mining village of Krindjabo, located near Abidjan, Ivory Coast (JET, March 16, 1992).

As the monthlong celebration gets underway this February, the musical monarch will establish another precedent. He will give the first live interview to Oprah Winfrey, the "Queen of TV Talk Shows." The prime time special, produced by Winfrey's Harpo Productions, Inc., will air Wednesday, February 10 (9:30-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network in the U.S. and in countries around the world. Oprah's 90-minute interview with Jackson, originating from his ranch in Santa Ynez, Calif., will provide viewers a rare glimpse into this private and often mysterious musical master's intriguing life.

"Michael Jackson has always been at the top of my list of people I am most interested in interviewing," Oprah allowed. "The excitement of this interview being live and unedited is certainly a special event for me and for all of Michael's fans," she adds.

Rather than tape the interview and release it on the scheduled air date, the talk show host and Jackson agreed to an unprecedented live show. The format will allow the megastar to talk about his career, lifestyle and family, and express his innermost feelings.

To fans who have become accustomed to Jackson confining his remarks to only a few words on occasions where he was being honored, his prime-time conversation with Oprah will offer new insights and some surprises.

He will undoubtedly elaborate upon some of the insights he has offered in exclusive interviews in JET and EBONY throughout his career and in his eloquent writings.

As an interviewer whose skill and conversation style often induce her talk show guests to talk about things they have never uttered in public before, it is expected that Jackson may reveal something that may be surprising or even shocking.

During the past several weeks, the energetic entertainer has become more visible on the TV tube and has increased his appearances on behalf of children -- his first love. His Heal The World Foundation has allowed him to travel around the world in support of children of all races, nations and cultures.

In his recent performance at the Presidential Inaugural Gala, a reunion celebrating family and friends with the music and dance of some of the nation's greatest entertainers, Jackson was given a stomping and standing ovation after he sang two songs -- Gone Too Soon, dedicated to his little pal, Ryan White, who died of AIDS resulting from a blood transfusion, and Heal The World, which has become his mission.