Diana Ross backup caregiver in Michael Jackson will

Michael Jackson wanted music legend Diana Ross to care for his three children in the event his mother was unable to act as guardian, according to a will he signed seven years ago.

The 2002 document was filed Wednesday morning in L.A. Superior Court by John Branca, the performer’s longtime entertainment attorney and advisor. The will appoints Branca and a music executive and family friend, John McClain, as executors of the estate.

A third executor, Barry Siegel, resigned from consideration in 2003, according to a statement released by Branca’s representatives. Lawyers for Jackson’s parents have said they obtained a copy of the July 2002 will Tuesday and are reviewing its validity.

The will bears Jackson’s signature and many paragraphs of the five-page document are initialed “MJ.” In a statement, Branca and McClain said, “The most important element of Michael’s will is his unwavering desire that his mother, Katherine, become the legal guardian for his three children. As we work to carry out Michael’s instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve.”

Branca began representing Jackson when the entertainer was 21 and guided him through the most successful period of his life, including the release of “Thriller” and his purchase of rights to a music catalog that includes the work of the Beatles and was Jackson’s biggest asset.

McClain is one of the founders of Interscope Records and according to the executors’ statement, has a 40-year relationship with the Jackson family. The will directs that all of Jackson’s assets be put in an entity called the Michael Jackson Family Trust.

--Harriet Ryan

Photo: Diana Ross performs in 2007. Credit: Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty Images

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Comments

[markus]

DIANA ROSS???? All those brothers and sisters (okay, I wouldn't leave my kids with LaToya, either)...it just seems so random. I guess he thought Diana would have an easier time chasing after them than Liz...

[alexcub]

Perfect choice! Diana Ross has been an outstanding mother to her five children. They all have become sucessful adults and have had no scandals of any type surrounding them. To me her biggest legacy is that of a mother for the wonderful job she did raising those three girls and later the two boys. Her entertaiment career comes second to that most important achievement.

[Emilie GILLES]

So a big family (8 sibblings) and didn't find anyone better as Diana Ross. What's wrong with this family ?

[Tina]

I cannot even comprehend my Dear Michael even resting in Beloved Peace right now; I truly believe that he is immortally here, maybe in Tahiti! oh how true I hope that is! Michael just wanting to escape all the 'hoopla' that our country has suffered in the racial matters of the recent years, and not to even mention his personals concerning his fame,! ah! let people breathe, but be there for them, help them, when you see it, at least try! This is why life is so special, you keep those so dear to your heart, bloodline or not, Love, true Love, even from a Beautiful, Loving, Sincere, Caring, Real individual as Diana Ross, of whom I wish to meet someday, I wanted to meet Michael up close to hold him, to let him know that 'deep down, no matter what color you are, you are indeed loved, special, and I will always love you dearly'; we grew up in the same era; I believe I became or wanted to be in the Jackson 5's Fan Club; I too, like Michael, Marlon, Randy, got caught up in school integration era, you had to break the racial color barriers, to get along with people of other color than our Beautiful Black Skin; to all, please, Kiss your very own souls right after reading this message, the Holy Master's Spirits Love you Dearly, we must make it through tough times, resort to natural love, to to a beach or park, dig your feet in the sand, and just enjoy yourselves, friends, or whatever it is that pleases you, makes you feel good inside, like your favorite meal, but live and enjoy and let's all take care of each other, for real, the Holy Master would Love that; always, Much Love from Tina of South Florida and Beyond

[Silvija]

Katherine Jackson lost her beloved son - he will be forever in all our memories but none of us will feel her pain - that Michael loved his Mom so much is shown by his Will and his last wishes. That Diana Ross was a friend he could have faith in is also shown in his wish that she be guardian if his mother could not be. Many he never knew had faith in him and believed that he was a sensitive soul who was much misunderstood by others who would slander his name and not understand that his motives were pure. Rest in Peace in God's loving arms now Michael - You gave the world so much of yourself and were truly a kind and gentle person in your soul.

[Tangela Mingo]

Thank You Diana Ross for being a secondary parental guidance..., for Micheal throughout the years,and for Micheal to have made a decision on choosiing you. His siblings have their own children to raise, not to say that they can't, but they also have careers too. Micheal made his choice. A great one I must say. Katherine is his birth mother, and all consideration is proper for her to be in charge.
Micheal continue to sing your rhythms and let the heavenly thunders roar. And furthermore, any considerations by his siblings for the caring of Micheal's children most certainly would be favored by all of them, and that includes his father.
His entire familly loved him, as well as the public. Let the man rest in peace and his choices stand.
All of us will miss you Micheal Jackson! What else can we say, but LUV YA!
Tangela Mingo, Miami, Florida.

[ROBERT F. DEYRO]

DIANA ROSS-----is really THE SUPREME being.
GOD BLESS YOU DIANA, your my idol too. I'm 60 year old
Filipino/American-RETIRED,i really love all your songs.NOW resides in the Philippines.

May you have LONG LIFE and good FORTUNE ahead of you.
GOD walks and sings with YOU.

[Rod]

Diana Ross is a superb mother. Her children (and stepchildren) are her greatest achievement.

[Michael Forever <3]

I am disturbed about the circumstances surrounding the will of Michael Jackson. Firstly his mother says there is no will and then it turns out that very day that there is. Not only is there a will but that two of Michael's trusted long time aides are names as his executors of the will. In the meantime, his house has been cleaned out, all thoughts of him 'laying in state' or even returning to his beloved Neverland seem to be dissolving into myth. Michael set up a trust for his three children, which was to be overseen by his mother, but he also wished that his actual estate be overseen by his two aides. What if these two aides know exactly what Michael wanted to happen after his death, or were trusted to carry out his wishes, and the judge has stripped them of that responsibility - surely that would be a travesty?

Michael's father seems like a buffoon, particularly promoting himself and his new company before his son has even been buried, very thoughtless indeed. Does he smell lots of dollars? It was as if he was saying to the audience 'we've lost one Jackson but I have more here - just waiting to entertain you', that is plain sick. Michael was uniquely talented and with respect to the other members of Jackson Five, Michael stopped a tour that was planned by them, including him, about a year ago, instead invieling plans that he was to embark on his own new solo project. It seems that putting out the story of a J5 reunion did not railroad Michael into going along with it, he instead announced his own plans. After all the main Jackson was always Michael and for all we know his father is trying to push the others on us as substitutes, which is thoughtless in the extreme considering the circumstances. If Mr Branca and Mr Mc Clain are finally made executors (as was Michael's wish) I wonder if there is any way they could arrange a proper funeral for Michael which involves Neverland, where his fans the world over would want to see him laid to rest. Look after your grandchildren Mrs Jackson, but leave the running of business to those that Michael trusted to do this for him. He must've had good reason to appoint them trustees. It is not always the deceased's family that does the right thing by them. I hope Mc Clain/Branca are made exectutors and keep Michael's assests out of his father's hands - I'd think that is a major concern right now. NEVERLAND was Michael's home - a place he loved, to bury him in a celebrity cemetary would be an insult to a man who had very clear ideas about how he lived, and what he wanted to happen in the event of his death.

[RED]

People get over yourselves....those of you questioning the nomination of diana ross as back up guardian to his kids are either too young to know the long history and closeness of the relationship between MJ and diana ross or are just plain ignorant. Those two go back to 1969 and she was like a second mother too him. She is also very close to his family. He might have been friends with Liz Taylor,Liza Minelli anb others, but Diana Ross was like family to him and that makes their relationship very different. Do your research.

Also just because he didn't nominate any of his siblings as guardian to his kids means nothing about his relationship with them. As a parent, I would (and have) nominated my best friend and her husband as the guardians to my kids not any of my siblings. It doesn't mean I love my siblings any less, it just means that for various reasons my best friend would make a better parent for my kids. Plain and simple. Stop trying to read something into things that you have no insight into.

[fabio Hoyos]

Not many peolple realized what a wonderfull Mother Diana Ross is. She is everything for Her kids to the point that She rather sacrifice Her own in order to get them the very best. What a wondefull character She has played in Her own life, only doing what She thinks it's the best for Her and Her kids, sometimes money is everything and She has is someone with ethics and high standarts. I wish people could see this on Her but only the close people had known this for years.

[Tina]

How do I contact Ms. Ross? I am a great fan of hers and a spirualist at heart to help guideher in her decisions. thank you, Tina of South Florida