Carol gives birth to Marlon Jackson Jr.
Michael does backing vocals for the song State Of Independence by Donna Summer.
- February 6:
Enid gives birth to Brandi Jackson.
- April 14:
Michael & Paul McCartney start recording the song The Girl Is Mine in Los Angeles.
- July 17 :
Michael attends a gala in honor of Quincy Jones at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
- August:
Michael, Quincy Jones & Bruce Swedien start the recording of The Thriller album at the Westlake Studios in Los Angeles.
Michael razes and rebuilds the Encino family Home. During the reconstruction, he moves into a condo that he owns with Katherine, Janet & LaToya.
During a photoshoot by Dick Zimmerman for the cover of ET Storybook, Michael meets Karen Faye and hires her as his personal make-up artist
- August 18 :
Katherine files for divorce for the second time but she withdraws her demand later on.
- August 20:
Michael gives an interview for the October’s issue of Interview magazine when Andy Warhol calls him to take part in the interview.
- September:
The single Muscles by Diana Ross is released. The song was written, composed and produced by Michael.
Steven Spielberg asks Quincy Jones and Michael to produce a storybook album for his movie ET. Even though, they are very busy working on the Thriller album but they accept and spend days & nights working in the Westlake Studio.
Michael gives an interview to Rolling Stone correspondant Gerri Hirshey from his rented condo in the San Fernando Valley.
- September 15 :
Michael attends the last Queen concert from their Hot Space US Tour at the Forum in Inglewood. Later Freddie Mercury and him record songs together including a duo titled State Of Shock.
- October 10:
Michael attends the wedding of Courtney Sale & Steve Ross with Quincy Jones & his wife Peggy.
- October 23:
The Girl Is Mine is released a a one-sided single by Epic.
- November:
ET Storybook is released by MCA Records. A legal battle immediately ensues over the release of the album. CBS Records claims that MCA violated their agreement by releasing their album before Thriller. A New York Supreme Court judge prohibits further sales of the album and of the single Someone In The Dark which are removed and destroyed!
- November 8 :
Michael, Quincy & Bruce complete the mixing of the Thriller album.
- November 30 :
The album Thriller is released on Epic. It will become the most successful album of all time with 7 hit singles, 107 millions copies sold worldwide, 3 legendaries videos , 8 American Music Awards & 7 Grammy Awards!!!
- December:
The family moves back to Hayvenhurst now equipped with a second story to the bedrooms, upstairs a den and a gym, downstairs a game room and a thirty-two-seat movie theatre and off the entry hall, a trophy room. Michael spends a lot of time at Hayvenhurst playing with his menagerie composed of Louis & Lola (the llamas), Prince & Princess (the deer), Winter & Spring (the peacocks), Jabbar (the giraffe) or Muscles (the snake)
Michael & ET are on the cover of Ebony Magazine.
Michael gives an interview to UK's magazine Smash Hits.
