If Michael Jackson were alive today, there’s a good chance he’d be working with Lady Gaga.
Jackson wanted to invite the “Paparazzi” singer to join him on stage during his “This Is It” tour, his former choreographer Travis Payne reported.
When Payne asked Jackson if he wanted to feature other artists in the show, the late pop superstar loved the idea.
“Sure, they can all come as long as their schedules permit,” Payne recalled Jackson saying.
Payne suggested Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Celine Dion, Sting, Seal, Bono and Tina Turner.
Jackson was pleased with the list. But when Payne asked if there was anyone else he wanted to work with, Jackson named the 2009 breakthrough artist.
“Michael literally told me, ‘You got to get into her,'” Payne said. “‘She’s good.'”
Jackson’s admiration for Lady Gaga sparked Payne’s interest.
“I started listening to her music more and went onto YouTube to look at her performances, and I was like, ‘You’re right.'”
Ironically, in November, Payne received a call from Lady Gaga. He initially thought getting the call was strange, but thought of his conversation with Jackson.
“I told her the story,” Payne said. “Of course she got moved by it.”
Payne wound up directing and choreographing Lady Gaga’s performance on the American Music Awards, as well as her sets on “Ellen,” “The Jay Leno Show” and “X-Factor.”
Michael Jackson often collaborated with other artists. He and Lionel Richie wrote and performed “We Are The World,” the song that brought together dozens of artists and raised millions to fight famine in Africa. Throughout his career, Jackson worked on separate projects with the likes of Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder.
