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47 free Michael Jackson trivia questions with answers — music quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
15 free Michael Jackson trivia questions with answers. Test your knowledge of the King of Pop with our comprehensive Michael Jackson trivia quiz. From his groundbreaking Thriller album to his revolutionary dance moves, this 47-question quiz covers the essential facts about one of music's greatest legends. See how well you know Michael Jackson's incredible career and cultural impact.
30 of 47 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Which album marked Michael Jackson's debut as a solo artist?
Got to Be There
Michael Jackson's debut solo studio album, 'Got to Be There,' was released by Motown on January 24, 1972, while he was still a member of The Jackson 5.
Q 02Which character did Michael Jackson play in the 1978 film musical The Wiz?
The Scarecrow
Michael Jackson played the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978) opposite Diana Ross as Dorothy; the film's music supervisor, Quincy Jones, went on to produce Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad.
Q 03Which dance move did Michael Jackson debut during his 'Billie Jean' performance on Motown 25 in 1983?
The Moonwalk
Jackson unveiled the Moonwalk during 'Billie Jean' on Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, taped March 25, 1983; Jeffrey Daniel of Shalamar had shown him the backslide step behind it.
Q 04In what U.S. state was Michael Jackson born?
Indiana
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana.
Q 05With whom did Michael Jackson co-write the 1985 charity single 'We Are the World'?
Lionel Richie
Jackson wrote 'We Are the World' with Lionel Richie in January 1985 for USA for Africa; Quincy Jones produced the all-star recording, which raised money for Ethiopian famine relief.
Q 06In what year did Michael Jackson release his seventh studio album, the first with five US number-one singles?
1987
Bad, Jackson's seventh studio album, was released on August 31, 1987; its five US number ones ran from 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You' to 'Dirty Diana'.
Q 07Which Michael Jackson song features a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen?
Beat It
Eddie Van Halen played the 'Beat It' solo for free as a favour to Quincy Jones in 1982; Toto's Steve Lukather played the song's rhythm guitar and bass.
Q 08What was the title of Michael Jackson's final studio album released during his lifetime?
Invincible
'Invincible,' released on October 30, 2001, was Michael Jackson's tenth and final studio album released during his lifetime.
Q 09Which song from Dangerous shares its name with the charity foundation Jackson launched in 1992?
Heal the World
Jackson founded the Heal the World Foundation in 1992, named after the Dangerous ballad he performed with a children's choir at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in January 1993.
Q 10Which Michael Jackson album, released in 1991, was his first without longtime collaborator Quincy Jones?
Dangerous
Dangerous (November 1991) was Jackson's first album made without Quincy Jones; new jack swing producer Teddy Riley co-produced tracks such as 'Remember the Time' and 'Jam'.
Q 11Which of these songs did Michael Jackson record in 2001 for his tenth studio album?
Butterflies
'Butterflies', from Invincible (2001), was written by Andre Harris and Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry; it reached the US top 20 on airplay alone, never getting a commercial single release.
Q 12The song 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' is a hit from which Michael Jackson album?
Off the Wall
'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' is a prominent hit single from Michael Jackson's 1979 album, 'Off the Wall.'
Q 13Which Michael Jackson video, featuring zombies and werewolves, is known for its groundbreaking choreography?
Thriller
Q 21Which director made Captain EO, the 1986 3D short film starring Michael Jackson at Disney theme parks?
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola directed, George Lucas executive-produced and James Horner scored it; the attraction returned to the parks in 2010 as a tribute.
Q 22Which sketch show's counterprogramming of the 1992 halftime led the NFL to book Jackson for Super Bowl 1993?
In Living Color
Fox's live In Living Color special siphoned millions of viewers from the Super Bowl XXVI halftime in 1992, so the NFL booked Jackson for Super Bowl XXVII, where viewership rose between halves for the first time.
Q 23Jackson died in 2009 of acute intoxication from which drug?
Propofol
The music video for 'Thriller' is famous for its elaborate choreography, special effects, and horror-movie theme featuring zombies and werewolves.
Q 14What was the name of the pet chimpanzee Michael Jackson took on tour in Japan?
Bubbles
Bubbles the chimpanzee went on tour in Japan, and the media portrayed Jackson as an aspiring Disney cartoon character who befriended animals, feeding the 'Wacko Jacko' image he later said he loathed.
Q 15Which director, hired after Jackson saw An American Werewolf in London, made the 1983 Thriller video?
John Landis
John Landis, director of An American Werewolf in London, shot the 14-minute Thriller film in October 1983 with co-star Ola Ray; his werewolf-movie make-up artist Rick Baker did the effects.
Q 16Which Beatle duetted with Jackson on 'The Girl Is Mine' and 'Say Say Say'?
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney sang 'The Girl Is Mine' with Jackson as Thriller's first single in October 1982, then 'Say Say Say' on his own 1983 album Pipes of Peace.
Q 17How many weeks did 'Black or White' spend at number one on the Billboard Hot 100?
Seven
'Black or White' spent seven weeks at number one on the Hot 100 from December 1991, reaching the top in its third week, the fastest climb since the Beatles' 'Get Back' in 1969.
Q 18The 'Smooth Criminal' white suit and fedora pay tribute to which dancer in 1953's The Band Wagon?
Fred Astaire
The look mirrors Fred Astaire's white suit and fedora in The Band Wagon's 'Girl Hunt' ballet; the 'Smooth Criminal' video anchors the 1988 film Moonwalker and shows the anti-gravity lean.
Q 19Michael Jackson renamed his California ranch Neverland in 1988 after the fantasy island in which story?
Peter Pan
Peter Pan's Neverland, home of the boy who never grows up, gave the ranch its name; Jackson first saw the Santa Ynez Valley property in 1983 while the 'Say Say Say' video was shot there.
Q 20Which Jackson 5 single became the group's first Billboard Hot 100 number one in January 1970?
I Want You Back
'I Want You Back', the Jackson 5's Motown debut, hit number one on January 31, 1970; their next three singles, 'ABC', 'The Love You Save' and 'I'll Be There', also topped the chart.
The coroner ruled the June 25, 2009 death a homicide from acute propofol intoxication, with sedatives as contributing factors; physician Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in November 2011.
Q 24'Scream', the lead single from Michael Jackson's HIStory, was a duet with which of his siblings?
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson joined him on the track, produced with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as a retort to tabloid coverage and released as a double A-side with 'Childhood'.
Q 25Which Michael Jackson single was the UK Christmas number one of 1995?
Earth Song
'Earth Song' was his first to overtly address the environment and animal welfare, with a Nick Brandt video shot in four regions of the world.
Q 26Who directed the 2009 documentary This Is It, assembled from rehearsal footage for Jackson's cancelled residency?
Kenny Ortega
Ortega was the show director of the concerts, and none of the footage had originally been intended for release.
Q 27Which singer wrote 'You Are Not Alone' for Jackson in 1995?
R. Kelly
R. Kelly wrote 'You Are Not Alone' and sent Jackson a demo; the pair co-produced it, and in September 1995 it became the first single ever to debut at number one on the Hot 100.
Q 28Which producer led the team that reworked eight vault tracks for the posthumous 2014 album Xscape?
Timbaland
Timbaland led the producers who reworked the eight Xscape tracks chosen by Epic chairman L.A. Reid; the lead single 'Love Never Felt So Good' came from a 1983 session with Paul Anka.
Q 29Michael Jackson's 1996 short film Ghosts, in which he plays five roles, was co-written by which horror novelist?
Stephen King
Stephen King wrote it with Mick Garris; Stan Winston directed, and it screened at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.
Q 30'Rock with You' was first offered to which singer, who turned it down for her solo album?
Karen Carpenter
Rod Temperton's 'Rock with You' was first offered to Karen Carpenter for her 1979–80 solo album; after she passed, Jackson's version topped the Hot 100 for four weeks in January 1980.