Jermaine Jackson and his sons Jermajesty Jackson and Jaafar Jackson attend the US launch of ‘Planet Ocean’ on April 18, 2013 in West Hollywood, California.Photo:Angela Weiss/Getty
Angela Weiss/Getty
Jermaine Jacksoncomes from a big family.
The Grammy-winning musician has 10 siblings, including brotherMichael Jacksonand sisterJanet Jackson, and seven children of his own — Jermaine II, Autumn, Jaimy, Jeremy, Jourdynn, Jaafar and Jermajesty — many of whom are following in the family business.
Jermaine first became a father in 1977 after welcoming son Jermaine II with his then-wifeHazel Gordy, daughter of Motown legendBerry Gordy. The two married four years prior when they were both 19 and went on to have two more kids: daughter Autumn in 1978 and son Jaimy in 1987. “We were able to grow up together,” Hazel told PEOPLE of her then-husband in 1980. “So we haven’t had any problems.”
Eventually, problems did emerge — including that Jermaine had a longtime affair with Margaret Maldonado and fathered two children with her. Their son, Jeremy, was born on Dec. 26, 1986, a few months before Jaimy was born to Jermaine and his wife Hazel. Jermaine and Hazel divorced in 1988, and Jermaine and Maldonado welcomed another son, Jourdynn, on Jan. 5, 1989.
In 1995, Jermaine Sr. married Alejandra Loaiza. The couple had two sons, Jaafar in 1996 and Jermajesty in 2000, before splitting in 2004.
Nearly all of Jermaine’s children have pursued creative careers, including singing and acting. His youngest sons, Jaafar and Jermajesty, have even joined him onstage to perform.
Here’s everything to know about Jermaine Jackson’s seven kids.
Many of Jermaine Sr.’s children are in the entertainment industry
Jermaine Jackson and his family at the 2009 American Music Awards.Tsuni / USA / Alamy
Tsuni / USA / Alamy
Jermaine Sr. rose to fame as a member of theJackson 5with siblings Michael, Jackie, Tito and Marlon Jackson. Unsurprisingly, the majority of Jermaine Sr.’s children have followed in his musical footsteps in the entertainment industry.
Berry Gordy is Jermaine II, Autumn and Jaimy’s maternal grandfather
Jermaine Jackson Jr., Autumn Jackson, Berry Gordy, Hazel Gordy, Kerry Gordy and Jaimy Jackson arrive at the Heart Foundation’s honoring of Berry Gordy with the Steven S. Cohen Humanitarian Award on June 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.Michael Tullberg/Getty
Michael Tullberg/Getty
Not only were Jermaine Sr.’s oldest three children born to the Jackson family dynasty, but they are also a part of another powerful musical family. Their maternal grandfather is Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label and a legendary producer.
Gordy originally signed Jermaine Sr. and the Jackson 5 with Motown in 1968, which helped the group skyrocket to fame.
Jaafar and Jermajesty lived with their grandmother Katherine for a time
Jermajesty Jackson and Jaafar Jackson attend the US launch of ‘Planet Ocean’ on April 18, 2013 in West Hollywood.Angela Weiss/Getty
Jermaine II shares one son withShahs of Sunset’sAsa Soltan Rahmati
Asa Soltan Rahmati and Jermaine Jackson Jr. attending the Motown Family Night on Broadway in 2013.Walter McBride/Corbis/Getty
Walter McBride/Corbis/Getty
Jermaine II has been datingShahs of SunsetstarAsa Soltan Rahmatisince 2010. However, despite their public personas, the two have managed to keep their relationship quite private.
“I’m obsessed with Jermaine and anything and everything that comes with it,” Rahmati toldThe Daily Dishin 2016. “And I think that as we are very private in our relationship as I’ve always said, we’ve talked about all those things and we’re both really excited to experience everything together, including marriage and children.”
In 2016, Rahmati became pregnant withthe couple’s first child. “We are so excited and Jermaine will be the absolute best father,” Rahmati told PEOPLE. Jermaine II added, “Asa is an incredible person; she will be a wonderful mother.”
Jermaine II and Rahmati welcomed their sonSoltan Jacksonon Jan. 20, 2017.
Autumn stays out of the spotlight
Jermaine Jackson with his wife and daughter, Autumn, in Los Angeles in 1997.ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy
ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy
Jermaine’s only daughter, Autumn, is married to Finnish businessman Narinder “Nape” Singh, whom she met through their shared work in the music industry, according to Finland’sIltalehti. In 2017, she toldRadio Novathat they lived in Los Angeles but often visited his family in Korso, Finland.
Jaafar is portraying his uncle Michael in an upcoming biopic
Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael’; Michael Jackson performing at Wembley Stadium.Kevin Mazur/Lionsgate; Pete Still/Redferns
Kevin Mazur/Lionsgate; Pete Still/Redferns
Jaafar has beensinging and dancingsince age 12. He released his first single, “Got Me Singing,” with an accompanying music video in 2014. He has also appeared on-screen in the 2015 Lifetime reality showThe Jacksons: Next Generationand his uncleTito Jackson’s music video for “Love One Another” in 2021.
Now, Jaafar is set to play his late uncle Michael in the upcoming biopicMichael.
“There was such a spiritual connection when I first met Jaafar, who has a natural ability to emulate Michael and such a great chemistry with the camera,” directorAntoine FuquatoldVarietyin January 2023.
But Jaafar didn’t get the role just because of his name. After a worldwide casting search, producer Graham King toldVariety, “it was clear that he is the only person to take on this role.”
In February 2024, Lionsgatereleased a first-look photo of Jaafar embodying his late uncle. In the image, Jaafar wears one of Michael’s signature looks from the 1990s, a white button-up over a white V-neck and black pants, as he sings onstage.
“With Jaafar, every look, every note, every dance move is Michael,” King said in a statement. “He embodies Michael in a way that no other actor could.”
Joining Jaafar on-screen are Colman Domingo, Nia Long andMiles Teller.
source: people.com
