Jermaine Jackson and his partner, Maday Velazquez, were front and center at Lionsgate’s Michael premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on April 20. The proud parents were there to support his son Jafaar Jackson, who stars in the titular role of his uncle, Michael Jackson.
Jackson and Velazquez, who is 40 years his junior, began dating shortly after his 2016 divorce from Halima Rashid, and announced their engagement in 2018. Though no official announcement of their marriage has been publicly shared, she has been referred to as his wife in public settings.
Even though Jackson was part of one of the most influential music groups of all time, the most important title in the singer-songwriter and producer’s impressive life may be “dad,” which he embraced in 1977 when he welcomed his firstborn with then-wife Hazel Gordy.
Now that he has seven children of his own, the star has supported all of them when it comes to their superstar dreams—both in the family business and carving their own paths. Here’s a look into his large offspring, and the ones that are carrying the family name into the future of the entertainment industry.
Jermaine II, 49
Jermaine’s firstborn son grew up surrounded by role models of music industry success; his mother, Hazel Gordy, was deep in the entertainment industry as the daughter of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy. You’ve seen him in 1992’s The Jacksons: An American Dream, where he took on the role of his father as a teenage actor. The father-son pair have remained close partners since then, including collaborating on the audiobook version of Jermaine Sr.’s You Are Not Alone: Michael: Through a Brother’s Eyes.
Autumn, 47
Jermaine became a girl dad for the first—and only—time in 1978 when he and Gordy welcomed daughter Autumn into the Jackson family fold. Despite shying away from the spotlight as an adult, she’s still making waves in the family industry behind the scenes. The tech enthusiast revealed she is CEO for a music technology company she founded along with her husband in 2018. Luckily for fans hoping to catch a sneak peek into her world as industry royalty, Autumn posted sweet tributes to her mother and father in throwback pics back in 2020.
Jeremy, 40
While marriage trouble brewed between Jermaine and Gordy, the musician welcomed his son Jeremy in 1986 with creative agency founder Margaret Maldonado. Like other gifted members in the Jackson family, the music bug bit Jeremy at a young age. The musician learned to play the guitar and reportedly performed onstage with his father in a number of concerts in 2010.
Jaimy, 39
Born in 1987, the youngest of Jermaine’s children with Gordy followed in his sister’s path and built a comfortable life outside the demands and spotlight of the stage. While scouring the internet won’t reveal a lot of current info on Jaimy, the world caught a glimpse of him as a child when he appeared with his father and sister on the Byron Allen Show in the 1990s.
Jourdynn, 37
Jermaine and Maldonado had their last child together in 1989, welcoming son Jourdynn before the two Hollywood heavyweights went their separate ways. The photographer recently used his skills to support his younger brother, Jaafar, as he rehearsed for his role in the Michael biopic. In 2023, Jourdynn snapped behind-the-scenes photos of the actor in his role.
Jaafar, 29
At this point, Jafaar needs little introduction as the man starring as his uncle in the upcoming Michael film. The actor is the son of Jermaine’s second wife, Alejandra Oaziaza, and has been celebrated for his natural entertainment instincts, releasing the music video for his first single, “Got me Singing,” back in 2019.
Jafaar has put in the work to build up his Hollywood profile, thanks to a little boost from his family ties. In 2017, Jafaar showcased his airy vocals on stage with Jermaine to perform “The Christmas Song.” Of course, fans will be able to hear more of that natural ability when he dons a sparkly glove to play his uncle MJ, a huge splash for his first movie role as a leading man.
Jermajesty, 25
Jermajesty has equally close ties to his extended family as brother Jafaar, having lived with his grandmother, Katherine Jackson, for a time as a child.
In 2017, Jermajesty, whose is also the son of Alejandra Oaziaza, was also on stage to help his father and Jaafar ring in the holidays with a sweet family rendition of the Jackson 5 classic. He’s undoubtably been one of his brother’s biggest cheerleaders as the family jets around the world to celebrate the biopic’s rollout.
Abu Bakr Khalifa Jackson
There was plenty of glitz and glamour to keep our attention at the Michael red carpet in Berlin, but Jermaine’s latest addition to his brood, Abu Bakr Khalifa Jackson, stole the show.
Not much is known about the toddler, having only now been revealed to the public years after the musician got engaged to Velázquez in 2018. But his infectious energy and showmanship while running around the red carpet in a blinged-out tuxedo let us know that the Jackson legacy is in good hands … and feet!