Whitney Houston Busy, Barbra Streisand Unavailable—So Michael Jackson Hands Siedah Garrett the Mic, Sparking a Global Chart-Topping Vocal Earthquake

When Michael Jackson and producer Quincy Jones were recording the song “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” they envisioned a monumental duet featuring one of the world’s most legendary divas. The original targets were formidable: Barbra Streisand or Whitney Houston. However, both megastars ultimately declined the offer due to scheduling conflicts or lyrical concerns—Streisand reportedly felt the lyrics were too timely or sexual, while Houston was busy promoting her own album.

With time ticking on the Bad album production, Jackson needed a soulful female voice to complete the track. In a bold, unexpected move that sparked a global chart-topping vocal earthquake, Jackson chose to hand the mic to a relatively unknown young songwriter named Siedah Garrett.

Garrett, at the time, was simply a backup singer and a burgeoning songwriter who had co-written the future hit “Man in the Mirror.” She had no idea she had been chosen to sing lead on the first single from the highly anticipated album. The moment of revelation came when she walked into the studio and found the microphone stand set up right next to Michael’s.

The result of this impromptu collaboration was an undeniable soulful vocal masterpiece. The track became the first single released from the Bad album and immediately dominated the global charts. It soared straight to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, proving that the raw talent of Siedah Garrett was the perfect, electric complement to the King of Pop, creating a classic that resonated worldwide.