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Paris Jackson isn’t the first pop-superstar scion to get into the family business, following in the footsteps of her dad, Michael Jackson.
Paris Jackson — the 22-year-old daughter of Michael — is making the bold move to release her own pop album, “Wilted,” on Friday. And when you’re going up against the legendary likes of “Thriller,” there’s pretty much no way you can beat it.
But Jackson isn’t the first pop-superstar scion to get into the family business. Here, we rank some others who have done it, from best to worst.
Natalie Cole
Pop parent: Nat King Cole
With her father as her namesake, Natalie had big musical shoes to fill. And after Cole instantly broke out as an R&B star in the ’70s, she proved that she could be queen to her dad’s “King.” Among her nine Grammy wins before she died of heart failure in 2015 at the age of 65 were several for their father-daughter duet on “Unforgettable.”
Miley Cyrus
Pop parent: Billy Ray Cyrus
When teen queen Cyrus first played a pop star on “Hannah Montana,” her odds at actually becoming one seemed dubious at best. Certainly, achieving something like her dad’s “Achy Breaky Heart” moment appeared to be a stretch. But at 27, Cyrus has already outdone her country-crooner papa as an artist who has both commercial appeal and edgy artistry — from “Party in the U.S.A.” to current single “Midnight Sky.”
Jakob Dylan
Pop parent: Bob Dylan
As leader of the Wallflowers, the 50-year-old son of the Bard went multiplatinum and won two Grammys for 1996’s “Bringing Down the Horse,” which featured the hit “One Headlight.” Although he has failed to match that success since then, he has smoothly sidestepped his dad’s considerable shadow while sounding and looking a whole lot like his old man.
Enrique Iglesias
Pop parent: Julio Iglesias
As a global superstar, few could touch Spanish legend Julio in his prime. But then came his son Enrique, who at first didn’t seem to be much more than a passable voice, a pretty pout — and a famous pedigree. But against the odds, he built a long, credible career — he holds the record for the most No. 1’s on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart — that was much more than just “Bailamos.”
Elijah Hewson
Pop parent: Bono
“I Will Follow” may be one of U2’s early hits, but that wasn’t exactly the sentiment Bono (whose real name is Paul Hewson) wanted his 21-year-old son to embrace. But Inhaler, the rock outfit that Hewson fronts, has big buzz on the heels of new single “When It Breaks,” with Spin magazine calling them “one of the 2020 bands you need to know” even before the group has released its debut album.
Joe & Eliot Sumner
Pop parent: Sting
Joe Sumner, the 43-year-old son of Sting (born Gordon Sumner) and his first wife Frances Tomelty, and Eliot Sumner, the 30-year-daughter of the Policeman and current wife Trudie Styler, have carved out cool but (relatively) low-key careers for themselves: him as lead singer of alt-rock band Fiction Plane, her as an indie singer-songwriter.
Lisa Marie Presley
Pop parent: Elvis Presley
Being the daughter of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Elvis) and once being married to the King of Pop (Michael Jackson), expectations were high for Presley, now 52, to be crowned music royalty herself. Instead, as an artist, she turned out to be more of a commoner.