When The Simpsons aired its third season premiere, Stark Raving Dad, in 1991, fans were stunned—and skeptical—to hear Michael Jackson’s unmistakable voice. Yet, in the credits, no mention of him appeared. The voice was credited to “John Jay Smith,” sparking decades of mystery. What really happened when the King of Pop joined Springfield?

It turns out, Jackson was a huge fan of The Simpsons, especially of Bart. He reached out through his representatives, expressing a desire to guest-star. The show’s writers, including Al Jean, developed a quirky concept: Jackson would voice a large, white mental patient named Leon Kompowsky who believes he’s Michael Jackson. Homer meets him in an asylum after being institutionalized for wearing a pink shirt to work. The episode turned out to be warm, funny, and deeply heartfelt—especially when “Leon” helps Bart write a birthday song for Lisa.

However, Jackson’s involvement came with unusual conditions. He would provide the speaking voice—but not the singing. Reportedly, this was due to contractual limitations from his record label. Instead, Jackson brought in Kip Lennon to sing the birthday song in his voice. For many years, this fueled speculation that Jackson wasn’t really involved, though the cast and crew have since confirmed he was.

Recording the episode was a unique experience. Unlike typical table reads held at 20th Century Fox, the Stark Raving Dad read took place at Jackson’s manager’s house. The cast was told to arrive at 7:30 PM sharp, and Jackson appeared exactly on time, dressed in a fedora, high-water pants, white socks, and a single glove. He was extremely soft-spoken and shy—an almost mythical presence in the room.

But there was one problem: Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer, was late. For over 30 minutes, the cast sat in complete silence as Jackson, uncomfortable with small talk, quietly waited. When Castellaneta finally arrived, he tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but the awkwardness lingered.

During recording, Jackson turned off his reading light, somehow still able to read his script. When the musical moment came, he nodded subtly to Kip Lennon, who then sang “Happy Birthday Lisa” in perfect Jackson style. Cast members were stunned by the pressure Lennon must have felt—singing as Michael Jackson in front of Michael Jackson. Fortunately, the performance was a hit, earning applause and smiles, even from Jackson himself.

Interestingly, Jackson reportedly said his reason for the pseudonym was that he wanted to play a prank on his brothers. Others believe he was simply shy or didn’t want to release a performance that hadn’t been studio-polished.

Jackson’s love for The Simpsons didn’t stop there. He also secretly co-produced the novelty hit “Do the Bartman.” Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart, recalled how Jackson directed her in the studio and even cherished a Bart doll she gifted him.

Despite his quiet demeanor, Jackson was warm and kind to everyone involved. Cast members who worked with him remember his visit as surreal and unforgettable—like having Mickey Mouse or Thomas Jefferson walk into the room.

In hindsight, Stark Raving Dad is remembered not only for its charm and humor but as a rare pop culture moment where one of the world’s biggest stars stepped into animation—and left behind a legend.