On August 3, 2025, BTS was officially confirmed as a participating artist on an upcoming Michael Jackson tribute album. The seven-member boy band contributed to a recording of an unreleased song originally written by Jackson himself. The track dates back to 2006, when the King of Pop spent several months in rural Ireland working on what collaborators described as the “next Thriller.”
The news broke via The Irish Sun, where Paddy Dunning, owner of Grouse Lodge Studios in Westmeath, Ireland, revealed:
“The sessions started last year, and we already had BTS over with us in Grouse Lodge, recording one of the songs,” Paddy revealed to The Irish Sun. He added, “There are about ten more tracks, all written especially for Michael by collaborators he worked with in Ireland.” The collaborators included his own nephew and producer Rodney Jerkins.
Jackson’s stay at Grouse Lodge in the summer of 2006 was a quiet, creative period. Living with his three children in a secluded area, he turned a former cow shed into a studio space. He collaborated with Rodney Jerkins (who produced his 2001 album Invincible) and rapper Nephew, working daily on music that insiders believed would become his next big comeback. Although his team had begun calling the body of work the “next Thriller,” the project was abruptly abandoned when he left Ireland.
“Michael’s estate told me to plough ahead… they see this as a tribute to Michael,” Dunning added.
Now, nearly two decades later, the songs from that unfinished era are being reimagined for a new generation, and BTS is leading the tribute. Their session was recorded quietly well before the public announcement. While no track title has been revealed, the group’s inclusion on the album marks a historic fusion of two global pop powerhouses.
Having said that, BTS’s involvement is not random. The group has paid homage to Jackson for years. Their 2020 single “Dynamite” drew clear inspiration from Jackson’s dance style and aesthetic. In response, Taj Jackson, Michael’s nephew, praised the group, stating, “Michael Jackson would have been the first artist to call you up and personally congratulate you.”
In 2022, BTS featured in the Thriller 40 documentary commemorating the album’s anniversary. Producers noted how Jackson’s influence lives on through the group. In 2023, Jungkook further honored MJ in his solo track “Standing Next to You,” which incorporated Jackson-esque choreography and fashion.
The tribute album, expected in late 2025 or early 2026, will feature over ten previously unreleased Michael Jackson tracks, all written during his time in Ireland. A documentary film is also in production, which will highlight Jackson’s life there with never-before-seen footage and interviews.
Meanwhile, BTS is entering a new era after the completion of military service. The members are currently in LA working on new group music, scheduled to release in 2026.
