Michael Jackson was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize two times. The nominations recognized his humanitarian work and charitable efforts rather than his achievements as a recording artist.
Jackson's first reported nomination came in 1998, followed by another in 2003. His philanthropy included support for numerous charities, humanitarian causes, children’s organizations, and efforts connected with hunger, illness, and disaster relief. His 1985 charity single “We Are the World,” recorded with USA for Africa, also became closely associated with his public humanitarian image.
A nomination does not mean that a person was a finalist or seriously considered by the Nobel Committee, and it certainly does not mean the nominee won. The Nobel nomination process is confidential for 50 years, so historical claims about nominations can depend on released records or contemporary reports.
Jackson never received the Nobel Peace Prize. After his death in 2009, fans again promoted the idea of nominating him, but a posthumous nomination would not have changed the historical count of two reported nominations.