Which singer is popularly known as the "King of Pop"?

The singer popularly known as the “King of Pop” is Michael Jackson.

Jackson earned the nickname through a career that reshaped popular music, dance, fashion, and music videos. He began performing professionally as a child with the Jackson 5, then established himself as a solo artist with the albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. His ability to combine soul, funk, pop, rock, and highly choreographed performance made him a global star across genre and racial boundaries.

The title became especially associated with Jackson during the 1980s. His publicists embraced it, and it was reinforced by his unprecedented commercial success and influence. Thriller, released in 1982, became the best-selling album in history according to widely cited industry estimates, while its short-film-style videos for “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” and “Beat It” helped transform MTV and the music-video format.

The nickname is sometimes confused with honorifics given to other artists, such as James Brown’s “Godfather of Soul” or Aretha Franklin’s “Queen of Soul.” Jackson’s “King of Pop” designation refers specifically to his dominance and influence in mainstream pop culture, even though his music drew heavily from R&B and soul traditions.