Sheryl Crow On Michael Jackson's Death: 'It Just Makes My Heart Sick'

Access Hollywood - June 26, 2009 7:39 AM PDT
Story photo: Sheryl Crow On Michael Jackson's Death: 'It Just Makes My Heart Sick'Michael Jackson performs a duet with Sheryl Crow during a concert in Rome, May 1988 Getty PremiumAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Sheryl Crow toured with Michael Jackson for nearly two years in the late 1980s on the singer's "Bad" world tour and also appeared in the video for "Dirty Diana."

In looking back at her "surreal" time with the King of Pop, Sheryl said it would have been difficult to imagine Jackson becoming an old man.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Michael Jackson & His Superstar Friends

"For a moment there, I kind hoped that he'd staged his own getaway," Sheryl told CNN's Anderson Cooper during a phone interview Thursday night after news broke that Jackson died at age 50. "He's got a lot of gigs coming up and the pressure of that, and I thought maybe he'd just staged a getaway. And when the news really started trickling in...it's just, it's makes my heart sick."

Sheryl explained that she found it hard to foresee Jackson aging into his golden years.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The World Remembers Michael Jackson

"It's tragic at 50 he's gone," Sheryl said. "But did we ever think he was going to grow to be an old man before our eyes? It would have almost been too surreal."

Though Sheryl's heart aches with his passing, she said she looks back on her time spent with the pop star with great joy.

"I can't explain to you how much of a life [changing experience] it was for me to sing with him. There's no way to express how amazingly talented this person was, because, not only had he been doing that quality of work his whole life, but he created dance moves that nobody had ever seen before, and to create something that no one has ever imagined is quite a gift," she continued, adding, "He has literally inspired Usher and Justin Timberlake and every young artist who has come along."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Michael Jackson: The King Of Pop

She describes her time spent on Jackson's "Bad" tour as unlike anything she'd ever experienced, especially the time spent alone with the pop star.

"It was really surreal. I was lucky in that I got to hang out with him on a number of occasions by myself," she recalled, "He invited me to his hotel room in Tokyo and we watched 'Amos & Andy' videos and the movie 'Shane,' just completely unexpected. He was funny, he had a big laugh, he loved practical joking and I can remember vividly going to Disneyland and going on a ride with him and he wouldn't let the ride stop and by the end of it I was just absolutely ill. And he thought that was the funniest things he'd ever seen."

Sheryl said that she worried about the pressure mounting on Jackson surrounding his 50 sold-out shows at London's O2 Arena, which were to begin in July.

"I think he felt pressure in every way. He had been under real scrutiny for the last 10 to 15 years. He'd been in real financial trouble. This was sort of a comeback for him. And that's got to be an immense amount of pressure," she told Anderson, adding, "I'm going to mourn his loss just like millions and millions of other fans out there, and I'm grateful for a brief moment in my life that I got to stand on stage nightly and watch him sing 'Human Nature' and 'Billie Jean' and do those moves and sing those incredible melodies, that were original to him... I'm sad and grateful at the same time."

Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Jermaine Jackson Press Conference On Michael Jackson's Death (June 25, 2009)
PLAY IT NOW: Remembering Michael Jackson (1959 - 2009)

MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Michael Jackson - Sheryl Crow - Pop - Usher - Anderson Cooper

comments

show comments

comments

comments 1-10 of 15  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • regina
    Oh and by the way, for those of you who don't know..... Death always happens in three's... (1) Ed Mc Manhon (2) Farrah Fawcett (3) Michael Jackson.... But remember this when death occurs, there is always a birth...
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 9:22 AM PDT
  • regina
    This is a great shock for the world to hear of his death... I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. I remember the album "OFF THE WALL" 1979 i was 5 years old listening to his music... There will never ever be another Michael.. He was the greatest entertainer of ALL TIME!!!!! He will be missed and greatly remembered through his music.....
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 9:19 AM PDT
  • kevin
    He was a very talented person and it was too soon for him to leave the world dispit his finicial problems . He will be remember by every acrossthe globe.and have saved many africans folks,childrenand family.
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 9:15 AM PDT
  • kevin
    He was a very talented person and it was too soon for him to leave the world dispit his finicial problems . He will be remember by every acrossthe globe.and have saved many africans folks,childrenand family.
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 9:15 AM PDT
  • Cheerleader
    I never had a chance to see him in concert. It's not fair....I loved him so much! I will forever be devastated by this tragic loss. I love you always Michael.
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 9:11 AM PDT
  • Angel
    Nicki Star - the "commercial" guy was Ed McMahon - the origonal sidekick/co-host to the Tonight Show... Before Jay Leno....
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 8:52 AM PDT
  • Lisa
    A SAD DAY, INDEED, FARAH FAWCETTE, NOW MICHAEL JACKSON. THE FATHER TAKES THOSE THAT HAVE COMPLETED WHAT THEY WERE PUT HERE FOR. THER ARE MORE THINGS TO BE DONE AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE LORD FOR PEOPLE SO GIFTED AS THESE, THAT HAVE BROUGHT SUCH PLEASURE TO SO MILLLIONS FOR SO LONG. SAD DAY, YES JUST LAST YEAR BARRY WHITE THEN ISSAC AHYES. THE GREATS ARE ONLY HERE FOR A SHORT TIME.....TEARS
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 8:49 AM PDT
  • Sheila
    Yes Michael," I remember." You were on tour here in Chicago, 1976, took my daughter to see you, thought she was seated next to me, (I was so enthralled,) when all of a sudden she was onstage dancing with you and dozens other teens. practically stampeding you. We'll always "Remember". Love You!
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 8:41 AM PDT
  • Sheila
    Yes Michael," I remember." You were on tour here in Chicago, 1976, took my daughter to see you, thought she was seated next to me, (I was so enthralled,) when all of a sudden she was onstage dancing with you and dozens other teens. practically stampeding you. We'll always "Remember". Love You!
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 8:41 AM PDT
  • Sheila
    Yes Michael," I remember." You were on tour here in Chicago, 1976, took my daughter to see you, thought she was seated next to me, (I was so enthralled,) when all of a sudden she was onstage dancing with you and dozens other teens. practically stampeding you. We'll always "Remember". Love You!
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 8:41 AM PDT
comments 1-10 of 15  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

Post A Comment

sign in to post a comment.

sign in

RELATED ARTICLES

RELATED PHOTOS

RELATED VIDEOS

Updates

Manage My Updates
Manage My Updates
More Updates »

omg!

MORE ENTERTAINMENT

ALSO ON YAHOO!

Help us to improve! - Send Your Suggestions