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For some, it’s hard to choose which MJ hit is their favorite off his iconic Thriller album.
“Beat It” might be the one for certain fans. After all, it was so popular that “Weird Al” Yankovic even honored the track with his hilarious parody number, “Eat It.”
And following the recent success of the biopic Michael, the singer’s Grammy-winning LP from 1982 is continuing to see success on the music charts — especially since the movie about Michael Jackson‘s rise to fame is now available to watch at home.
“Beat It” in particular just hit a remarkable new milestone, Forbes reports, climbing from No. 5 to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart for the first time. It’s one of six tracks by the “King of Pop” that can be found on the U.S. survey this week, with hits like “Billie Jean” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” also featured.
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Jackson first appeared on the Hot R&B Songs chart in May 2014, several years after the list was introduced by Billboard, Forbes also noted on Saturday, July 4. Since then, he has landed 14 appearances.
Looking back at 2026 thus far, Jackson is clearly having an extraordinary year. “Billie Jean,” meanwhile, recently accomplished two firsts: making it to No. 1 on Spotify’s Global Charts and reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales Chart. Arguably Jackson’s most popular song, it first appeared on the R&B Digital Song Sales Chart in 2013, entering at No. 25. Since then, it’s gotten closer to the top, but was repeatedly blocked by other artists.
And then there’s the late singer’s sister, Janet Jackson — who recently made headlines when she stole the spotlight at the 2026 BET Awards. Her appearance was a tribute that was both subtle and undeniable. She arrived in a look that was a reinterpretation of one of Michael’s most defining eras: “Smooth Criminal.” The ensemble was a combination of their shared artistic DNA.
SOURCE: parade.com