Look. I’ll be honest. When I first heard the news that BTS had supposedly recorded a never-before-heard Michael Jackson track for a tribute album? I believed it. I fully bought in. I had goosebumps. I was this close to making a playlist called “Smooth Like Dynamite.”
Because if anyone could do a respectful, powerful, boundary-breaking tribute to MJ—it would be BTS, right? Seven legends paying homage to the King of Pop? It sounded like history in the making.
And then… reality kicked down the door. Because the truth? It was never happening. And now the people who actually know what’s going on have spoken.
The Rumor That Shook ARMY (and the Internet)
It all started with a spicy little statement from Paddy Dunning, owner of Grouse Lodge Studio in Ireland. He claimed BTS had come in and recorded vocals on one of Michael Jackson’s unreleased songs—a track supposedly written during MJ’s 2006 stay in Ireland alongside Rodney Jerkins and rapper Nephew.
Ten unfinished songs. A secret tribute project. A documentary. BTS on vocals. It was giving epic crossover. It was giving chart domination. It was giving… fanfiction.
But at the time? It sounded real. And the internet believed it. So did I. Social media was full of people either losing their minds with excitement or having an existential crisis about MJ’s legacy being tampered with.
Fans Were Hyped. Or Horrified. No In Between.
Some ARMYs were ecstatic—calling it the most iconic duo since peanut butter and jelly. Others (MJ purists especially) were clutching their pearls and begging for this project to be canceled before it even existed. Some fans worried it would be exploitative. Others said Michael would be proud of BTS.
And while we were all spiraling with anticipation or rage, BigHit was somewhere in Korea sipping tea, unbothered.
Until They Spoke. And Everything Fell Apart.
On August 5, 2025, BigHit Music finally issued a statement that essentially said: “Nope.” As in, no BTS recordings at Grouse Lodge. No tribute album involvement. No participation in anything even remotely connected to this rumor.
Quote:
“BTS has never participated in recording songs at Grouse Lodge Studio in Ireland. We are not involved in the tribute album or any related projects.”
The dream? Over. The rumor? Dead. The group chat messages? Embarrassing.
And Just to Make It Extra Official, MJ’s Team Denied It Too.
Michael Jackson’s official online team stepped in to clarify that they had no involvement in this so-called tribute project either. The estate didn’t approve it, wasn’t involved, and didn’t know what anyone was talking about.
So basically, this whole thing was a game of telephone gone very wrong.
Now Cue the Backlash—Because Apparently This Was BTS’s Fault?
Despite being completely uninvolved, BTS somehow got dragged into the mud. People accused them of using MJ’s legacy for clout, disrespecting his artistry, or being part of an “embarrassing” tribute concept.
Meanwhile, let’s recap what BTS actually did:
- They didn’t post about it.
- They didn’t comment on it.
- They didn’t even sneeze near Ireland.
But sure, go ahead and blame the guys quietly serving in the military for a rumor they didn’t even know existed.
Why We Wanted to Believe So Badly
Let’s be honest. The reason this rumor took off was because, deep down, it felt possible. BTS has already shown love and influence from legends like MJ—from Jungkook covering “Black or White” to Jimin channeling that iconic stage energy. Their performances are often filled with respectful nods to the artists that came before them.
So hearing that they might be part of a tribute? It didn’t sound that far-fetched. We wanted to believe. We liked believing. Because the idea of two musical powerhouses—past and present—colliding? It was kind of magical.
But Let’s Not Get It Twisted: BTS Doesn’t Need the Clout
As fun as the idea was, let’s not pretend BTS needs to be on anyone’s tribute project to stay relevant. These are the same guys who’ve redefined global pop music, broken record after record, spoken at the UN, and filled stadiums on every continent.
BTS is the legacy now. If anything, people should be paying tribute to them.
Lesson Learned: Don’t Believe Everything. But Also… Let Us Dream a Little.
This whole situation was peak internet: someone says something random, media outlets explode, fans panic, and then everything crashes back to earth with a PR statement and a sigh.
Do I feel a little foolish for believing it? Sure.
Was it fun while it lasted? Absolutely.
Would I listen to a BTS x MJ song if it actually existed? In a heartbeat.
But for now, I’ll just enjoy the real BTS discography—one they built without needing rumors, ghost tracks, or last-minute tributes.
And when they return in 2026? That’ll be the real comeback to watch. No fantasy collabs needed.
