In 1985, acknowledging the positive impact on her children's successful music careers, national urban magazine Essence honored her as "Mother of the Year".

[6][7][8][9] The Jackson 5 performed in talent shows and clubs on the Chitlin' Circuit, then signed with Steeltown Records in 1967 and released two singles.

[12] During the couple's early years in Gary, Indiana, Katherine sang together with Joe Jackson as he played guitar.

Joe had a boxing career, but later went on to work as a crane operator at East Chicago's Inland Steel Company to support the family.

[13] Katherine, a devout Jehovah's Witness, began to work part-time at Sears in Gary and played clarinet and piano on the side.

She knew that her son Michael loved music and had rhythm from an early age; one day she saw him dancing to the rickety old Maytag washing machine.

[14][4][15] While Joe led the rehearsals in the living room, Katherine designed and hand-sewed the stage outfits for the boys, and visited The Salvation Army for shoes.

In 1985, acknowledging the positive impact on her children's successful music careers, national urban magazine Essence honored her as "Mother of the Year".

[24] On June 25, 2009, Katherine's son Michael died from an overdose of propofol administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray.

The agreement provided that the children would be raised by Katherine, and Rowe would have visitation rights and would continue to receive the yearly payments to which Michael had agreed.

She stated her reasons included her own advanced age, the fact that Michael's oldest children Prince and Paris Jackson were now adults, and Bigi being 15 years old.