That Time the Jackson 5 Went on the Carol Burnett Show and Performed ‘ABC’

When it comes to Motown acts, very few are as memorable as the Jackson 5. In large part, that’s because one of the five Jackson brothers went on to become the legendary Michael Jackson. The original five Jackson brothers in the group were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. They grew up in Gary, Indiana and the group was founded in 1965. The brothers performed in clubs and on talent shows before signing with Steeltown Records in 1967. At that time, they released two singles. However, a year later, the brothers signed with Motown and they were the first group to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with four consecutive hits that reached number one.

The hits that reached the top of the charts for the brothers were “The Love You Save,” “I Want You Back,” “I’ll Be There” (my fave), and “ABC.” Throughout their career, the brothers also earned 16 hits on the Top 40 list. Many sources say that the group sold in excess of 100 million records worldwide, and they were later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “I Want You Back” and “ABC” are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Both of those songs were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, along with “I’ll Be There.”

I'll Be There by Jackson 5 Michael Jackson
Amazon

“ABC” is a very notable song because, in 1970, it knocked “Let It Be” by the Beatles out of the number one slot on the Billboard Hot 100. Can you imagine being in a group that bested the Beatles??? Remarkable. It was number one on the soul singles chart for an additional four weeks.

Jackson 5 Carol Burnett ABC Michael Jackson
Amazon

In a hilarious skit on the Carol Burnett show, the brothers performed the song. This video is so iconic and such a fun watch. Enjoy!

So good! So, so very good.

Tiffany Willis Clark is a fifth-generation Texan and the founder and editor-in-chief of The Best Stuff Online, AmReading.com, and a few other websites. In 2011, she made the decision to pursue her dreams and become a full-time writer. Tiff is obsessed with finding the most interesting, coolest stuff online and sharing it with the world. Connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on Twitter, and like her Facebook page.