Stephanie Mills: The Transformation Of Michael Jackson's Ex & What She's Doing Today

With an illustrious career spanning five decades, singer and stage star Stephanie Mills has proven she is far more than the ex-girlfriend of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. Mills first skyrocketed to stardom when she portrayed Dorothy Gale in the trailblazing 1975 Broadway musical "The Wiz," the acclaimed production showcasing her powerhouse vocals and opening many doors for her professionally.

Mills has gone on to release numerous hit albums and receive countless accolades like a Grammy and an NAACP Image Award, yet despite these triumphs, fans remain fascinated by her relationship with Jackson. The two dated just as the music legend was about to take over the industry (and beyond), their romance fizzling out by the end of the '70s as they both pursued their creative passions.

Throughout the years, Mills has remained a fierce defender of Jackson and his legacy, the songstress speaking highly of the late legend and praising their time together. Though Jackson's other famous exes like Lisa Marie Presley and actress Brooke Shields' may ring a bell for people, Mills has undergone an impressive transformation and continues to honor her former love. 

Born on March 22, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Joseph and Christine Mills, Stephanie Mills grew up in a musical household and began finessing her voice by performing gospel music at Brooklyn's Cornerstone Baptist Church. She launched her illustrious career at age 9, starring in the Broadway musical "Maggie Flynn" and sharing the stage with fellow talents including Shirley Jones, Jack Cassidy, and Giancarlo Esposito.

"I remember growing up in a big family and always singing. I started singing at 3 around the house. I sang at my parent's church, the Cornerstone Baptist Church, and at the school glee club," Mills told UPI of her early musical beginnings. "Back then I listened to a lot of the Motown artists, the Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross. I wanted to grow up and do what they did. I never wanted to be like anybody when I sang, it was just something that came naturally."

By age 11, Mills had demonstrated her powerhouse vocals by winning Amateur Night at New York's legendary Apollo Theater for six weeks straight, an impressive feat for any aspiring star. She attended the elite children's private school Lincoln Square Academy and received professional training, honing her stage and musical skills. Mills' success at the Apollo helped her open for the Isley Brothers, and in 1973, she signed to Paramount Records. 

Stephanie Mills became a household name when she played the iconic role of Dorothy Gale in the trailblazing 1975 Broadway musical "The Wiz." The adaptation won a staggering 7 Tony Awards during its original run. Mills was just 17 when she originated the role of Dorothy in "The Wiz," showcasing her raw talent by belting out solo songs like "Soon As I Get Home" and "Home." For her unforgettable performance, she was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.

Despite the massive success the Broadway show afforded her, Mills has been candid about the intense criticism she received during her run as the famed character. "Even Clive Barnes from the New York Times said my breasts was too big and that Judy Garland should come out of her grave and slap me," she revealed in an interview on "Sway's Universe." "They hated us. Oh my god, they hated 'The Wiz.'" Mills added that she had received a lot of hate mail at the time but felt supported by prominent figures in the theater community like Sherman Hemsley and Lena Horne.

Mills ultimately persevered and became a powerhouse musical star, while "The Wiz" became one of Broadway's most groundbreaking musicals thanks to its talented all-Black cast. The show concluded its original run in 1979 after 1,672 performances, but it has since spawned multiple iterations. Mills returned as Dorothy in the 1984 revival, which ran for 13 shows. 

Stephanie Mills first met and began dating future music legend Michael Jackson while starring in "The Wiz" on Broadway. The budding stars reportedly struck a romance while filming the big-screen adaptation. Jackson was cast as the Scarecrow in the 1978 film, while music and fashion icon Diana Ross was ultimately chosen to play Dorothy over Mills. Though the latter couldn't reprise the role, she walked away with something far more rewarding.

"Everybody knows that I love and I'm a huge fan of Miss Ross, the Boss. So I wasn't disappointed. I mean, I got a chance to be with Michael, who I loved, and I lived with him on Sutton Place while he was shooting the movie [in New York]," she told The Post. "So I wasn't disappointed because I got a chance to be with Michael Jackson. So I didn't care." Their relationship ultimately proved short-lived, as they reportedly broke up after a year-and-a-half of dating.

Though Jackson's family supported the couple, the "King of Pop" was not ready to settle down with Mills and was focused on music. "But Michael wanted so much more is why we probably went our separate ways. He wanted to be the biggest star in the world," Mills said to "Vlad TV". "And he wanted to associate with certain people that I didn't want to associate with. So we just went in different paths."  

Following her romance with music sensation Michael Jackson, Stephanie Mills moved on with R&B singer Jeffrey Daniel. The couple tied the knot in June 1980 after a brief courtship. The Broadway star was just 23 when she wed Daniel, and their whirlwind union took a toll on her relationship with her parents and loved ones. "He didn't want any of the family at the wedding. He's always told Stephanie that her family are her worst enemies," her mother, Christine Mills, told New York Daily News in 1980 of Daniel (via Jet magazine).

The pair ultimately divorced in 1983, Mills alluding to the chaos that plagued their marriage in an interview with Ebony. "All I'll confirm is that my marriage was plagued by controversies and pressures from the moment Jeffrey and I decided to become husband and wife," she told the publication before discussing Daniel. "He's not a bad person. He's still a little immature about certain things, and I don't think he was as ready for marriage as I was, but he's not a bad person, and I still love him so much."

Despite the turmoil in her personal life at the time, Mills was thriving professionally and steadily establishing herself as one of the industry's most talented performers. She would go on to walk down the aisle two more times: first with Dino Meminger from 1989 to 1991, and later with Michael Saunders from 1993 to 2001; the two welcomed their son, Farad, before eventually divorcing. 

After her sensational stint on Broadway, Stephanie Mills focused on building her music career and signed a new contract with 20th Century Fox Records in 1979. She went on to dominate the charts thanks to hit singles like "I Feel Good All Over," "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love," and "(You're Puttin') a Rush on Me." Ultimately, she won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1981 for her song "Never Knew Love Like This Before."

Mills has released 15 studio albums, including her most popular records "Home," "Stephanie," and "If I Were Your Woman," and has sold over 3 million records throughout her career. She has received numerous accolades, including an American Music Award, a Tony Award, and an NAACP Image Award, and has stayed true to herself throughout her musical journey.

"I think, by grace and not listening to all the noise, not listening to what people think you should be doing," she said via Blavity, reflecting on how she successfully transitioned from being a child to an adult performer. "I always stay true to what I wanted to do and what worked best for me, because everybody has an opinion, but I think what matters the most is my opinion and what and how I want to please my audience. I don't do things for clicks and likes, and all that is in this media world, you know." 

Stephanie Mills was 45 when she welcomed her only child, son Farad J. Mills, on February 19, 2001. The songstress has shared that he was born with various health issues, including the genetic condition Down syndrome. Mills frequently updates fans on major milestones in Farad's life and has been candid about how much motherhood has transformed her. In 2020, the Grammy winner released the book "Every Child is a Gift," chronicling her experiences raising Farad and shining a positive light on caregivers and the Down Syndrome community.

"I was given my greatest gift of all...my son, Farad J. Mills. I never knew a love like this before! Having this child saved my life! God doesn't make mistakes, and he blessed me with a smart, funny, charismatic, handsome, and wonderful young man that is so awesome," she told Speakers Magazine in 2020. "Yes, there are challenges in life when being a parent. This is a challenge that I wouldn't change for anything in the world. He doesn't know how much he has fulfilled my life."

Mills founded the non-profit 444love foundation, which helps individuals with Down Syndrome by providing them with education, tools, and activities to reach their potential and become high-functioning adults. In 2023, she performed "Never Knew Love Like This" on "Tamron Hall," bringing Farad out to dance with her on stage. "This is my baby," she sang to her son. "You are my sunlight and my rain, and time could never change."

Stephanie Mills made a triumphant return to the Broadway stage in 2015 when she was cast as Aunt Em in NBC's "The Wiz Live!" musical, 40 years after the original Broadway show debuted. Famous faces like the royally named Queen Latifah, Ne-Yo, and Common starred in the televised adaptation, which drew praise from critics and, according to analytics powerhouse Nielsen, attracted an impressive 11.5 million viewers (via Variety). Mills opened up about the "surreal" experience and what it meant to return to her performing roots.

"I'm so glad and so happy that the journey continues. Forty years ago, who knew that 'The Wiz' would be thought about, let alone be relevant in 2015," she shared with HuffPost. "It's almost surreal re-living it, because as I sit back and watch the rehearsals, in my mind I go back to when I first did the rehearsals back in 1975. And it's like wow, this is really happening." For the live musical, Mills performed the number "The Feeling We Once Had" with the ensemble.

The TV production was directed by Kenny Leon and Matthew Diamond and garnered countless awards and nominations, winning the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. "Kenny told me that I'm making history again. He said, 'You made history playing Dorothy, now you're going to be the only actress that has come back to a revival in a different role.' So I'm pretty jazzed about that," she further told HuffPost.  

In 2018, English singer Sam Smith sparked controversy amongt music lovers after they claimed in a video shared by "American Idol" alum Adam Lambert that they did not like Michael Jackson but felt his track "Human Nature" was a "decent song." Jackson's fans came rushing to his defense, and Mills even threw her hat in the ring to defend her former love, penning a scathing response to Smith and their music catalog.

"Don't come for MICHAEL JACKSON when you wish you have sold as many records and you wish you were the King of Pop like he was," Mills wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post (per People). She went on to call Smith a "1 hit wonder" before further declaring, "When you can sell as many records as the king of Pop, Michael Jackson then maybe you can say something. So I say to you Mr. Smith have several seats and come for me if you want to."

This isn't the first time Mills has come to Jackson's defense over the years, as she has remained a fierce defender of the music icon and has always tried to preserve his legacy despite his many controversies. "I loved him," she told The Post in 2024. "We had a great friendship, a great relationship. And I don't like when people try to target what he's built, you know? Because he ... was not convicted of anything. And I knew him well." 

Stephanie Mills and the Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan, delighted fans in 2021 when they participated in a legendary Verzuz battle, performing some of their biggest hits in the recorded event. Mills belted out "Ease on Down the Road," "Home" from the musical "The Wiz," and her cover of Prince's "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" proving she is still one of the industry's finest voices.

While performing in the 90-minute special, the powerhouse R&B stars bonded over being mothers and welcomed their respective children on stage, with Mills' son, Farad, helping perform "Never Knew Love Like This Before" and Khan's daughter, Indira, collaborating on the classic "Sweet Thing." Following their Verzuz battle, Mills and Khan joined creative forces with fellow affluent industry greats Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle for "The Queens Tour" in 2025, which celebrated R&B and gospel music.

The empowering, female-forward tour featured 11 tour dates and explored the singers' illustrious music catalogs. "We love each other," Mills told MadameNoire of working with the talented ladies. "I'm the baby of the group at 68, but, you know, I've always wanted to work with Chaka and go on the road with Chaka. So I'm glad that this finally happened. I prayed for this to happen, and it's finally come true." 

After kickstarting her illustrious career on stage in 1968's "Maggie Flynn," Stephanie Mills made a thrilling return to Broadway in 2024 when she starred as Hermes in the Tony-winning sensation "Hadestown." Over the decades, Mills has remained a steady presence in the theater world and appeared in musicals like "Children of Eden," "Purlie," and "Ragtime," though it had been over two decades since her last production.

Mills opened up about returning to Broadway and the demanding schedule that comes with it, yet the veteran star dazzled audiences with her performance in "Hadestown." "This role was a beast to learn, honey. I'm on stage the entire time. My feet are burning by the time the show's over. But it's so rewarding," she told the New York Post. "Every word is in a beat, and that was challenging for me. I really wanted to get it and feel comfortable with it."

Her involvement in the musical reconnected her with a former "The Wiz" castmate, as André De Shields had portrayed the titular character and previously starred as Hermes in "Hadestown." De Shields had encouraged Mills to take on the role, and she even turned to him for creative guidance. "It's so funny, because he was like, 'Well, I can't tell you how to play it like a woman, but I can tell you that Hermes always has to be engaging,”" she further shared.  

After more than five decades in show business, Stephanie Mills has steadily received her flowers and has been praised for both her philanthropic and creative contributions. In 2026, Mills was named an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta, a predominantly African-American sorority that focuses on social causes. She received the prestigious accolade for her philanthropic efforts and for using her platform and foundation to champion special needs advocacy and social justice.

Mills took to social media to announce the distinguished honor. "When I say this has been an exciting day. WOW a new meaning to NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE. Thank you Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated for welcoming me. #POWER," she wrote in an Instagram post. The year prior, Mills was also honored by Billboard and named one of the "The 75 Best R&B Artists of All Time."

The songstress has looked back on her remarkable career as a veteran performer, praising fellow enduring artists while promoting "The Queens Tour." "You know, there's so many of us that have gone on, but we've survived, and that's important," she said to Black Enterprise. "As an artist, you never know who's watching, and if they like your music ... and everybody seems to love my music. I've reached a lot of people, and I'm grateful for that. That's everything to me."