Yes, Michael Jackson really was on 'The Simpsons'

For quite some time, fans of The Simpsons were unsure: Was that really Michael Jackson's voice on the show?

In the 1991 episode "Stark Raving Dad," Jackson voiced the character of Leon Kompowsky, a patient in a mental health facility who thought he was the pop icon.

Jackson was credited as John Jay Smith, and although producers have spoken about his appearance, the show's creator Matt Groening put the rumors to bed once and for all in an interview on Australian TV show The Weekly.

"We really did have him," Groening said..

Groening received a call late at night from the singer, but initially thought it was a prank and so hung up.

"He has the voice of someone doing a Michael Jackson bit," Groening said. Turns out of course, it was Jackson, and that he loved Bart and wanted to appear.

"He did the show, he didn't want credit for it -- it was some kind of deal with his record company or whatever," Groening added.

"So when it came time to sing the songs, he had a soundalike singer. And he stood there and watched the guy who was so nervous, who had to sound like Michael Jackson."

That singer, by the way, turned out to be a guitarist by the name of Kipp Lennon, who reprised "Happy Birthday Lisa" back in 2014 at the Hollywood Bowl.