Michael Jackson's father Joe is in hospital in Brazil after suffering a stroke.
The Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paolo issued a statement saying that the patriarch of the musical family was admitted to its intensive care unit on Sunday afternoon.
It also said he was suffering from an irregular heartbeat but gave no further details and did not say what condition he was in.
Mr Jackson is in the South American country partly to celebrate his 87th birthday - which was on Sunday.
Local media said he was absent from his own party because he was already in hospital.
Photos from his official website show him dining in Sao Paulo restaurants.
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