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{{Short description|English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Other people}}
|Name = George Michael
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
|Background = solo_singer
{{Protection padlock|small=yes}}
|Birth_name = Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
|Alias = George Michael
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
|Born = {{birth date and age|1963|6|25}}
{{Infobox person
|Origin = {{flagicon|England}} [[London]], [[England]]
| name = George Michael
|Instrument = [[Singer|Vocals]], multiple instruments
|Genre image = [[PopGeorge music|Pop]]<br>[[Pop rock]]<br>[[Blue-eyed soul]]Michael.jpeg
|Occupation caption = Michael performing in [[SingerHouston]], [[songwriter]]1988
|Years_active birth_name = [[1982]]Georgios -Kyriacos presentPanayiotou
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1963|6|25}}
|Label = [[Columbia Records]], [[DreamWorks Records|DreamWorks]], [[Virgin Records|Virgin]], [[Epic Records|Epic]], [[Sony Music]]
| birth_place = [[East Finchley]], [[Middlesex]], England
|Associated_acts = [[WHAM!]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2016|12|25|1963|6|25}}
|URL = http://www.georgemichael.com
| death_place = [[Goring-on-Thames]], England
| resting_place = [[Highgate Cemetery|Highgate Cemetery West]], London
| alias =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Singer
* songwriter
* record producer
}}
| partner = {{plainlist|
'''George Michael''' (born '''Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou''' ('''Greek''': Γιώργος-Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on [[June 25]] [[1963]]) is an [[England|English]] <ref>http://www.advocate.com/currentstory1_w_ektid17437.asp</ref> [[singer-songwriter]] and [[pop star]] who performs [[soul music|soul]] influenced [[Pop music|pop]], and who (as a solo artist and half of the duo [[WHAM!]]) has enjoyed global success since 1982. His biggest commercial success to date was in 1987 with his debut solo album ''[[Faith (George Michael album)|Faith]]'' which sold 14 million copies on release and to date has crossed well over the 20 million mark worldwide. He has sold 85 million singles and albums worldwide.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Listen-Without-Prejudice-Vol-1/dp/B0000027F8 Amazon.com Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1]</ref>
* Anselmo Feleppa (1991–1993)
* Kenny Goss (1996–2009)
* Fadi Fawaz (2012–2016)
}}
| years_active = 1981–2016
| website = {{URL|georgemichael.com}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| genre = {{flatlist|
* Pop
* [[dance-pop]]
* [[post-disco]]
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
}}
| instruments = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* keyboards
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Innervision Records|Innervision]]
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
* [[Epic Records|Epic]]
* [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
* [[DreamWorks Records|DreamWorks]]
* [[Polydor]]
* [[Sony Music|Sony]]
* [[Aegean Records|Aegean]]
}}
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Wham!]]
* [[Boogie Box High]]
}}
| module2 = {{Listen| embed=yes |filename = George_michael_in_desert_island_discs_b008006s.flac |title = George Michael's voice |type = speech |description = from the BBC programme ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'', 5 October 2007.<ref>{{Cite episode |title= George Michael |series= [[Desert Island Discs]] |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008006s |station= [[BBC Radio 4]] |date= 5 October 2007 |access-date= 18 January 2014 |archive-date= 27 February 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150227165929/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008006s |url-status= live }}</ref>}}
}}
| signature = George-michael-autograph.svg
}}
 
'''George Michael''' (born '''Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou'''; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. Regarded as a [[pop culture icon]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 December 2016 |title=George Michael: Chart topper and cultural icon dead at 53 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/25/entertainment/george-michael-obituary/index.html |access-date=3 March 2024 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023040019/https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/25/entertainment/george-michael-obituary/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> he is one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling recording artists of all time]]. Michael was known as a creative force in songwriting,<ref name="Rubiner" /> vocal performance,<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2020 |title=The 20 best male singers of all time, ranked in order of pure vocal ability |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/features/best-male-singers/ |access-date=5 July 2021 |publisher=Smooth Radio |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023040022/https://www.smoothradio.com/features/best-male-singers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and visual presentation.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=27 December 2016 |title=George Michael's Style: Remembering His Top 5 Iconic Looks |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7633369/george-michael-style-fashion-moments |access-date=6 July 2021 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026131437/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7633369/george-michael-style-fashion-moments|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 December 2016|title=Pop icon George Michael was a music video master |url=https://mashable.com/article/george-michael-greatest-hits |access-date=6 July 2021 |website=Mashable |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026115831/https://mashable.com/article/george-michael-greatest-hits|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Born in [[East Finchley]], Middlesex, Michael rose to fame after forming the pop duo [[Wham!]] with [[Andrew Ridgeley]] in 1981. He took part in [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]]'s UK number-one single "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" in 1984 and performed at the following year's [[Live Aid]] concert. His debut studio album, ''[[Faith (George Michael album)|Faith]]'' (1987), won the [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year]] and became one of the [[List of best-selling albums|best-selling albums of all time]], having sold over 25 million copies worldwide. Michael then went on to release a series of multimillion-selling albums, including ''[[Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1]]'' (1990), ''[[Older (George Michael album)|Older]]'' (1996), ''[[Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael]]'' (1998), ''[[Songs from the Last Century]]'' (1999), ''[[Patience (George Michael album)|Patience]]'' (2004), and [[Twenty Five (album)|''Twenty Five'']] (2006).
 
Michael [[came out]] as gay in 1998, and was an active [[LGBT rights]] campaigner and [[HIV/AIDS]] charity fundraiser. His personal life, drug use, and legal troubles made headlines following an arrest for [[public lewdness]] in 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 documentary ''[[George Michael: A Different Story|A Different Story]]'' covered his career and personal life. His [[25 Live]] tour spanned three tours from 2006 to 2008. In 2011 Michael fell into a coma during a bout with pneumonia, but recovered. He performed his final concert at London's [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court]] in 2012. Michael died of [[heart disease]] on Christmas Day in 2016, at his home in [[Goring-on-Thames]], Oxfordshire.
 
Michael scored 10 number-one songs on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and 13 number-one songs on the [[UK singles chart]]. His most successful singles include "[[Careless Whisper]]", "[[A Different Corner]]", "[[I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)]]", "[[Faith (George Michael song)|Faith]]", "[[Father Figure (George Michael song)|Father Figure]]", "[[One More Try (George Michael song)|One More Try]]", "[[Monkey (song)|Monkey]]", "[[Praying for Time]]", "[[Freedom! '90]]", "[[Jesus to a Child]]", "[[Fastlove]]", "[[Outside (George Michael song)|Outside]]", "[[Amazing (George Michael song)|Amazing]]", and "[[An Easier Affair]]". He [[List of awards and nominations received by George Michael|won numerous music awards]], including two [[Grammy Awards]], three [[Brit Awards]], twelve [[Billboard Music Awards|''Billboard'' Music Awards]], and four [[MTV Video Music Awards]]. He was listed among ''[[Rolling Stone]]'''s [[Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time|200 Greatest Singers of All Time]] and ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time. The [[Radio Academy]] named him the most played artist on British radio during the period 1984–2004.<ref name="auto">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3666541.stm "George Michael dominates airwaves"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119024428/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3666541.stm |date=19 January 2018 }}. BBC. Retrieved 17 February 2018.</ref> He was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2023.<ref name="rhall23">{{cite web |title=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2023 Inductees |url=https://www.rockhall.com/2023-inductees |access-date=3 May 2023 |publisher=The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505074033/https://www.rockhall.com/2023-inductees |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
==Early life==
George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou ({{Langx|el|Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου}}) on 25 June 1963, in [[East Finchley]]. He was the only son and the youngest child of three.<ref>Biography ''George Michael: The Making of a Superstar'' Bruce Dessau, London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1989</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgemichael.com/index.php?module=history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913013021/http://www.georgemichael.com/index.php?module=history|archive-date=13 September 2008|title=George Michael-The history|publisher=Twentyfive Live LLP. & Signatures Network|access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref> His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou,<ref name="doc1">{{cite AV media |last=Michael |first=George |date=2004 |title=[[George Michael: A Different Story]] |type=Documentary film |others=Directed by Southan Morris |___location=London |publisher=Aegean Films, Gorilla Entertainment Limited}}</ref> was a [[Greek Cypriot]] restaurateur who emigrated from [[Patriki]], [[British Cyprus|Cyprus]], to England in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jovanovich |first1=Rob |title=George Michael: The Biography |date=2008 |publisher=Piatkus Books |page=13}}</ref> His mother, Lesley Angold (born Harrison, 1937–1997),<ref name="BBCM" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2022 |title=The true story of George Michael's complicated relationship with his mother |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/music/george-michael-biography-relationship-mother-rcna35632 |access-date=9 October 2023 |website=TODAY.com |language=en |archive-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927053011/https://www.today.com/popculture/music/george-michael-biography-relationship-mother-rcna35632 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 July 2023 |title=Lesley Angold Panayiotou: What Happened To George Michael's Mother? |url=https://www.dicytrends.com/lesley-angold-panayiotou-what-happened-to-george-michaels-mother/ |access-date=19 October 2023 |website=Dicy Trends |language=en-US |archive-date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024053733/https://www.dicytrends.com/lesley-angold-panayiotou-what-happened-to-george-michaels-mother/ |url-status=live }}</ref> was an English dancer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obituary: George Michael|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-15925376|work=BBC News|access-date=26 December 2016|date=25 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226071534/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-15925376|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2008, Michael told the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' that his maternal grandmother was Jewish, but she had married a non-Jewish man and raised their children with no knowledge of their Jewish background due to her fear during [[World War II]].<ref name="Powers2015">{{cite news |last1=Powers |first1=Ann |title=George Michael embraces his dualities |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-georgemichael14-2008jun14-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=14 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731014650/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-georgemichahttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-georgemichael14-2008jun14-story.htmlel14-2008jun14-story.html |archive-date=31 July 2015}}</ref>
Michael was born in [[East Finchley]], [[North London]]. His father was Kyriacos Panayiotou, a [[Greeks|Greek]]-[[Cypriot]] restaurant manager who moved to [[England]] in the [[1950s]] and changed his name to "Jack Panos".<ref>http://www.femail.com.au/snapshotgeorgemichael.htm</ref> Michael's maternal grandfather was from a poor working-class [[England|English]] family and his maternal grandmother was from a wealthy [[Jewish]] family.<ref>http://mjhispano.com/showthread.php?t=8688</ref> Their daughter was Michael's beloved mother, Lesley Angold Harrison, a former dancer who died of cancer in [[1997]].<ref>http://www.yogworld.com/archive/lesley.htm</ref> He spent the majority of his childhood in North [[London]] living in the home his parents bought shortly after his birth. He began his career by forming a short-lived band called The Executive with his best friends [[Andrew Ridgeley]], Paul Ridgeley, [[Andrew Leaver]] and David Mortimer (aka David Austin). George attended [[Kingsbury High School]], briefly in 1974, as did his sisters.
 
Michael spent most of his childhood in [[Kingsbury, London|Kingsbury]], London, in the home his parents bought soon after his birth; he attended Roe Green Junior School and [[Kingsbury High School]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/mar/16/george-michael-not-taking-life-seriously "George Michael: the superstar who doesn't take life too seriously"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731025849/https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/mar/16/george-michael-not-taking-life-seriously |date=31 July 2017 }}. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 8 May 2014</ref><ref>Bruce Dessau (1989). "George Michael: the making of a superstar". p. 8. Sidgwick & Jackson</ref> Michael had two sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).<ref name=BBCM>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50928067|title=George Michael's sister Melanie Panayiotou is found dead on Christmas Day aged 59|work=BBC News|date=27 December 2019|access-date=14 October 2021|archive-date=5 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005171824/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50928067|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8922146/George-Michaels-family-in-bedside-vigil-as-star-battles-severe-pneumonia.html "George Michael's family in bedside vigil as star battles severe pneumonia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626002326/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8922146/George-Michaels-family-in-bedside-vigil-as-star-battles-severe-pneumonia.html |date=26 June 2018 }}. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 27 December 2016</ref> On BBC's ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'', Michael said that his interest in music followed an injury to his head around the age of eight.<ref>{{cite news |title=George Michael: Bang of the head turned me to music |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30329921.html |access-date=25 August 2021 |work=Irish Examiner |archive-date=25 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825061434/https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30329921.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Career==
===WHAM!===
{{main|WHAM!}}
<!--
[[Image:Whamposter1.jpg|left|thumb|A poster of Wham! from 1982-1983, with Michael (left) and [[Andrew Ridgeley]].]]
This image no longer exists?? -->
 
==Early music==
{{anchor|The Executive}}
While Michael was in his early teens, the family moved to [[Radlett]].<ref name="forunitedkingdomlovers/george-michael">{{cite web |title=Following in the footsteps of George Michael in London |url=https://www.forunitedkingdomlovers.uk/london/en/following-in-the-footsteps-of-george-michael-in-london-bons-plans-londres |website=forunitedkingdomlovers.uk |access-date=9 July 2023 |language=en |date=25 June 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709063245/https://www.forunitedkingdomlovers.uk/london/en/following-in-the-footsteps-of-george-michael-in-london-bons-plans-londres |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Negus/suburban-Wham">{{cite journal |last1=Negus |first1=Keith |last2=Sledmere |first2=Adrian |title=Postcolonial paths of pop: a suburban psychogeography of George Michael and Wham! |journal=Popular Music |date=May 2022 |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=131–151 |doi=10.1017/S0261143022000253 |s2cid=249829672 |url=https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/31669/ |access-date=9 July 2023 |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709091139/https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/31669/ |url-status=live | issn=0261-1430 }} [https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/31669/2/FINAL%20Accepted%20Negus%20Sledmere%20Wham%20and%20GM.pdf PDF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709091140/https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/31669/2/FINAL%20Accepted%20Negus%20Sledmere%20Wham%20and%20GM.pdf |date=9 July 2023 }} {{free access}}</ref> There, Michael began attending [[Bushey Meads School]] in [[Bushey]],<ref name="bbc/43783251">{{cite news |title=George Michael plaque unveiled at Bushey Meads school |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-43783251 |access-date=9 July 2023 |work=BBC News |date=16 April 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709060911/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-43783251 |url-status=live }}</ref> where he, as "Yog", met, sat down next to, and befriended, his future Wham! partner [[Andrew Ridgeley]]. The two had the same career ambition of being musicians.<ref name="doc1"/> Michael [[busking|busked]] on the [[London Underground]], performing songs such as "[['39]]" by [[Queen (band)|Queen]].<ref>[http://www.queenzone.com/news/a-night-at-the-opera.aspx A Night At The Opera] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510152854/http://www.queenzone.com/news/a-night-at-the-opera.aspx |date=10 May 2015 }} QueenZone.com. Retrieved 23 January 2013</ref> His involvement in the music business began with his working as a DJ, playing at the Bel Air Restaurant in [[Northwood, London|Northwood]], London,<ref name="watfordobserver/5729852">{{cite news |title=Belair Restaurant in Northwood |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/5729852.belair-restaurant-in-northwood/ |access-date=9 July 2023 |work=Watford Observer |date=20 January 2003 |language=en |archive-date=29 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729004239/https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/5729852.belair-restaurant-in-northwood/ |url-status=live }}<!-- Bel Air Restaurant, Rickmansworth Rd, Northwood HA6 2QW, United Kingdom --></ref><ref name="Gavin/George-Michael">{{cite book |last1=Gavin |first1=James |title=George Michael: A Life |date=28 June 2022 |publisher=Abrams |isbn=978-1-64700-673-0 |page=21 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-b1VEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22George+Michael%22+%22Bel+Air+Restaurant%22&pg=PT21 |language=en |access-date=22 April 2024 |archive-date=16 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716051842/https://books.google.com/books?id=-b1VEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22George+Michael%22+%22Bel+Air+Restaurant%22&pg=PT21 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ridgeley/Wham-Memoir">{{cite book |last1=Ridgeley |first1=Andrew |title=Wham!, George Michael and Me: A Memoir |date=8 October 2019 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-5247-4531-8 |pages=120, 136, 141 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puW2DwAAQBAJ&q=%22Bel+Air+Restaurant%22 |language=en |access-date=22 April 2024 |archive-date=16 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716051842/https://books.google.com/books?id=puW2DwAAQBAJ&q=%22Bel+Air+Restaurant%22 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Youngs 2016">{{cite web | last=Youngs | first=Ian | title=George Michael: Six songs that defined his life | website=BBC News | date=26 December 2016 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38432981 | access-date=21 June 2020 | archive-date=3 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003211257/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38432981/ | url-status=live }}</ref> clubs, and local schools around Bushey, [[Stanmore]], and [[Watford]]. This was followed by the formation of a short-lived [[ska]] band called the Executive, with Ridgeley, Ridgeley's brother Paul, Andrew Leaver, Jamie Gould, and David Mortimer (later known as [[David Austin (singer)|David Austin]]).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tsE5ub7r4_MC&pg=PA7|page=7|title=George Michael: In His Own Words|isbn=978-0-7119-7891-1|last1=Michael|first1=George|last2=Goodall|first2=Nigel|year=1999|publisher=Omnibus Press|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=9 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163400/https://books.google.com/books?id=tsE5ub7r4_MC&pg=PA7|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
== Wham! ==
It wasn't until he formed the duo Wham! together with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981 that success came for Michael. The band's first album, ''Fantastic!'', was released and within a year they had released their classic debut single, "[[Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)]]". Their second single, "[[Young Guns (Go For It)]]", became the first in a string of Top 10 hits in the [[UK singles chart]]. They followed with titles such as "[[Bad Boys (Wham! song)|Bad Boys]]", and "[[Club Tropicana]]". Their second album [[Make It Big]] was their break through eventually selling 6 million copies in the U.S. alone and made them international superstars. Singles from that album included "[[Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go]]", "[[Freedom (Wham! song)|Freedom]]", "[[Last Christmas]]/[[Everything She Wants]]", and "[[Careless Whisper]]". George also sang on the original [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] recording of "[[Do They Know It's Christmas]]" and donated the profits from "Last Christmas/Everything She Wants" to the [[charitable trust|charity]]. In addition, he added background vocals to [[David Cassidy]]'s 1985 hit "The Last Kiss," as well as Elton John's 1985 hits "[[Nikita (song)|Nikita]]" and "[[Wrap Her Up]]."
 
{{Main|Wham!}}
Wham!'s tour of [[People's Republic of China|China]] in April [[1985]], the first visit to China by a Western pop act, generated enormous worldwide media coverage, much of it centered on Michael. The tour was documented by celebrated film director [[Lindsay Anderson]] and producer [[Martin Lewis]] in their film ''Foreign Skies: Wham! In China'' and contributed to Michael's ever-widening fame.
[[File:Wham! circa 1984-1985 (editing).jpg|thumb|Michael (left) and [[Andrew Ridgeley]] as Wham!, c. 1984–1985]]
Michael formed the duo [[Wham!]] with [[Andrew Ridgeley]] in 1981. On the cusp of fame, he decided to legally [[Name change#United Kingdom|change his name]] to the more accessible George Michael.<ref name="Rubiner">{{cite book |last=Rubiner |first=Julia |title=Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music, Volume 9 |date=1993 |publisher=Gale Research, Incorporated |page=169|quote=As a solo artist George Michael has been hailed as a leading creative force in popular songwriting. With fame approaching, Michael decided to change his name from the intimidating Georgios Panayiotou to the more accessible George Michael.}}</ref> The band's first album ''[[Fantastic (Wham! album)|Fantastic]]'' reached No. 1 in the UK in 1983 and produced a series of top 10 singles including "[[Young Guns (Go For It!)|Young Guns]]", "[[Wham Rap!]]", and "[[Club Tropicana]]". Their second album, ''[[Make It Big]]'', reached No. 1 on the charts in the US. Singles from that album included "[[Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go]]" (No. 1 in the UK and US), "[[Freedom (Wham! song)|Freedom]]", "[[Everything She Wants]]", and "[[Careless Whisper]]" which reached No. 1 in nearly 25 countries, including the UK and US, and was Michael's first solo effort as a single.<ref name="UKCharts2">[http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/george%20michael/ "George Michael"]. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 April 2011. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102053946/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/george%20michael/|date=2 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="USCharts2">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=george michael|chart=all}} George Michael Album & Song Chart History] ''Billboard''. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> In December 1984, the single "[[Last Christmas]]" was released.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rachel |first1=Aroesti |title=Still saving us from tears: the inside story of Wham!'s Last Christmas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/dec/14/still-saving-us-from-tears-story-george-michael-last-christmas |access-date=1 December 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222002453/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/dec/14/still-saving-us-from-tears-story-george-michael-last-christmas |archive-date=22 December 2017 |date=14 December 2017}}</ref> In 1985 Michael received the first of his three [[Ivor Novello Awards]] for Songwriter of the Year from the [[British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors]].<ref>[http://theivors.com/archive/1980-1989/the-ivors-1985/ "The Ivors 1985"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309075103/http://theivors.com/archive/1980-1989/the-ivors-1985/ |date=9 March 2017 }}. The Ivors. Retrieved 8 January 2018</ref>
 
Michael performed on the original 1984 [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] recording of "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]"—he appears third on the song after [[Paul Young]] and [[Boy George]] sing their lines.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Flashback: Band Aid Raises Millions With 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/do-they-know-its-christmas-band-aid-1984-geldof-761428/ |access-date=27 November 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127041125/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/do-they-know-its-christmas-band-aid-1984-geldof-761428/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The song became the [[List of UK Singles Chart Christmas number ones|UK Christmas number one]] and Michael also donated the profits from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.<ref>{{cite news|title=The philanthropic acts of George Michael: from £5k tips to nurses' gigs|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/dec/26/the-philanthropic-acts-of-george-michael-from-5k-tips-to-nurses-gigs|work=The Guardian|date=7 January 2018|access-date=7 January 2018|archive-date=18 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018113550/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/dec/26/the-philanthropic-acts-of-george-michael-from-5k-tips-to-nurses-gigs|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with [[Elton John]] at [[Live Aid]] at Wembley Stadium in London on 13 July 1985.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=George Michael: 20 Essential Songs|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/george-michael-20-essential-songs-w457756/elton-john-feat-george-michael-dont-let-the-sun-go-down-on-me-1991-w457773|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=7 January 2018|access-date=7 January 2018|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108062744/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/george-michael-20-essential-songs-w457756/elton-john-feat-george-michael-dont-let-the-sun-go-down-on-me-1991-w457773|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also contributed background vocals to [[David Cassidy]]'s 1985 hit "The Last Kiss", as well as Elton John's 1985 successes "[[Nikita (song)|Nikita]]" and "[[Wrap Her Up]]". Michael cited Cassidy as a major career influence and interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's ''[[Ritz Newspaper]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=Litchfield|work=[[Ritz Newspaper]] No. 100|title=David Cassidy by George Michael|publisher=Bailey & Litchfield|pages=16–19|year=1985}}</ref>
With the success of his solo releases "[[Careless Whisper]]" ([[1984 in music|1984]]) and "[[A Different Corner]]" ([[1986 in music|1986]]) stories of an impending Wham! split intensified, and Wham! separated in the summer of 1986 after a farewell single, "[[The Edge of Heaven]]", an album, plus a sell-out concert at [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley Stadium]] that included the world premiere of the China film.
 
[[File:Wembley Stadium Twin Towers.jpg|thumb|left|Michael performed at Live Aid at the old [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] (''exterior pictured'') on 13 July 1985, and Wham! played their last concert, ''The Final'', at the same venue on 28 June 1986.]]
===Solo career===
Wham!'s tour of China in April 1985, the first visit to China by a Western popular music act, generated worldwide media coverage, much of it centred on Michael.<ref name="China"/><ref name="Tribune">{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-04-28-8501250765-story.html |title=East meets Wham!, and another great wall comes down |last=Patrick|first=Al|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=28 April 1985 |accessdate=12 April 2020 |archive-date=12 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412151104/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-04-28-8501250765-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The headline in the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' read: "East meets Wham!, and another great wall comes down".<ref name="Tribune"/> Before Wham!'s appearance in China, many kinds of music in the country were forbidden.<ref name="China"/> The band's manager, [[Simon Napier-Bell]], had spent 18 months trying to convince Chinese officials to let the duo play.<ref name="China"/> The audience included members of the Chinese government. Chinese television presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, spoke of Wham!'s historic performance: {{blockquote|No-one had ever seen anything like that before. All the young people were amazed and everybody was tapping their feet. Of course the police weren't happy and they were scared there would be riots.<ref name="China">{{cite news|last1=Hatton|first1=Celia|title=When China woke up to Wham!|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-china-blog-32229596|date=9 April 2015|publisher=BBC|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819202017/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-china-blog-32229596|url-status=live}}</ref>}} Wham! performed their hits with scantily clad dancers and strobing disco lights. According to Napier-Bell, Michael tried to get the crowd to clap along to "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't a clue – they thought he wanted applause and politely gave it", before adding that some Chinese did eventually "get the hang of clapping on the beat."<ref name="Evans"/> A [[List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to China|UK embassy official in China]] stated "there was some lively dancing but this was almost entirely confined to younger western members of the audience."<ref name="Evans">{{cite news |title=How Wham! baffled Chinese youth in first pop concert |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/may/09/arts.world |access-date=25 October 2019 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=25 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025162400/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/may/09/arts.world |url-status=live }}</ref> The tour was documented by film director [[Lindsay Anderson]] and producer [[Martin Lewis (humorist)|Martin Lewis]] in their film ''[[Wham! in China: Foreign Skies]]''.<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wham_in_china_foreign_skies/ Wham! in China – Foreign Skies Movie Reviews] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806224302/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wham_in_china_foreign_skies |date=6 August 2020 }} Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>
 
With the success of Michael's solo singles, "[[Careless Whisper]]" (1984) and "[[A Different Corner]]" (1986), rumours of an impending break up of Wham! intensified. The duo officially separated in 1986, after releasing a farewell single, "[[The Edge of Heaven]]" and a farewell compilation, ''[[The Final (album)|The Final]]'' (their third album ''[[Music from the Edge of Heaven]]'' was released in North America and Japan), plus a sell-out concert at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] that included the world premiere of the China film.<ref>{{cite news |title=How Wham! made Lindsay Anderson see red in China |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/how-wham-made-lindsay-anderson-see-red-in-china-358347.html|access-date=5 August 2021 |work=The Independent |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805081739/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/how-wham-made-lindsay-anderson-see-red-in-china-358347.html?amp |url-status=live }}</ref> The Wham! partnership ended officially with the commercially successful single "The Edge of Heaven", which reached No. 1 on the UK chart in June 1986.<ref>[http://www.number-ones.co.uk/singles/Wham!-number-ones.html Wham! Number Ones] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418023432/http://www.number-ones.co.uk/singles/Wham!-number-ones.html |date=18 April 2011 }} Number-ones.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>
His biggest hit singles as a solo artist include the single "[[Faith (song)|Faith]]," taken from his debut album [[Faith (George Michael album)|of the same name]]. The album not only became number one on both sides of the Atlantic, but also resulted in four number one singles in the [[United States]]. In 1989 he sang backing vocals for his long-time friend [[Deon Estus]] on a song titled "Heaven Help Me". The song was written by both artists, and just missed reaching the British top 40, reaching #5 in the U.S.
"Careless Whisper", written when Michael was seventeen, became one of the most played songs of the decade and was voted favourite record of all time by Londoners in January 1995 in a competition run by the capital's leading evening newspaper and radio station. He was also voted Best Male Singer that year by the same radio station's listeners and by the readers of a national newspaper. Some of his other hit singles include "[[Father Figure (song)|Father Figure]]", "[[Kissing a Fool (song)|Kissing a Fool]]", "One More Try", "[[Freedom 90]]", "[[Fastlove]]", "[[Jesus to a Child]]", "[[Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me]]" (a duet with [[Elton John]]), [[2002]]'s "[[Freeek!]]" and the controversial song and video "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/reviews/2146153.stm Shoot the Dog]" which is a commentary on [[Tony Blair]]'s partnership with [[George W. Bush|George Bush]] in Bush's 'War on Terror'. In 1992 at [[the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert]] Michael stole the show by delivering a brilliant performance of [[Somebody to Love]] sparking speculation of him joining [[Queen (band)|Queen]], although the performance of the song was released on the [[Five Live]] [[EP]], a union with Queen never materialised.
 
==Solo career==
Michael's work covers a variety of pop styles, from ballads to funky dance tracks. In a career spanning more than twenty years, George Michael has been responsible for more than 80 million record sales, according to his official website.
===1987–1989===
During early 1987, at the beginning of his solo career, Michael released "[[I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)]]", a duet with [[Aretha Franklin]]. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was a one-off project that helped Michael achieve an ambition by singing with one of his favourite artists. It scored number one on both the [[UK Singles Chart]] and the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] upon its release.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ErKigdCXUwoC&pg=PA249 |page=249 |title=Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul |isbn=978-0-7867-5229-4 |last1=Bego |first1=Mark |date=10 February 2010 |publisher=Hachette Books }}</ref><ref>Lucy Ellis, Bryony Sutherland (1998) ''The complete guide to the music of George Michael & Wham!'' p. 37. Music Sales Group, 1998</ref> For Michael, it became his third consecutive solo number one in the UK from three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually from the Wham! album ''[[Make It Big]]'') and 1986's "[[A Different Corner]]". The single was also the first Michael had recorded as a solo artist which he had not written himself. The co-writer, [[Simon Climie]], was unknown at the time; he later had success as a performer with the band [[Climie Fisher]] in 1988. Michael and Franklin won a [[Grammy Award]] in 1988 for Best R&B Performance – Duo or Group with Vocal for the song.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111003160318/http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/timelines/aretha-franklin/basic/ "Aretha Franklin Timeline"]. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>
 
In late 1987, Michael released his debut solo album, ''[[Faith (George Michael album)|Faith]]''. The first single released from the album was "[[I Want Your Sex]]", in mid-1987. The song was banned by many radio stations in the UK and US, due to its sexually suggestive lyrics.<ref name="MTV banned">[http://www.virginmedia.com/music/features/banned-songs.php?page=15 George Michael: I Want Your Sex – Banned Songs – Music] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001190745/http://www.virginmedia.com/music/features/banned-songs.php?page=15 |date=1 October 2012 }} Virgin Media, 27 January 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> MTV broadcast the video, featuring celebrity make-up artist Kathy Jeung in a [[Torsolette|basque]] and suspenders, only during the late night hours.<ref name="MTV banned"/> Michael argued that the act was beautiful if the sex was monogamous, and he recorded a brief prologue for the video in which he said: "This song is not about casual sex."<ref name="monogamy">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110807130155/http://gravlee.org/sexuality/2008/08/26/sexy-song-of-the-week-i-want-your-sex/ Sexy Song of the Week: "I Want Your Sex"]}} ANT 2301: Human Sexuality & Culture, Gravlee.org; University of Florida. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> One of the racier scenes involved Michael writing the words "explore monogamy" on his partner's back in lipstick.<ref>[http://george.michael.szm.com/Special/Video/Vtrudi.html Video Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809153941/http://george.michael.szm.com/Special/Video/Vtrudi.html |date=9 August 2011 }} George Michael – The Box of Fame, 15 January 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Some radio stations played a toned-down version of the song, "I Want Your Love", with the word "love" replacing "sex".<ref name="sex/love">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110306005855/http://www.total80sremix.com/80s-people/80s-singers/80s-singers-george-michael 80s Singers: George Michael] Total 80s Remix, 22 February 1999. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref>
Michael was involved in a [[1993]] [[court case]] concerning his record contract after his record company [[Columbia records|CBS]] was taken over by [[Sony]]. Amongst Michael's complaints was that Sony had not fully supported the release of his second solo album resulting in its poor performance in the U.S. compared to ''Faith''. Sony responded that Michael had refused to appear in promotional videos and it was this that had caused the poor response to the album. The case was heard in London and was found against Michael. As a consequence, Michael declared he would not release any new material until he had completed the minimum of his contractual obligations to Sony.
 
When "I Want Your Sex" reached the US charts, ''[[American Top 40]]'' host [[Casey Kasem]] refused to say the song's title, referring to it only as "the new single by George Michael."<ref name="sex/love"/> In the US, the song was also sometimes listed as "I Want Your Sex (from ''[[Beverly Hills Cop II]]'')", since the song was featured on the soundtrack of [[Beverly Hills Cop II|the movie]].<ref name="Gayicon">[http://www.astabgay.com/Gay_Icons/george.htm George Michael – Gay Icons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707181258/http://www.astabgay.com/Gay_Icons/george.htm |date=7 July 2011 }} AstaBGay.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Despite censorship and radio play problems, "I Want Your Sex" reached No. 2 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 3 in the UK.<ref name="UKCharts2"/><ref>[http://music.lovetoknow.com/George_Michael_Biography George Michael Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209030133/http://music.lovetoknow.com/George_Michael_Biography |date=9 December 2010 }} LoveToKnow Music. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The second single, "[[Faith (George Michael song)|Faith]]", was released in October 1987, a few weeks before the album. "Faith" became one of his most popular songs. The song was No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks, becoming the [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1988|best-selling single of 1988]] in the US.<ref name="USCharts2"/> It also reached No. 1 in Australia, and No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> The video provided some definitive images of the 1980s music industry in the process—Michael in shades, leather jacket, cowboy boots, and [[Levi's]] jeans, playing a guitar near a classic-design jukebox.<ref name="telegarpth">McCormick, Neil [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/8004149/George-Michaels-image-will-outlast-the-scandal.html "George Michael's image will outlast the scandal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910082141/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/8004149/George-Michaels-image-will-outlast-the-scandal.html |date=10 September 2017 }}. ''The Daily Telegraph'' (London), 15 September 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>
The reason for Michael's departure from Sony, however, had little to do with his record contract and more to do with the way he was treated by then-label president Donnie Ienner. During a phone conversation between Ienner and George Michael's then-manager Robert Kahane, Ienner reportedly told Kahane "You tell that fucking faggot (George Michael)..."{{Fact|date=May 2007}} Unbeknownst to Ienner, George Michael was on the phone line, and Michael went ballistic when he heard Ienner's disparaging remarks. As a result, Michael told Ienner that he would never record for Sony again and proceeded with his lawsuit against Sony.
 
On 30 October, ''Faith'' was released in the UK and in several markets worldwide.<ref name="Gayicon"/> ''Faith'' topped the [[UK Albums Chart]], and in the US, the album had 51 non-consecutive weeks in the top 10 of [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], including 12 weeks at No. 1. ''Faith'' had many successes, with four singles ("Faith", "[[Father Figure (George Michael song)|Father Figure]]", "[[One More Try (George Michael song)|One More Try]]", and "[[Monkey (song)|Monkey]]") reaching No. 1 in the US.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110306005855/http://www.total80sremix.com/80s-people/80s-singers/80s-singers-george-michael George Michael|80s Singers]. Total 80s Remix, 22 February 1999. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> ''Faith'' was [[RIAA certification#RIAA Diamond certifications|certified Diamond]] by the [[RIAA]] for sales of 10&nbsp;million copies in the US.<ref>[http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~hbr/us10mal.htm RIAA Certified Diamond Albums] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928154336/http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~hbr/us10mal.htm |date=28 September 2011 }} HBR Production. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> To date, global sales of ''Faith'' are more than 25&nbsp;million units.<ref name="Upcoming yahoo">{{cite web|url=http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/462423/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602144009/http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/462423/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 June 2008 |title=George Michael at HP Pavilion at San Jose |date=24 March 2008 |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=3 May 2008 }}</ref> The album was highly acclaimed by music critics, with [[AllMusic]] journalist Steve Huey describing it as a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of the finest pop albums of the '80s".<ref>{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/faith-mw0000193475|title=Faith – George Michael : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards|website=AllMusic|date=30 October 1987|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-date=5 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205055803/http://www.allmusic.com/album/faith-mw0000193475|url-status=live}}</ref> In a review by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine, journalist Mark Coleman commended most of the songs on the album, which he said "displays Michael's intuitive understanding of pop music and his increasingly intelligent use of his power to communicate to an ever-growing audience."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Coleman|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/faith-19880114|title=Faith &#124; Album Reviews|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=14 January 1988|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-date=26 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426171523/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/faith-19880114|url-status=dead}}</ref>
After the ordeal with Sony, Michael was signed by David Geffen's U.S. start-up lable Dreamworks SKG. Michael's single release for "Jesus to a Child" was SKG's first release as well. After a few years of lack-luster domestic sales, Michael returned to Sony for his new, highly anticipated album ''[[Patience (2004 album)|Patience]]''. It was released in March 2004 after two popular singles released through Polydor Records. ''Patience'' debuted at number one in the UK album charts and number two in Australia. It has sold moderately globally with 3 million.
 
In 1988, Michael embarked on a world tour.<ref>[http://www.antimusic.com/reviews/11/George_Michael_-_Faith_Remaster.shtml George Michael – Faith Remaster] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420003222/http://www.antimusic.com/reviews/11/George_Michael_-_Faith_Remaster.shtml |date=20 April 2011 }} antiMusic.com, 12 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> In Los Angeles, Michael was joined on stage by [[Aretha Franklin]] for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". It was the second highest grossing event of 1988, earning $17.7&nbsp;million.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120322092631/http://www.vanhalenencyclopedia.com/entries/monsters-of-rock-ou812-tour.html Entries – Monsters of Rock / OU812 Tour] The Van Halen Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> At the [[1988 Brit Awards]] held at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] on 8 February, Michael received the first of his two awards for [[Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist|Best British Male Solo Artist]]. Later that month, ''Faith'' won the [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year]] at the [[31st Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1988&genre=All|title=1988 Grammy Award Winners|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=14 December 2014|archive-date=28 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728121953/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[1989 MTV Video Music Awards]] on 6 September in Los Angeles, Michael received the [[Video Vanguard Award]].<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/winners-by-category.jhtml 1989 MTV Video Music Awards: Video Vanguard Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506080739/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/winners-by-category.jhtml |date=6 May 2013 }} MTV. Retrieved 7 December 2011</ref> According to Michael in his film, ''A Different Story'', success did not make him happy and he started to think there was something wrong in being an idol for millions of teenage girls. The whole ''Faith'' process (promotion, videos, tour, awards) left him exhausted, lonely and frustrated, and far from his friends and family.<ref>{{cite news |title=George Michael: A Different Story Review |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/george-michael-different-story/review/ |access-date=28 October 2018 |work=Empire |archive-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029031657/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/george-michael-different-story/review/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1990, he told his record company Sony that, for his second album, he did not want to do promotions like the one for ''Faith''.<ref name="GayiconII">[http://www.newmagic949.com/lsp/a556/ George Michael] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118191455/http://www.newmagic949.com/lsp/a556/ |date=18 November 2018 }} NewMagic949.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>
During the 2005 event [[Live 8]], George Michael joined [[Paul McCartney]] on stage, harmonizing on the [[Beatles]]' classic "Drive My Car". Michael did not perform a separate set himself because of a head cold.
 
===1990s===
Michael was one of several remixers commissioned in 2000 to work on dance mixes for [[Bananarama]]'s "Tripping on Your Love". Bananarama later covered "Careless Whisper" and released it as a single.
''[[Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1]]'' was released in September 1990. The title is an indication of his desire to be taken more seriously as a songwriter.<ref name="listenpre">[http://teenink.com/reviews/music_reviews/article/7424/Listen-Without-Prejudice/ Listen Without Prejudice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305131521/http://teenink.com/reviews/music_reviews/article/7424/Listen-Without-Prejudice/ |date=5 March 2011 }} Teen Ink. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The album was released in Europe on 3 September 1990, and one week later in the US. It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart<ref name="UKCharts2"/> and peaked at No. 2 on the US ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="USCharts2"/> It spent a total of 88 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and was certified four-times Platinum by the BPI.<ref name=uk>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/george%20michael/|title=UK Charts > George Michael|publisher=The Official Charts Company|access-date=5 March 2011}}</ref> The album produced five UK singles, all of which were released within an eight-month period: "[[Praying for Time]]", "[[Waiting for That Day]]", "[[Freedom! '90]]", "[[Heal the Pain]]", and "[[Cowboys and Angels (George Michael song)|Cowboys and Angels]]" (the latter being his only single not to chart in the UK top 40).<ref name="UKCharts2"/> Michael refused to do any promotion for the album.<ref name="GayiconII"/> At the 1991 [[Brit Awards]], ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1'' won the award for Best British Album.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10139404/George-Michael-50-years-in-numbers.html "George Michael: 50 years in numbers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626202548/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10139404/George-Michael-50-years-in-numbers.html |date=26 June 2013 }}. ''The Daily Telegraph'' (London). Retrieved 15 December 2014</ref>
 
The album's first single, "Praying for Time", with lyrics concerning social ills and injustice, was released in August 1990. James Hunter of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine described the song as "a distraught look at the world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers the healing passage of time as the only balm for physical and emotional hunger, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=James|last=Hunter|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/listen-without-prejudice-vol-1-19901004|title=Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 &#124; Album Reviews|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=4 October 1990|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-date=16 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016203015/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/georgemichael/albums/album/200600/review/5940400/listen_without_prejudice_vol_1|url-status=dead}}</ref> The song was an instant success, reaching No. 1 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 6 in the UK.<ref name="USCharts2"/> A video was released shortly thereafter, consisting of the lyrics on a dark background. Michael did not appear in this video or any subsequent videos for the album.<ref name="listenpre"/> The second single from ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1'', "Waiting for That Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, released as an immediate follow-up to "Praying for Time".
Michael has released his latest single, a duet single with ex-[[Sugababes|Sugababe]] [[Mutya Buena]], "[[This Is Not Real Love]]", on 6 November 2006. It peaked at #15 in the UK Charts.
 
"Freedom! '90" was the second of only two singles from ''Listen Without Prejudice'' to be supported by a music video (the other being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").<ref name="Freedom"/> The song alludes to his struggles with his artistic identity, and prophesied his efforts shortly thereafter to [[Panayiotou v Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.|end his recording contract with Sony Music]]. As if to prove the song's sentiment, Michael refused to appear in the video (directed by [[David Fincher]]), and instead recruited supermodels [[Naomi Campbell]], [[Linda Evangelista]], [[Christy Turlington]], [[Tatjana Patitz]], and [[Cindy Crawford]] to appear in and [[lip sync]] in his stead.<ref name="Freedom">[http://soulbounce.com/soul/2010/11/soulbounces_class_of_1990_george_michael_listen_without_prejudice_vol_i.php SoulBounce's Class Of 1990: George Michael 'Listen Without Prejudice Vol. I'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110123829/http://soulbounce.com/soul/2010/11/soulbounces_class_of_1990_george_michael_listen_without_prejudice_vol_i.php |date=10 January 2011 }} Soulbounce.com, 29 November 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> It also featured lyrics critical of his sex symbol status.<ref>[https://ew.com/article/1990/09/14/listen-without-prejudice-vol-1/ Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1] ''Entertainment Weekly'', 14 September 1990. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> It reached No. 8 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the US,<ref name="USCharts2"/> and No. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> "[[Mother's Pride (song)|Mother's Pride]]" gained significant radio play in the US during the first [[Persian Gulf War]] during 1991, often with radio stations mixing in callers' tributes to soldiers with the music.<ref name="GayHist">[http://www.circa-club.com/gallery/gay_history_icons_george_michael.php Gay History, Gay Celebrities, Gay Icons – George Michael] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721090659/http://www.circa-club.com/gallery/gay_history_icons_george_michael.php |date=21 July 2011 }} Circa-club.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>
Michael received $3 (£1.5) million for a 1-hour concert in Moscow for the 300 guests of Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin for a concert on the Eve of [[2007]] - some equipment was damaged in a fire caused “by badly wired pyrotechnics that went off a few hours after George Michael's band and crew had left”. This payment is reputed to have made him the highest paid act in Russian history overtaking the £1 million paid to [[Christina Aguilera]] for performing at the wedding of Russian oligarch Andrei Melnichenko in 2005. The gig performed by George Michael prior to this highly profitable Moscow event was a free gig for nurses in north [[London]].
 
In 1991, Michael embarked on the [[Cover to Cover tour]] in Japan, England, the US, and Brazil, where he performed at [[Rock in Rio]].<ref name="NYcover">[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/28/news/reviews-pop-george-michael-s-tour-from-motown-to-disco.html Reviews/Pop; George Michael's Tour, From Motown to Disco] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819021134/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/28/news/reviews-pop-george-michael-s-tour-from-motown-to-disco.html |date=19 August 2016 }} ''The New York Times'', 28 October 1991. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The tour was not a proper promotion for ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1''. Rather, it featured Michael singing his favourite cover songs.<ref name="NYcover"/> Among his favourites was "[[Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me]]", a 1974 song by [[Elton John]]; Michael and John had performed the song together at the [[Live Aid]] concert in 1985, and again for Michael's concert at London's [[Wembley Arena]] on 25 March 1991, where the duet was recorded. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was released as a single at the end of 1991 and reached No. 1 in both the UK and US.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SzV53dUOF1wC&pg=PA106 |page=106 |title=The Complete Guide to the Music of George Michael & Wham! |isbn=978-0-7119-6822-6 |last1=Ellis |first1=Lucy |last2=Sutherland |first2=Bryony |year=1998 |publisher=Omnibus Press |access-date=12 March 2016 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163423/https://books.google.com/books?id=SzV53dUOF1wC&pg=PA106 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1991, Michael released an autobiography through [[Penguin Books]] titled ''Bare'', co-written with [[Tony Parsons (British journalist)|Tony Parsons]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Michael|first1=George|last2=Parsons|first2=Tony|title=Bare: George Michael, His Own Story|date=15 July 1991|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-14-013235-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780140132359}}</ref>
===Future career===
In a recent interview with [[Michael Parkinson]] on Britain's [[ITV]] television channel, Michael announced his intention to tour for the first time in 15 years.
 
An expected follow-up album, ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 2'', was scrapped due to Michael's [[Panayiotou v Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.|lawsuit]] with [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cope |first1=Michael |title=Inside Story: Sony faces a test of faith: George Michael, who has cast off the leather look for a suit and horn-rimmed glasses, went to court last week for a divorce from his Japanese bosses, Norio Ohga, below left, and Akio Morita. No matter who wins, writes Nigel Cope, the case will put a different spin on the record business |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/inside-story-sony-faces-a-test-of-faith-george-michael-who-has-cast-off-the-leather-look-for-a-suit-and-hornrimmed-glasses-went-to-court-last-week-for-a-divorce-from-his-japanese-bosses-norio-ohga-below-left-and-akio-morita-no-matter-who-wins-writes-nigel-cope-the-case-will-put-a-different-spin-on-the-record-business-1512870.html |website=The Independent |access-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916195904/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/inside-story-sony-faces-a-test-of-faith-george-michael-who-has-cast-off-the-leather-look-for-a-suit-and-hornrimmed-glasses-went-to-court-last-week-for-a-divorce-from-his-japanese-bosses-norio-ohga-below-left-and-akio-morita-no-matter-who-wins-writes-nigel-cope-the-case-will-put-a-different-spin-on-the-record-business-1512870.html |archive-date=16 September 2015 |date=24 October 1993 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Instead, Michael donated three songs to the charity project ''[[Red Hot + Dance]]'', for the [[Red Hot Organization]] which raised money for AIDS awareness; a fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side of 1992's "[[Too Funky]]". Michael donated the royalties from "Too Funky" to the same cause.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051220111840/http://gaylife.about.com/od/gaycelebrityprofiles/p/georgemichael.htm George Michael] Gay Life, About.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> "Too Funky" reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart<ref name="UKCharts2"/> and No. 10 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="USCharts2"/>
He announced that he would embark on a 50-date European tour entitled [[25 Live]], beginning in [[Barcelona]] on [[23 September]] [[2006]], and ending up at [[Wembley Arena]] in [[London]] in December. On [[March 5]], [[2007]], George Michael announced a summer 2007 stadium tour through Europe, starting May 12 in Portugal.
 
{{Quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote="George Michael was the best. There's a certain note in his voice when he did '[[Somebody to Love (Queen song)|Somebody to Love]]' that was pure Freddie."|source=—Queen guitarist [[Brian May]] on Michael's performance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.<ref name="Mercury">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VyBp_VEiIVYC&pg=PT364|page=364|title=Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen|isbn=978-0-306-81973-5|last1=Blake|first1=Mark|date=22 March 2011|publisher=Hachette Books |access-date=14 December 2014|archive-date=9 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163401/https://books.google.com/books?id=VyBp_VEiIVYC&pg=PT364|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
He also confirmed his intention to form a civil partnership with long-time partner Kenny Goss. He told Parkinson they would perform the legal ceremony and then hold a party. He also quipped that none of them would be donning a dress.
Michael performed with [[Queen (band)|Queen]] at [[The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert]] on 20 April 1992 at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]].<ref>[http://www.mygnr.com/bootleg/Tribute/Freddie_Mercury/freddie_mercury_tribute.html Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917212424/http://www.mygnr.com/bootleg/Tribute/Freddie_Mercury/freddie_mercury_tribute.html |date=17 September 2013 }} MyGnR.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The concert was a tribute to the life of the late Queen frontman, [[Freddie Mercury]], with the proceeds going to AIDS research.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110326162044/http://www.cineman.ws/films/7333/The-Freddie-Mercury-Tribute-Concert-for-AIDS-Awareness.html The Freddie Mercury Tribute: Concert for AIDS Awareness] Cineman. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Michael performed "[['39]]", "[[These Are the Days of Our Lives]]" with [[Lisa Stansfield]] and "[[Somebody to Love (Queen song)|Somebody to Love]]". Michael's performance of "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one of the best performances of the tribute concert".<ref name="Queen's Greatest Hits 3">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3818793 Queen's Greatest Hits 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927183627/https://h2g2.com/entry/A3818793 |date=27 September 2020 }} h2g2, BBC, 22 March 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref><ref name="Queen Greatest Vol 3">[http://www.albumlinernotes.com/Queen_Greatest_Vol_3.html Queen Greatest Vol 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726142233/http://www.albumlinernotes.com/Queen_Greatest_Vol_3.html |date=26 July 2011 }} AlbumLinerNotes.com, 17 January 1997. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Michael later reflected, "It was probably the proudest moment for me of my career, because it was me living out a childhood fantasy, I suppose, to sing one of Freddie's songs in front of 80,000 people."<ref>{{cite news |title=Queen's Roger Taylor: George Michael 'Wouldn't Have Suited' Band |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-roger-taylor-george-michael/ |access-date=2 March 2021 |magazine=Ultimate Classic Rock |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228012751/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-roger-taylor-george-michael/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
The ''[[Five Live (George Michael and Queen EP)|Five Live]]'' EP<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r177656/review|pure_url=yes}} Five Live (George Michael and Queen EP)]. AllMusic.</ref> featured five live recordings (six in several countries) performed by Michael, Queen, and [[Lisa Stansfield]]. "Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Days of Our Lives" were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. "[[Killer (Adamski song)|Killer]]", "[[Papa Was a Rollin' Stone]]", and "[[Calling You]]" were recorded during his Cover to Cover tour in 1991.<ref name="Queen's Greatest Hits 3"/><ref name="Queen Greatest Vol 3"/>
To coincide with the tour, a new greatest hits collection, ''[[Twenty Five (album)|Twenty Five]]'', was released on [[9 November]], [[2006]], including four new songs. The lead single, "[[An Easier Affair]]", debuted on radio on 24 May 2006, and was released by Sony BMG as a download on 19 June and as a CD release a week later. This new single hit #1 in the UK dance charts and reached #13 in the UK singles chart upon physical release (download entered the charts at #74). This will be the fourth "best of" package of George Michael material after 1986's "The Final", 1997's "If You Were There" (both Wham! collections), and 1998's solo collection "[[Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael|Ladies & Gentlemen]]", a double disc which went double platinum in the US.
All proceeds from the sale of the EP benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.<ref>[http://www.shanemcdonald.org/queen/album-detail.php?id=23 5 Live / Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201042331/http://www.shanemcdonald.org/queen/album-detail.php?id=23 |date=1 February 2011 }} Shanes Queen Site. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Sales of the EP were strong through Europe, where it debuted at No. 1 in the UK and several European countries.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> Chart success in the US was less spectacular, where it reached No. 40 on the ''Billboard'' 200 ("Somebody to Love" reached No. 30 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]).<ref name="USCharts2"/> The performance would later feature on Queen's compilation album ''[[Greatest Hits III (Queen album)|Greatest Hits III]]''.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r443580|pure_url=yes}} Queen – Greatest Hits III]. AllMusic. Retrieved 23 September 2021</ref>
 
During November 1994, after a long period of seclusion, Michael appeared at the first [[MTV Europe Music Awards]] show, where he gave a performance of a new song, "[[Jesus to a Child]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dominic|last=Pride|title=MTV Euro Awards Get Mixed Response|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA18|access-date=21 April 2011|date=10 December 1994|pages=18–|issn=0006-2510|archive-date=9 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163423/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA18|url-status=live}}</ref> The song was a melancholy tribute to his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who had died in March 1993. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 1 and No. 7 on ''Billboard'' upon release in 1996.<ref name="UKCharts2"/><ref name="USCharts2"/> It was Michael's longest UK Top 40 single, at almost seven minutes long. The exact identity of the song's subject—and the nature of Michael's relationship with Feleppa—was shrouded in [[innuendo]] and speculation, as Michael had not confirmed he was homosexual and did not do so until 1998. The video for "Jesus to a Child" was a picture of images recalling loss, pain and suffering. Michael consistently dedicated the song to Feleppa before performing it live.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010911141631/http://members.fortunecity.com/cheznobby/partone.htm Part one] Chez Nobby, Fortunecity. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>
Due to an overwhelming response by fans to his recently announced tour celebrating 25 years in the music industry, Michael, as stated by his publicist, is considering a North American tour as well.
 
Michael released "[[Fastlove]]", an energetic tune about wanting gratification and fulfilment without commitment, in 1996. The single version was nearly five minutes long. "Fastlove" was supported by a futuristic virtual reality-related video. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top spot.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> In the US, "Fastlove" peaked at No. 8.<ref name="USCharts2"/> Following "Fastlove", Michael released ''[[Older (George Michael album)|Older]]'', his third studio album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.albumism.com/features/george-michael-older-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective|title=George Michael's 'Older' Turns 25 &#124; Anniversary Retrospective|website=Albumism|date=12 May 2021 |access-date=14 October 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003104948/https://www.albumism.com/features/george-michael-older-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective|url-status=live}}</ref> In the UK, the album was particularly notable for producing a record six top three hit singles in a two-year span.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/07/george-michael-older/|title=Making George Michael: Older|date=19 July 2021|access-date=14 October 2021|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170557/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/07/george-michael-older/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In early 2007 he announced a new tour named "25 Live Stadium Tour 2007". It is a summer tour that will begin on 12 May in [[Coimbra]], [[Portugal]] and will end on 26 July in [[Athens]], [[Greece]]. There are 29 tour dates (as of 21 April) over the whole of Europe.
 
In 1996, Michael was voted Best British Male at the [[MTV Europe Music Awards]] and the [[Brit Awards]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolyrics.com/1996-mtv-europe-awards.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022121526/http://www.metrolyrics.com/1996-mtv-europe-awards.html|archive-date=22 October 2012|url-status=unfit|title=1996 MTV Europe Awards|publisher=MetroLyrics.com|date=14 November 1996|access-date=21 April 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.everyhit.com/awardbrit.html The Brit Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419142717/http://www.everyhit.com/awardbrit.html |date=19 April 2012 }} everyHit.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> and at the British Academy's [[Ivor Novello Awards]], he was awarded the title of Songwriter of the Year for the third time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.femail.com.au/snapshotgeorgemichael.htm|title=George Michael – Star Snapshot|publisher=Femail.com.au|date=27 April 2009|access-date=27 April 2009|archive-date=10 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510151923/http://www.femail.com.au/snapshotgeorgemichael.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael performed a concert at Three Mills Studios, London, for ''[[MTV Unplugged]]''.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/george-michael/person/130286/summary.html George Michael on] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222080434/http://www.tv.com/george-michael/person/130286/summary.html |date=22 December 2009 }} TV.com, 20 December 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> It was his first long performance in years, and in the audience was Michael's mother, who died of cancer the following year.<ref>[http://popdirt.com/george-michaels-suicidal-thoughts-after-mothers-death/32657/ George Michael's Suicidal Thoughts After Mother's Death] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617123325/http://popdirt.com/george-michaels-suicidal-thoughts-after-mothers-death/32657/ |date=17 June 2011 }} popdirt.com, 10 September 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>
George Michael also stated that he, and his former Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley, have recorded 2 songs, with George doing the vocals, and Andrew playing on guitar. George hopes that this new songs will appear on his new album, planned to be released in late 2007.<ref>http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=vip--wham-boys-going-for-it--&method=full&objectid=18983211&siteid=93463-name_page.html</ref>
 
''[[Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael]]'' (1998) was Michael's first solo greatest hits collection. The collection of 28 songs (29 songs are included on the European and Australian release) are separated into two-halves, with each containing a particular theme and mood. The first CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the second CD, "For the Feet", consists mainly of dance tunes. It was released through Sony Music Entertainment as a condition of severing contractual ties with the label.<ref name=BBCNews1>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3278909.stm George Michael goes back to Sony] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406214000/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3278909.stm |date=6 April 2012 }} BBC News, 17 November 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> ''Ladies & Gentlemen'' was a success, peaking at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for eight weeks.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> It spent over 200 weeks in the UK chart, and is the 45th [[List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom|best-selling album ever]] in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/assets/files/top%2040%20albums.pdf|title=BPI Highest Retail Sales|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-date=22 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122135241/http://www.bpi.co.uk/assets/files/top%2040%20albums.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is certified seven-times platinum in the UK and multi-platinum in the US, and is Michael's most commercially successful album in his homeland, having sold more than 2.8&nbsp;million copies.<ref name="uk"/> As of 2013, the album had reached worldwide sales of approximately 15&nbsp;million copies.<ref>[http://www.hiponline.com/artist/music/m/michael_george/index.html Artist: George Michael] Hip Online {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915062553/http://www.hiponline.com/artist/music/m/michael_george/index.html |date=15 September 2013 }}</ref> The first single of the album, "[[Outside (George Michael song)|Outside]]", was a humorous song making a reference to his arrest for soliciting a policeman in a public toilet. "[[As (song)|As]]", his duet with [[Mary J. Blige]], was released as the second single in many territories around the world. Both singles reached the top 5 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="UKCharts2"/>
 
Released in 1999, ''[[Songs from the Last Century]]'' is a studio album of cover tracks. The album achieved the lowest peak of his solo efforts, peaking at No. 157 on the American ''Billboard'' 200 albums chart<ref name="USCharts2"/> and at No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="UKCharts2"/>
 
===2000s===
[[File:George Michael and Garth Brooks (2000).jpg|thumb|left|[[Garth Brooks]] and Michael at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, 29 April 2000]]
In 2000, Michael worked on the hit single "[[If I Told You That]]" with [[Whitney Houston]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yb_ghov9uEMC&pg=PA193|title=Michael Jackson the Solo Years|last1=Halstead|first1=Craig|last2=Cadman|first2=Chris|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Authors on Line Ltd|isbn=978-0-7552-0091-7|language=en|access-date=26 December 2016|archive-date=9 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163445/https://books.google.com/books?id=yb_ghov9uEMC&pg=PA193|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael co-produced on the single along with [[Rodney Jerkins]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1430159/whitney-george-michael-to-team-for-duet/|title=Whitney, George Michael To Team For Duet|publisher=MTV News|access-date=26 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226145556/http://www.mtv.com/news/1430159/whitney-george-michael-to-team-for-duet/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Michael's first single from his fifth studio album, "[[Freeek!]]", reached the Top 10 in the UK.<ref>[http://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=3580&sort=chartid George Michael Freeek!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606113017/http://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=3580&sort=chartid |date=6 June 2011 }} Top40-charts.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011.</ref> His next single was "[[Shoot the Dog]]" which was released in July 2002 during the lead-up to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. The video for the song showed [[Tony Blair]] as [[George W. Bush|George Bush]]'s [[poodle]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7444297.stm George Michael's highs and lows] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104181822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7444297.stm |date=4 November 2011 }} BBC News, 21 September 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The single's cover featured the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'s'' "Howdy Poodle" front page from earlier in the year. Responding to criticism, Michael said, "I am British, I live here, I pay my taxes, and I'm very, very worried that we are now the second most dangerous country in the world thanks to our special relationship with America."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://george.michael.szm.com/Esection/E2002jul.html |title=George Goes Political ''The Daily Mirror'', July 1, 2002 |publisher=george.michael.szm.com/ |date=July 2002 |access-date=5 September 2021 |archive-date=5 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905091336/http://george.michael.szm.com/Esection/E2002jul.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It reached No. 1 in Denmark and made the top 5 in most European charts.<ref>[http://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=4692&sort=chartid George Michael Shoot The Dog] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606113138/http://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=4692&sort=chartid |date=6 June 2011 }} Top40-charts.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> It peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="UKCharts2"/>
 
In February 2003, Michael recorded another song in protest against the looming Iraq war, [[Don McLean]]'s "The Grave". The original was written by McLean in 1971 and was a protest against the [[Vietnam War]]. Michael performed the song on numerous TV shows including ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' and ''[[So Graham Norton]]''. His performance of the song on ''Top of the Pops'' on 7 March 2003 was his first studio appearance on the programme since 1986. He ran into conflict with the show's producers for an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn by some members of his band. McLean stated that he was "proud of George Michael for standing up for life and sanity".<ref>{{cite news|title=Michael accuses BBC in war row|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2828485.stm|work=BBC News|access-date=26 December 2016|date=7 March 2003|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101052101/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2828485.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
[[File:George Michael at Antwerp (BRAVO).jpg|thumb|upright|Michael performing in Antwerp, Belgium, 2006]]
When Michael's fifth studio album, ''[[Patience (George Michael album)|Patience]]'', was released in 2004, it was critically acclaimed and went to No. 1 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="UKCharts2"/> The album became one of the fastest-selling albums in the UK, selling over 200,000 copies in the first week alone.<ref>[http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=10894 Analysis: UK albums and singles market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208050250/http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=10894 |date=8 February 2012 }} Music Week, 29 November 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> It reached the Top 5 on most European charts and peaked at No. 12 in the US, selling over 500,000 copies to earn a [[RIAA certification|Gold certification]] from the [[RIAA]].<ref name="USCharts2"/> "[[Amazing (George Michael song)|Amazing]]", the third single from the album, became a No. 1 hit in Europe.<ref>[http://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=9508&sort=chartid&string=George/ George Michael Amazing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807051143/https://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=9508&sort=chartid&string=George%2F |date=7 August 2020 }} Top40-charts.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> When Michael appeared on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' on 26 May 2004, to promote the album, he performed "Amazing", along with his classic songs "[[Father Figure (George Michael song)|Father Figure]]" and "[[Faith (George Michael song)|Faith]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gmforever.com/george-michael-oprah-winfrey-show-interview/ |title=George Michael's Oprah Winfrey Show Interview (2004) |date=7 May 2019 |website=GM Forever |access-date=25 April 2021 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163407/https://gmforever.com/george-michael-oprah-winfrey-show-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On the show, Michael spoke of his arrest, the public revelation of his homosexuality, and his resumption of public performances. He allowed Oprah's crew inside his home outside London.<ref>[http://www.oprah.com/home/George-Michaels-House Inside George Michael's Home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123172444/http://www.oprah.com/home/George-Michaels-House |date=23 January 2011 }} Oprah.com, 1 January 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The fourth single taken off the album was "[[Flawless (Go to the City)|Flawless]]". It was a dance hit in Europe as well as North America, reaching No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Dance Club Play]] and becoming Michael's last No. 1 single on the US Dance chart.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> ''[[Twenty Five (album)|Twenty Five]]'' is Michael's second greatest hits album, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his music career.<ref>[http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7315902 George Michael – Twentyfive CD Album] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717002018/http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7315902 |date=17 July 2012 }} CD Universe, 28 November 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Released in November 2006 by [[Sony BMG]], it debuted at no. 1 in the UK.<ref>[http://www.everyhit.com/numberalb6.html Number 1 albums of the 2000s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516104503/http://www.everyhit.com/numberalb6.html |date=16 May 2011 }} everyHit.com, 16 March 2000. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>
 
[[File:George Michael 02 bis.jpg|left|thumb|Michael onstage in Munich, 2006]]
During the 2005 [[Live 8]] concert at [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]], London, Michael joined [[Paul McCartney]] on stage, harmonising on [[The Beatles]] classic "[[Drive My Car (song)|Drive My Car]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=George Michael Dead: Photos of His Life|url=https://www.billboard.com/photos/7633302/george-michael-photos|magazine=Billboard|date=26 December 2016|access-date=21 April 2020|archive-date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235215/https://www.billboard.com/photos/7633302/george-michael-photos|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006, Michael embarked on his first tour in 15 years, [[25 Live]]. The tour began in [[Barcelona]], Spain, on 23 September and finished in December at [[Wembley Arena]] in England.<ref name="25 Tour"/> On 9 June 2007, Michael became the first artist to perform live at the newly renovated [[Wembley Stadium]] in London.<ref name="Wembley">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6737693.stm "Michael makes history at Wembley"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924043852/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6737693.stm |date=24 September 2008 }}. BBC News. Retrieved 8 April 2015</ref> On 25 March 2008, a third part of the 25 Live Tour was announced for North America, with 21 dates in the US and Canada.<ref name="25 Tour">[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/george-michael-plays-final-major-shows-908094.html "George Michael plays "final" major shows"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203111343/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/george-michael-plays-final-major-shows-908094.html |date=3 December 2021 }}. ''The Independent''. Monday 25 August 2008</ref>
 
Michael made his American acting debut by playing a guardian angel to [[Jonny Lee Miller]]'s character on ''[[Eli Stone]]'', a US TV series. Each episode of the show's first season was named after a song of his. Michael also appeared on the 2008 finale show of ''[[American Idol]]'' on 21 May, singing "Praying for Time". When asked what he thought [[Simon Cowell]] would say of his performance, he replied "I think he'll probably tell me I shouldn't have done a George Michael song. He's told plenty of people that in the past, so I think that'd be quite funny."<ref>{{cite news|title=George Michael Regains His Faith |url=http://music.aol.ca/article/George-Michael-interview/554/ |work=AOL Music Canada |year=2008 |access-date=13 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531071913/http://music.aol.ca/article/George-Michael-interview/554/ |archive-date=31 May 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.channel24.co.za/Music/Features/24-Facts-George-Michael-20091127-4 24 Facts: George Michael] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008023218/http://www.channel24.co.za/Music/Features/24-Facts-George-Michael-20091127-4 |date=8 October 2011 }} Channel 24, 14 October 2010</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120922095231/http://www.spinner.com/2008/05/22/george-michael-reflects-on-his-own-american-idolatry/ George Michael Reflects on His Own American Idolatry] Spinner, 22 May 2008</ref> On 25 December 2008, Michael released a new Christmas-themed track, "[[December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)]]", on his website for free.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://torrentfreak.com/new-george-michael-track-survives-on-the-pirate-bay-081227/|title=New George Michael Track Survives on The Pirate Bay|publisher=TorrentFreak|date=27 December 2008|access-date=27 April 2009|archive-date=23 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623002323/http://torrentfreak.com/new-george-michael-track-survives-on-the-pirate-bay-081227/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
===2010s===
[[File:George Michael (2011).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Michael at the [[Royal Opera House]] in 2011]]
In early 2010, Michael performed his first concerts in Australia since 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgemichael.com/index.php?module=news&news_item_id=215 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128143845/http://georgemichael.com/index.php?module=news&news_item_id=215 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 November 2009 |title=2010 Australian Tour Announcement |publisher=GeorgeMichael.com |date=24 November 2009 |access-date=24 November 2009 }}</ref> On 20 February 2010, Michael performed his first show in [[Perth]] at the [[Burswood Dome]] to an audience of 15,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/george-michael-on-australian-stage/story-e6frf96f-1225832582934|title=George Michael on Australian stage|work=Herald Sun|date=21 February 2010|access-date=22 February 2010|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927183630/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/george-michael-on-australian-stage/news-story/318a96664dbc59a508b0db5658a5678d?nk=54567d1e350491230fea6edd93b36ed3-1601231790|url-status=live}}</ref> On 2 March 2011, Michael announced the release of his cover version of [[New Order (band)|New Order]]'s 1987 hit "[[True Faith (song)|True Faith]]" in aid of the UK charity telethon [[Comic Relief]].<ref>[https://www.nme.com/news/george-michael/55243 George Michael covers New Order's 'True Faith' for Comic Relief] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313064254/http://www.nme.com/news/george-michael/55243 |date=13 March 2015 }} ''NME'', 2 March 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Michael appeared on Comic Relief itself, featuring in the first [[Carpool Karaoke]] sketch of [[James Corden]], with the pair singing songs while Corden drove around London.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Michael in 'first' Carpool Karaoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38435578|publisher=BBC|date=26 December 2016|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=29 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229090320/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38435578|url-status=live}}</ref> On 15 April 2011, Michael released a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "[[You and I (We Can Conquer the World)|You and I]]", as an MP3 gift to [[Prince William]] and [[Catherine Middleton]] on the occasion of [[Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton|their wedding on 29 April 2011]]. Although the MP3 was released for free download,<ref name="gift">[http://www.georgemichael.com/news/news_items.aspx?PostId=323130 George Covers Stevie Wonder for Will & Kate] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902135521/http://www.georgemichael.com/news/news_items.aspx?PostId=323130 |date=2 September 2011 }} GeorgeMichael.com, 15 April 2011</ref> Michael appealed to those who downloaded the track to make a contribution to "The Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund".<ref>{{cite news |first=Jane |last=Fazackarley |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/305692 |title=George Michael releases Royal Wedding song |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=16 April 2011 |access-date=10 January 2017 |archive-date=13 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113015915/http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/305692 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
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| caption1 = Michael at the [[2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony#A Symphony of British Music (22:07–23:21)|closing ceremony]] of the 2012 London Summer Olympics
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The [[Symphonica Tour]] began at the [[Prague State Opera]] House on 22 August 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/first-night-george-michael--symphonica-tour-state-opera-house-prague-2342293.html|title=First Night: George Michael – Symphonica Tour, State Opera House, Prague|work=The Independent|___location=London|date=23 August 2011|access-date=23 August 2011|first=Ben|last=Walsh|archive-date=1 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201092644/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/first-night-george-michael--symphonica-tour-state-opera-house-prague-2342293.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2011, Michael was announced as one of the final nominees for the [[Songwriter's Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://songhall.org/news/entry/1281|title=Songwriters Hall of Fame 2012 Nominees For Induction Announced|date=18 October 2011|access-date=18 October 2011|publisher=Songwriters Hall of Fame|archive-date=18 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018184025/http://songhall.org/news/entry/1281|url-status=live}}</ref> In November, he had to cancel the remainder of the tour as he became ill with [[pneumonia]] in Vienna, Austria, ultimately slipping into a coma.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://viennatimes.at/news/General_News/2011-11-25/27779/George_Michael%27s_condition_worsened_overnight_say_doctors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127202805/http://viennatimes.at/news/General_News/2011-11-25/27779/George_Michael%27s_condition_worsened_overnight_say_doctors |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 November 2011 |title=George Michael's condition worsened overnight say doctors |work=Vienna Times |access-date=31 December 2011 }}</ref>
 
In February 2012, two months after leaving hospital, Michael made a surprise appearance at the [[2012 Brit Awards]] at [[The O2 Arena|the O<sub>2</sub> Arena]] in London, where he received a standing ovation, and presented [[Adele]] the award for Best British Album.<ref>[https://www.standard.co.uk/news/standard-pictures/the-brit-awards-2012-7446728.html?action=gallery&ino=2 "2012 BRIT Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005200634/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/standard-pictures/the-brit-awards-2012-7446728.html?action=gallery&ino=2 |date=5 October 2018 }}. ''London Evening Standard''. Retrieved 16 December 2014</ref> In March, Michael announced that he was healthy and that the Symphonica Tour would resume in autumn.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/george-michael-has-rescheduled-the-tour-dates-767216|title=George Michael reschedules cancelled tour dates after beating pneumonia|first=Jo|last=Usmar|date=20 March 2012|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=13 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213195309/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/george-michael-has-rescheduled-the-tour-dates-767216|url-status=live}}</ref> The final concert of the tour—which was also the final concert of Michael's life–was performed at London's [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court]] on 17 October 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Flashback: George Michael Plays Final Encore at Last Concert|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/watch-george-michael-play-final-encore-at-last-concert-w457757|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=21 March 2018|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321193039/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/watch-george-michael-play-final-encore-at-last-concert-w457757|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
''[[Symphonica (George Michael album)|Symphonica]]'' was released on 17 March 2014, and became Michael's seventh solo No. 1 album in the UK, and ninth overall including his Wham! chart-toppers. The album was produced by Phil Ramone and Michael; the album was Ramone's last production credit.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26706230 |title=George Michael beats Kylie to top album chart |date=23 February 2014 |publisher=BBC |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029035559/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26706230 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 2 November 2016, Michael's management team announced that a second documentary on his life, entitled ''Freedom'', was set to be released in March 2017.<ref name="InstagramFreedomDoc">: {{cite web|work=[[Instagram]]|title=George Michael on Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BMUccRPg4Ow/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BMUccRPg4Ow |archive-date=23 December 2021 |url-access=subscription|access-date=22 January 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/george-michael-dead-new-album-film_uk_5860f47de4b0f24da6e7b2c6 "George Michael Dead: Star Had Promised Comeback Album For 2017, And Film 'Freedom' About Sony Court Battle"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227130618/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/george-michael-dead-new-album-film_uk_5860f47de4b0f24da6e7b2c6 |date=27 December 2016 }}. ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved 27 December 2016</ref> A month after, English songwriter [[Naughty Boy]] confirmed plans to collaborate with Michael, for a new song and album.<ref name="naughtyboy1">{{cite web|work=NME|title=George Michael planned to release new album in 2017|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/george-michael-new-album-2017-1924178|access-date=22 January 2017|date=26 December 2016|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202091735/http://www.nme.com/news/music/george-michael-new-album-2017-1924178|url-status=live}}</ref> Naughty Boy claimed that the song is "amazing but [...] bittersweet".<ref name="naughtyboy2">{{cite web|work=BBC Newsbeat|title=Naughty Boy 'won't rule out' releasing his George Michael collaboration|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/38682665/naughty-boy-wont-rule-out-releasing-his-george-michael-collaboration|access-date=28 February 2017|date=19 January 2017|archive-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213024359/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/38682665/naughty-boy-wont-rule-out-releasing-his-george-michael-collaboration|url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 September 2017 (months after Michael's death), the single "[[Fantasy (George Michael song)|Fantasy]]", featuring [[Nile Rodgers]], was released.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/sep/07/george-michael-new-single-fantasy-nile-rodgers|title=George Michael's new single Fantasy – a rework full of sex, funk and fabulousness|first=Ben|last=Beaumont-Thomas|date=7 September 2017|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=10 October 2017|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010031441/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/sep/07/george-michael-new-single-fantasy-nile-rodgers|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Having charted at number two upon its release in 1984 (behind Band Aid's "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" which Michael also performed in), "Last Christmas" finally reached number-one in the UK Singles Chart on New Year's Day 2021 (chart week ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 years after its initial release.<ref name=Beaumont-Thomas-2021>{{cite web |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=1 January 2021 |title=Last Christmas by Wham! reaches No 1 for first time after 36 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/01/last-christmas-by-wham-reaches-no-1-for-first-time-after-36-years |website=The Guardian |___location=London |access-date=6 January 2021 |archive-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101211212/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/01/last-christmas-by-wham-reaches-no-1-for-first-time-after-36-years |url-status=live }}</ref> Andrew Ridgeley said the chart placing was "a testament to its timeless appeal and charm", adding: "It is a fitting tribute to George's song-writing genius... he would have been immensely proud and utterly thrilled."<ref name=Beaumont-Thomas-2021/> The period of 36 years taken to reach number one was a UK chart record, which would be surpassed by [[Kate Bush]] with "[[Running Up That Hill]]" in June 2022 which took 37 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill is Official Charts Number 1 Single: Singer becomes 3 x Official Charts Record Breaker with Stranger Things success |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/kate-bushs-running-up-that-hill-is-official-charts-number-1-single-singer-becomes-3-x-official-charts-record-breaker-with-stranger-things-success__36605/ |access-date=17 June 2022 |publisher=Official Charts Company |archive-date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617193926/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/kate-bushs-running-up-that-hill-is-official-charts-number-1-single-singer-becomes-3-x-official-charts-record-breaker-with-stranger-things-success__36605/ |url-status=live }}</ref> "Last Christmas" would become the [[List of UK singles chart Christmas number ones|UK Christmas number one]] for the first time in 2023, and it hit number one again at Christmas in 2024, making it the first song to top the Christmas chart in consecutive years, and become only the third song to top the festive chart more than once after Queen's "[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" and "Do They Know It's Christmas?".<ref>{{cite news |title=Wham! are Christmas number one for a second time |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dp6y31qppo |access-date=20 December 2024 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
 
==Posthumous releases==
On 7 September 2017, Michael's estate released the single "[[Fantasy (George Michael song)|Fantasy]]". Written and produced by Michael, it was recorded while he was working on ''[[Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1]]''. However, the track was not included on the album. Instead in October 1990, it was featured on the "[[Waiting for That Day]]" single in the United Kingdom and on the "[[Freedom! '90]]" single in the rest of the world.<ref name="rel">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/sep/07/george-michael-new-single-fantasy-nile-rodgers|title=George Michael's new single Fantasy – a rework full of sex, funk and fabulousness|work=[[The Guardian]]|author=Ben Beaumont-Thomas|date=7 September 2017|accessdate=17 October 2017|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010031441/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/sep/07/george-michael-new-single-fantasy-nile-rodgers|url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 September 2017, a new version reworked by [[Nile Rodgers]] was released as a single from ''[[Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1|Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged]]'' (2017).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-george-michael-nile-rodgers-spirited-fantasy-remake-w501632|title=Encore Hear George Michael's Posthumous 'Fantasy' Remake With Nile Rodgers|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|author=Jon Blistein|date=7 September 2017|accessdate=17 October 2017|archive-date=17 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017075846/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-george-michael-nile-rodgers-spirited-fantasy-remake-w501632|url-status=live}}</ref> The album includes the original version of "Fantasy" and the 1998 version;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Listen-Without-Prejudice-Unplugged-Region/dp/B01LQV2Z7C/|title=Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (Region Free) Box set|website=Amazon UK |accessdate=17 October 2017|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018071816/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Listen-Without-Prejudice-Unplugged-Region/dp/B01LQV2Z7C|url-status=live}}</ref> the Nile Rodgers remix was not included on the disc but was made available to purchasers as a digital download. On 18 October 2017, a music video was released on [[Vevo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWk7ykBdIA8|title=George Michael – Fantasy (Official Video) ft. Nile Rodgers|date=18 October 2017 |via=YouTube|accessdate=11 November 2022|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111152610/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWk7ykBdIA8|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In 2019, the [[Emma Thompson]]-written film ''[[Last Christmas (film)|Last Christmas]]'' was released. The title of the film is taken from the Wham! classic. An official soundtrack album was released by [[Legacy Recordings]] on CD, two-disc [[LP record|vinyl]], and digital formats on 8 November 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/last-christmas-soundtrack-track-list-8532167|title='Last Christmas' Soundtrack Track List: See It Here|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=4 October 2019|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509144516/https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/pop/8532167/last-christmas-soundtrack-track-list|url-status=live}}</ref> The album contains 14 [[Wham!]] and solo George Michael songs, as well as a previously unreleased song originally completed in 2015 titled "[[This Is How (We Want You to Get High)]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50314620|title=George Michael: Upbeat new song premieres on Radio 2|first=Mark|last=Savage|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=6 November 2019|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=6 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106123331/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/entertainment-arts-50314620|url-status=live}}</ref> The soundtrack album debuted at number one on the UK Official Soundtrack Albums Chart and at number 11 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] on 15 November 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/soundtrack-albums-chart/|title=Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50|website=[[Official Charts Company]]|date=15 November 2019|access-date=17 November 2019|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224203832/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/soundtrack-albums-chart/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/|title=Official Albums Chart Top 100|website=Official Charts Company|date=15 November 2019|access-date=17 November 2019|archive-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830181650/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/|url-status=live}}</ref> It also entered the [[Australian Albums Chart]] at number seven,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/42D2221C9EBF51A9475827FBE90A04C7D5DB52B9DAB1C71574EEED462A122E21/ARIA%20Albums%20Chart.pdf?seq=26|title=ARIA ALBUMS CHART|website=[[ARIA Charts]]|date=11 November 2019|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111152610/http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/42D2221C9EBF51A9475827FBE90A04C7D5DB52B9DAB1C71574EEED462A122E21/ARIA%20Albums%20Chart.pdf?seq=26|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Irish Albums Chart]], where it debuted at number 32, climbing to number 26 the following week, and at number 55 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-albums-chart/|title=Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50|website=Official Charts Company|date=November 2019|access-date=26 November 2019|archive-date=30 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830100852/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-albums-chart/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200|title=Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|date=November 2019|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=2 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702172558/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On 22 June 2022, the documentary film ''Freedom Uncut'' was released. Michael had been working on the film shortly before his death, alongside [[David Austin (singer)|David Austin]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/arts/music/george-michael-freedom-uncut.html|title=George Michael Preferred Music to Fame. The Doc He Made Does, Too.|website=The New York Times|date=22 June 2022|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111153423/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/arts/music/george-michael-freedom-uncut.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and provides the narration throughout.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2022-06-15/never-before-seen-footage-of-george-michael-in-new-film-freedom-uncut|title=Never-before-seen footage of George Michael in new film Freedom Uncut|publisher=ITV|last=Davda|first=Rishi|date=15 June 2022|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111153232/https://www.itv.com/news/2022-06-15/never-before-seen-footage-of-george-michael-in-new-film-freedom-uncut|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[NME]]'', ''[[The Guardian]]'' and ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' all praised the film and rated it 4/5 stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/george-michael-freedom-uncut-review-hes-still-a-fascinating-mass-of-contradictions-3253261|title='George Michael Freedom Uncut' review: he's still a fascinating mass of contradictions|website=NME|last=Levine|first=Nick|date=22 June 2022|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111153224/https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/george-michael-freedom-uncut-review-hes-still-a-fascinating-mass-of-contradictions-3253261|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/george-michael-freedom-uncut-2/|title=An extended cut of George Michael's self-co-directed TV documentary, completed and broadcast mere months after his untimely death on Christmas Day 2016.|website=Empire|last=Beardsworth|first=Liz|date=23 June 2022|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111153224/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/george-michael-freedom-uncut-2/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/22/george-michael-freedom-uncut-review-pop-hero-lets-it-all-hang-out|title=George Michael: Freedom Uncut review – pop hero lets it all hang out|website=The Guardian|date=22 June 2022|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111153227/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/22/george-michael-freedom-uncut-review-pop-hero-lets-it-all-hang-out|url-status=live}}</ref> On 30 September 2022, a remastered and expanded version of ''[[Older (George Michael album)|Older]]'' was released comprising the original ''Older'' album, the ''Upper'' disc and three bonus CDs, containing remixes and live recordings of ''Older''-era tracks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sony Music Celebrate George Michael's Iconic Album, Older |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2022/09/16/sony-music-george-michael-older/ |website=Wonderland |access-date=30 September 2022 |date=16 September 2022 |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930180359/https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2022/09/16/sony-music-george-michael-older/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The album charted at number 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart Top 100 on 7 October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20221007/7502/|title=Official Albums Chart Top 100 07 October 2022 – 13 October 2022|website=Official Charts|date=7 October 2022|access-date=11 November 2022|archive-date=16 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016032457/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20221007/7502/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Personal life==
===SexualSexuality orientationand relationships===
Michael stated that his early fantasies were about women, which "led me to believe I was on the path to [[heterosexuality]]", but at puberty he started to [[Sexual fantasy|fantasise]] about men, which he later said "had something to do with my environment". At the age of 19, Michael told Andrew Ridgeley that he was [[bisexual]].<ref name="gq-magazine.co.uk">{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Jane |url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/men-of-the-year/home/hall-of-fame/george-michael-interview |title=George Michael on beating drugs, depression and his outing in LA – October 2004 |publisher=GQ magazine |date=October 2004 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=20 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920091856/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/men-of-the-year/home/hall-of-fame/george-michael-interview |url-status=live }}</ref> Michael also told one of his two sisters, but he was advised not to tell his parents about his sexuality.<ref name="Andrew Johnson"/> In 1998, not long after he was [[outed]] for his sexuality, Michael said on ''[[Parkinson (TV series)|Parkinson]]'' that he became confident he was [[Homosexuality|gay]] when he fell in love with a man.<ref>{{Citation |title=George Michael Honest Interview – 1998 | date=27 February 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkqzdAH0tvA |access-date=2 August 2023 |language=en |archive-date=2 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802061159/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkqzdAH0tvA |url-status=live }}</ref> This stance was reiterated in a 1999 interview with ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]'', where Michael told the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, that it was "falling in love with a man that ended his conflict over bisexuality".
Michael was initially private about his sexual orientation, with rumours of relationships with high-profile women like [[Brooke Shields]], Whoopi Goldberg and backing dancers common [[tabloid]] fodder during his ''Wham!'' career.
"I never had a moral problem with being gay", Michael told her. "I thought I had fallen in love with a woman a couple of times. Then I fell in love with a man, and realised that none of those things had been love."<ref name="Wieder">{{cite book|title=Celebrity: The Advocate Interviews |last=Wieder|first=Judy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wciFOQAACAAJ |editor-last=Wieder|editor-first=Judy|year=2001|publisher=Advocate Books|___location=New York|isbn=978-1-55583-722-8|page=15}}</ref>
 
In 2004, Michael said, "I used to sleep with women quite a lot in the Wham! days but never felt it could develop into a relationship because I knew that, emotionally, I was a gay man. I didn't want to commit to them, but I was attracted to them. Then I became ashamed that I might be using them. I decided I had to stop, which I did when I began to worry about AIDS, which was becoming prevalent in Britain. Although I had always had [[safe sex]], I didn't want to sleep with a woman without telling her I was bisexual. I felt that would be irresponsible. Basically, I didn't want to have that uncomfortable conversation that might ruin the moment, so I stopped sleeping with them." In the same interview, he added: "If I wasn't with Kenny [his boyfriend at the time], I would have sex with women, no question". He said he believed that the formation of his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via the absence of my father who was always busy working. It meant I was exceptionally close to my mother", though he stated that "there are definitely those who have a predisposition to being gay in which the environment is irrelevant."<ref name="gq-magazine.co.uk"/> In 2007, Michael said he had hidden his sexuality because of worries over what effect it might have on his mother.<ref name="Andrew Johnson">{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Johnson|title=George Michael: Why I had to keep my homosexuality secret|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/george-michael-why-i-had-to-keep-my-homosexuality-secret-403989.html|work=The Independent|___location=London|date=30 September 2007|access-date=15 February 2008|archive-date=17 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517055242/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/george-michael-why-i-had-to-keep-my-homosexuality-secret-403989.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Two years later, he added: "My depression at the end of Wham! was because I was beginning to realise I was gay, not bisexual."<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/george-michael-an-exclusi_b_157401.html|title=Johann Hari: George Michael: An Exclusive Interview|work=HuffPost|date=13 January 2009|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-date=23 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323070944/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/george-michael-an-exclusi_b_157401.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
These persisted into his solo career, but Michael had already established a relationship with a male [[Brazil|Brazilian]] dress designer, Anselmo Feleppa, whom he had met at the 1991 concert ''"Rock in Rio"''. Michael and Feleppa enjoyed a loving relationship, but after two years Feleppa died of a [[brain haemorrhage]] in [[1993]]. Michael's single "[[Jesus To A Child]]" is a direct tribute to Feleppa (he consistently dedicates it to him before performing it live), as is his 1996 album ''"Older."''
 
During the late 1980s, Michael had a relationship with make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded for a time as his artistic [[Muse (person)|"muse"]] and who appeared in the "[[I Want Your Sex]]" video.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38432981 George Michael: Six songs that defined his life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003211257/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38432981/ |date=3 October 2020 }}, BBC, 26 December 2016</ref> Michael later said that she had been his "only bona fide" girlfriend, and that she knew of his bisexuality.<ref name="gq-magazine.co.uk"/> In 2016, Jeung reacted to Michael's death by calling him a "true friend" with whom she had spent "some of the best time of [her] life".<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7633328/george-michael-dead-music-video-women-memories-photos George Michael's Leading Ladies Share Memories, Photos of '90s Video Heyday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819165934/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7633328/george-michael-dead-music-video-women-memories-photos |date=19 August 2020 }}, ''Billboard.com'', 26 December 2016</ref>
Questions of his sexual orientation persisted in public, until 7 April 1998, when he was arrested for "[[cottaging|engaging in a lewd act]]" in a public toilet in a park in Beverly Hills, California. He was arrested by an [[undercover]] policeman named Marcelo Rodriguez
 
In 1991, Michael established a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress designer whom he had met at the [[Rock in Rio]] concert in January that year. Six months into their relationship, Feleppa discovered that he was [[HIV/AIDS|HIV-positive]]. Michael later said: "It was terrifying news. I thought I could have the disease too. I couldn't go through it with my family because I didn't know how to share it with them – they didn't even know I was gay."<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/> In 1993, Feleppa died of an AIDS-related [[brain haemorrhage]].<ref name="thebiographychannel.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/george-michael.html|title=George Michael – Biography on Bio|publisher=Thebiographychannel.co.uk|access-date=17 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025134538/http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/george-michael.html|archive-date=25 October 2012}}</ref> Michael's single, "[[Jesus to a Child]]", is a tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it to him before performing it live), as is his album ''[[Older (George Michael album)|Older]]'' (1996).<ref name="Hello">{{cite web|url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/georgemichael/|title=Latest news and profile of George Michael|work=Hello!|access-date=12 September 2011|archive-date=16 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216104729/http://hellomagazine.com/profiles/georgemichael/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, speaking about the loss of Feleppa, Michael said: "It was a terribly depressing time. It took about three years to grieve, then after that I lost my mother. I felt almost like I was cursed."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a114785/michael-music-saved-me-from-depression.html|title=Michael: 'Music saved me from depression'|work=Digital Spy|date=24 July 2008|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-date=9 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509011610/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a114785/michael-music-saved-me-from-depression.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
:George Michael: ''"Well, I was followed into the restroom, and then, this cop – well, I didn't know he was a cop at the time, obviously – he started playing this game. I think it's called ‘I'll show you mine, you show me yours, and then when you show me yours, I'm gonna nick you!'"''<ref>http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/people/110998pe.htm</ref>
 
In 1996, Michael entered into a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss, a former flight attendant, cheerleading coach,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unt.edu/northtexan/archives/f03/cheerextrafb.htm|title=Cheerleader feedback|publisher=University of North Texas|date=Fall 2003|access-date=27 April 2009|archive-date=2 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702123907/http://www.unt.edu/northtexan/archives/f03/cheerextrafb.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and sportswear executive from [[Dallas]], Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.home.no/cheznobby/id50.htm|title=Kenny|work=Chez Nobby|access-date=27 April 2009|archive-date=16 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141739/http://www.home.no/cheznobby/id50.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> They had a home in Dallas,<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=146309|title=Goss Gallery to Open in Dallas Featuring International Contemporary Art|publisher=Goss Gallery|agency=PR Newswire|access-date=27 April 2009}}</ref> a 16th-century house in [[Goring-on-Thames]], Oxfordshire,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXbJUagH_Kw| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619101235/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXbJUagH_Kw&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=19 June 2012 | url-status=dead|title=Oprah.-.2004.05.26.-.George.Michael(SVCD).mpg|last=BeeTheArtist|date=7 December 2011|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-home/2005/may-june/pop-star-george-michael-and-kenny-goss-at-home/|title=Pop Star George Michael and Kenny Goss At Home|work=D Magazine|date=May–June 2005|access-date=29 December 2016|archive-date=29 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229170658/http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-home/2005/may-june/pop-star-george-michael-and-kenny-goss-at-home/|url-status=live}}</ref> and an £8&nbsp;million mansion in [[Highgate]], [[North London]].<ref name="thebiographychannel.co.uk"/> In late November 2005, it was reported that Michael and Goss planned to register their relationship as a [[Civil partnership in the United Kingdom|civil partnership in the UK]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4483552.stm|title=George Michael to 'marry' partner|work=BBC News|date=29 November 2005|access-date=27 April 2009|archive-date=27 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327121126/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4483552.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> but because of negative publicity and his upcoming tour, they postponed their plans.<ref name=BBC20060726>{{cite news|title=Michael issues 'marriage' denial|date=26 July 2006|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5216598.stm|access-date=28 October 2009|archive-date=15 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115043110/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5216598.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 22 August 2011, the opening night of his [[Symphonica Tour]], Michael announced that he and Goss had split two years earlier.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Ward|first=Kate|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/08/23/george-michael-kenny-goss-break-up/|title=George Michael announces break-up with Kenny Goss during emotional performance|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=23 August 2011|access-date=12 September 2011|archive-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209004253/http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/08/23/george-michael-kenny-goss-break-up/|url-status=live}}</ref>
After pleading "[[Nolo contendere|no contest]]" to the charge, Michael was fined $810 and sentenced to 80 hours of [[community service]]. Soon afterwards, Michael made a video for his single "[[Outside (song)|Outside]]" which was clearly based on the public toilet incident and which featured men dressed up as policemen [[kiss]]ing. Rodriguez, the police officer, claimed that this video "mocked" him, and also that Michael had [[slander]]ed him in interviews, and in 1999 brought a $10 million court case in California against the singer who has amassed an estimated personal fortune of 70 million pounds ($100 million).The court dismissed the case on the grounds related to the officer's status as a public official, but an [[appeals court]] reinstated the case on 3 December 2002.<ref>http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/6BEA0A1BA36F0D2A88256C84000643EA/$file/0056923.pdf?openelement</ref>
 
Michael's homosexuality became publicly known following his April 1998 arrest for public lewdness.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/music/george-michael-kenny-goss-remembers/|title=Kenny Goss Talks the Highs and Lows of Life with Former Love George Michael|work=People|last=Boucher|first=Phil|date=8 May 2017|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923124224/https://people.com/music/george-michael-kenny-goss-remembers/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, Michael said "that hiding his sexuality made him feel 'fraudulent', and his eventual outing, when he was arrested [...] in 1998, was a subconsciously deliberate act."<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Andrew|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/george-michael-why-i-had-to-keep-my-homosexuality-secret-403989.html|title=George Michael: Why I had to keep my homosexuality secret|newspaper=The Independent|date=30 September 2007|access-date=17 December 2012|___location=London|archive-date=17 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517055242/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/george-michael-why-i-had-to-keep-my-homosexuality-secret-403989.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Michael entered a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity hairstylist and freelance photographer based in London.<ref name=usmagazine>{{Cite news|first=Megan|last=French|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/george-michaels-partner-breaks-his-silence-on-singers-death-w457823|title=George Michael's Partner Fadi Fawaz Breaks His Silence on Musician's Death|work=US Magazine|date=26 December 2016|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227081619/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/george-michaels-partner-breaks-his-silence-on-singers-death-w457823|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=peoplemagazine>{{Cite news|first=Aurelie|last=Corinthios|url=http://people.com/music/george-michael-found-dead-boyfriend-bed-fadi-fawaz/|title=George Michael Was Found Dead in Bed by His Boyfriend Fadi Fawaz: 'I Will Never Stop Missing You'|work=People|date=26 December 2016|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227075423/https://people.com/music/george-michael-found-dead-boyfriend-bed-fadi-fawaz/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was Fawaz who found Michael's body on Christmas morning 2016.<ref name=etmagazine>{{Cite news|first=Emily|last=Krauser|url=http://www.etonline.com/news/205831_george_michael_found_dead_bed_by_boyfriend_fadi_fawaz_christmas_morning/|title=George Michael's Boyfriend Fadi Fawaz Says He Found Singer Dead in Bed on Christmas Morning: 'I Will Never Forget'|work=ET Magazine|date=26 December 2016|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227081909/http://www.etonline.com/news/205831_george_michael_found_dead_bed_by_boyfriend_fadi_fawaz_christmas_morning/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=yahoonews>{{Cite news|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/33664673/fadi-fawaz-george-michaels-australian-boyfriend-found-him-dead-in-bed/#page1|title='I will never stop missing you': George Michael's Australian boyfriend found him dead in bed|publisher=Yahoo7 News|date=27 December 2016|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227131920/https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/33664673/fadi-fawaz-george-michaels-australian-boyfriend-found-him-dead-in-bed/#page1|url-status=live}}</ref>
After that incident he became open about his [[homosexuality]] and became public about his relationship with Kenny Goss; a former cheerleader coach<ref>http://www.unt.edu/northtexan/archives/f03/cheerextrafb.htm</ref> and later sports clothing executive, originally from Dallas, Texas;<ref>http://www.home.no/cheznobby/id50.htm</ref> his partner to this date. Goss opened the ''Goss Gallery'' in May 2005 in Dallas, which shows contemporary works of art including those collected by the couple. They have homes in London and Dallas.<ref>http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=146309</ref> In late November 2005 it was reported that Michael and Goss would register their relationship as a [[civil partnership]] in the UK<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4483552.stm</ref> - but due to negative publicity and his upcoming tour, Goss and Michael have postponed it to a later date.<ref>http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004210623,00.html</ref>
 
===DrugsLegal troubles===
On 7 April 1998, Michael was arrested for "[[Cottaging|engaging in a lewd act]]" in a public restroom of the [[Will Rogers Memorial Park]] in [[Beverly Hills, California]].<ref>Sue McAllister, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-09-me-37715-story.html Pop Singer George Michael Arrested in Restroom of Beverly Hills Park], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 9 April 1998</ref><ref>John M. Glionna, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-29-me-54502-story.html Beverly Hills Steps Up Patrols to Stop Cruising], ''Los Angeles Times'', 29 May 1998</ref> Michael was arrested by undercover policeman Marcelo Rodríguez in a [[sting operation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/76011.stm|title=George Michael goes to ground|work=BBC News|access-date=29 December 2016|archive-date=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230160917/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/76011.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In an MTV interview, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom and then this cop—I didn't know it was a cop, obviously—he started playing this game, which I think is called, 'I'll show you mine, you show me yours, and then when you show me yours, I'm going to [[wikt:nick#Verb|nick]] you!'"<ref>Rex Wockner [http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/people/110998pe.htm George Michael's Tearoom Tale] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707204317/http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/people/110998pe.htm |date=7 July 2011 }} Gay Today, 9 November 1998</ref>
Michael has admitted to problems with depression, which he has tried to cope with by taking [[Prozac]], smoking [[cannabis]], and at one time buying a [[Labrador Retriever]], which died in the [[Thames]].
 
[[File:George Michael in OAKA stadium Athens (3).jpg|thumb|Michael performing "[[Outside (George Michael song)|Outside]]" at the [[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Olympic Stadium]], Athens in 2007]]
During 2006, a series of incidents occurred which suggested he was still in turmoil. On 26 February 2006, Michael was arrested for possession of [[Misuse of Drugs Act 1971#Class C drugs|Class C drugs]], an incident that he described as "my own stupid fault, as usual." He was cautioned by the police and released.<ref>http://articles.news.aol.com/music/article.adp?id=20060227023809990006</ref><ref>http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/27/george.slumped.ap/</ref>
After pleading "[[no contest]]" to the charge, Michael was fined US$810 and sentenced to 80 hours of [[community service]]. Soon afterwards, Michael made a video for his single "[[Outside (George Michael song)|Outside]]", which satirised the public toilet incident and featured men dressed as policemen kissing. Rodríguez claimed that this video "mocked" him, and that Michael had slandered him in interviews. In 1999, he brought a US$10&nbsp;million court case in California against the singer. The court dismissed the case, but an [[appellate court]] reinstated it on 3 December 2002.<ref>{{cite web |first=A. Wallace |last=Tashima |title=Marcelo Rodriguez v Georgios Kyriacos Panagiotou |format=PDF |publisher=United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit |url=http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/6BEA0A1BA36F0D2A88256C84000643EA/$file/0056923.pdf?openelement |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222154503/http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/6BEA0A1BA36F0D2A88256C84000643EA/%24file/0056923.pdf?openelement |archive-date=22 December 2005 |date=3 December 2002 |access-date=15 February 2008 |author-link=A. Wallace Tashima |url-status=dead }}</ref> The court then ruled that Rodríguez, as a public official, could not legally recover damages for emotional distress.<ref>"George Bust 'Bad Karma' Says US Cop", ''Sunday Star'', 5 March 2006</ref>
 
On 23 July 2006, Michael was again accused of engaging in [[anonymous sex|anonymous public sex]], this time at London's [[Hampstead Heath]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5222652.stm Star to sue over 'cruising' claim] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729201952/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5222652.stm |date=29 July 2009 }} BBC News, 28 July 2006. Retrieved 28 October 2009</ref> Michael stated that his [[cruising for sex|cruising for anonymous sex]] was not an issue in his relationship with partner Kenny Goss.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110711080023/http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=7912 Quote UnQuote]. ''Gay and Lesbian Times'', 10 August 2006. Retrieved 28 October 2009</ref>
On 15 May 2006, Michael was found slumped over the wheel of his [[Range Rover]], photographed apparently snoozing at traffic lights in London. He awoke after a member of the public knocked on his window for five minutes "sweating heavily and had his iPod on". He drove off weaving up the road, and then hit a traffic bollard. Later the same month, he was questioned by police after shunting three cars in the street in which he lives.<ref>http://www.myvillage.com/pages/celebs-georgemichael.htm</ref>
 
In February 2006, Michael was arrested for possession of [[Class C drugs]], an incident that he described as "my own stupid fault, as usual". He was cautioned by the police and released.<ref name=PinkBenjamin2006 >{{Cite news|title=George Michael: "arrest my own stupid fault"|last=Cohen|first=Benjamin|date=27 February 2006|newspaper=Pink News|access-date=20 November 2009|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-626.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825033720/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-626.html|archive-date=25 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, he pleaded guilty to [[drug-impaired driving]] after obstructing the road at traffic lights in Cricklewood in northwest London, and was subsequently banned from driving for two years and sentenced to community service.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641264521 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141745/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641264521 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 December 2008 |title=Pop Star Pleads Guilty To Drug-Drive Charge |publisher=Sky News |access-date=27 April 2009 |date=8 May 2007 }}</ref> On 19 September 2008, Michael was arrested in a public convenience in the Hampstead Heath area for possession of Class A and C drugs. He was taken to the police station and cautioned for controlled substance possession.<ref name="George Michael arrest over drugs">{{cite news|title=George Michael arrest over drugs|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7627636.stm|date=20 September 2008|access-date=20 September 2008|work=BBC News|archive-date=14 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814182731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7627636.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the early hours of 1 October 2006, Michael was found unconscious in his [[Mercedes-Benz W221|Mercedes-Benz S-Class]] car, causing an obstruction at the junction of Cricklewood Lane with Hendon Way, in northwest London. Police found Michael slumped in his seat in a semi-conscious state. He was taken to the Royal Free Hospital in [[Hampstead]] for checks, and was then booked in at [[Colindale]] police station. He was later cautioned by the police for possession of cannabis, and was released on bail pending further inquiries on his fitness to drive.<ref>http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-10-02T054737Z_01_L02866398_RTRUKOC_0_UK-MICHAEL.xml</ref><ref>http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2006450634,00.html</ref> He pleaded guilty on May 8, 2007. <ref>http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,70131-1264521,00.html</ref>
 
In the early hours of 4 July 2010, Michael was returning from the [[Gay Pride]] parade, when he was spotted on CCTV crashing his car into the front of a [[Snappy Snaps]] store in Hampstead, north London, and was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive.<ref name="George Michael Arrested">{{cite web|url=http://skyliving.sky.com/celebrity/george-michael-arrested|title=George Michael Arrested|publisher=Sky Living HD|access-date=6 July 2010|archive-date=26 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626151950/http://skyliving.sky.com/celebrity/george-michael-arrested|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Paine">{{cite magazine|first=Andre|last=Paine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957509/george-michael-arrested-after-london-car-crash|title=George Michael Arrested After London Car Crash|magazine=Billboard|date=6 July 2010|access-date=12 August 2010|archive-date=4 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704213942/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957509/george-michael-arrested-after-london-car-crash|url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 August, London's [[Metropolitan Police]] said he was "charged with possession of cannabis and with driving while unfit through drink or drugs".<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956899/george-michael-charged-with-drug-driving-offenses George Michael Charged With Drug, Driving Offenses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820023059/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956899/george-michael-charged-with-drug-driving-offenses |date=20 August 2020 }} ''Billboard'', 12 August 2010</ref> It was reported that Michael had also been taking the prescription [[tricyclic antidepressant]] medication [[amitriptyline]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23877664-george-michael-faces-jail-over-drug-driving-crash.do |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916001545/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23877664-george-michael-faces-jail-over-drug-driving-crash.do |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 September 2010 |title=George Michael gets eight weeks in jail for drug driving crash |first=Paul |last=Cheston |date=14 September 2010 |work=Evening Standard |access-date=10 October 2010 }}</ref> On 24 August 2010, the singer pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in London after admitting driving under the influence of drugs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11070361|title=George Michael pleads guilty to driving under the influence of drugs|work=BBC News|date=24 August 2010|access-date=12 September 2011|archive-date=24 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124164016/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11070361|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 September 2010, at the same court, Michael was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, a fine, and a five-year ban from driving.<ref name="BBC Jailed">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11299938|title=George Michael jailed for eight weeks for drug driving|work=BBC News|access-date=14 September 2010|date=14 September 2010|archive-date=15 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915041903/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11299938|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/8002310/George-Michael-jailed-for-eight-weeks.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917125919/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/8002310/George-Michael-jailed-for-eight-weeks.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 September 2010|title=George Michael jailed for eight weeks|work=The Daily Telegraph|___location=London|date=14 September 2010|access-date=14 September 2010}}</ref> Michael was released from [[HM Prison Highpoint South|Highpoint Prison]] in Suffolk on 11 October 2010, after serving four weeks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/8055522/George-Michael-released-from-prison.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013234634/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/8055522/George-Michael-released-from-prison.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|___location=London|date=11 October 2010|access-date=11 October 2010|title=George Michael released from prison}}</ref> In the dent in the shop wall Michael had crashed into, someone wrote the graffito "Wham!".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/24/george-michael-pleads-guilty-to-drug-offenses/|work=The Washington Times|___location=Washington|date=24 August 2010|access-date=9 May 2021|title=George Michael pleads guilty to drug offenses|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509065829/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/24/george-michael-pleads-guilty-to-drug-offenses/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Michael's long term partner Kenny Goss has also been treated for dependence on prescription sleeping medication, checking into an [[Arizona]]-based clinic for two months in June 2004 after encouragement from Michael.<ref>http://www.planetgeorge.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1016&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=</ref>
 
===Health===
===Relationship with fellow artists===
Michael struggled with substance abuse for many years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/26/george-michael-died-alone-boyfriend-reveals-battled-secret-heroin/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/26/george-michael-died-alone-boyfriend-reveals-battled-secret-heroin/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=George Michael's boyfriend reveals he died alone at home, amid claims he had battled heroin habit |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=28 December 2016|access-date=23 September 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Guthrie">{{cite news|url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/2016/12/27/george-michael-drugs/|title=Drugs, depression, weight gain: George Michael's challenging final years|newspaper=The New Daily|last=Guthrie|first=Susannah|date=27 December 2016|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923124038/https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/2016/12/27/george-michael-drugs/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was arrested for drug-related offences in 2006,<ref name=PinkBenjamin2006/> 2008<ref name="George Michael arrest over drugs"/> and 2010.<ref name="George Michael Arrested"/><ref name="Paine"/> In September 2007, on BBC Radio 4's ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'', Michael said that his [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] use was a problem; he wished he could smoke less of it and was constantly trying to do so.<ref name="Drug is a problem, Michael admits">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7018682.stm|title=Drug is a problem, Michael admits|work=BBC News|date=30 September 2007|access-date=27 April 2009|archive-date=3 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103173317/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7018682.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 December 2009, in an interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', Michael explained he had cut back on cannabis and was smoking only "seven or eight" [[spliffs]] per day instead of the 25 per day he had formerly smoked.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/dec/05/george-michael-interview-music-sex-drugs|title=George Michael: 'I'm surprised I've survived my own dysfunction'|work=The Guardian|___location=London|date=5 December 2009|access-date=15 January 2010|first=Simon|last=Hattenstone|archive-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221075203/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/dec/05/george-michael-interview-music-sex-drugs|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael also abused sleeping pills.<ref name="Guthrie"/>
During the early '80s, singer [[Boy George]] was rather vocal in his dislike of Michael, some of which is caught on video during the filming of the Band Aid collaboration. While recording harmonies, Boy George openly confused Michael's recorded vocals with the voice of "Alf" (British singer-songwriter [[Alison Moyet]], who did not participate in the charity single). When the engineer correctly identified the voice as that of Michael, Boy George replied, "God, he sounded camp. But then he is." The singer [[Morrissey]] has also been critical of Michael, stating that he is "not impressed", despite the negatives, his close friend [[Hazel O'Connor]] has remained a close friend.
 
On 26 October 2011, Michael cancelled a performance at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London due to a [[viral infection]]. On 21 November, [[Vienna General Hospital]] admitted Michael after he complained of chest pains while at a hotel two hours before his performance at a venue there for his [[Symphonica Tour]]. Michael appeared to be "in good spirits" and responded well to treatment following his admission, but on 25 November hospital officials said that his condition had "worsened overnight". This development led to cancellations and postponements of Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which had been scheduled mainly for the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/george-michael/60622|title=George Michael shelves all 2011 tour dates due to illness|work=NME|___location=UK|date=15 September 2011|access-date=25 November 2011|archive-date=28 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128034033/http://www.nme.com/news/george-michael/60622|url-status=live}}</ref> The singer was later confirmed to have suffered from [[pneumonia]] and, until 1 December, was in an [[intensive care unit]]; at one point, he was comatose. On 21 December, the hospital discharged him. Michael told the press that he had undergone a [[tracheotomy]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16316592|title=George Michael: 'It was the worst month of my life'|work=BBC Mobile|date=23 December 2011|access-date=23 December 2011|archive-date=23 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223174713/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16316592|url-status=live}}</ref> that the staff at the hospital had saved his life, and that he would perform a free concert for them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/good_tidings_george_michael_out_of/282464|title=Good Tidings! George Michael Out of Hospital and Homeward Bound|publisher=E!|date=22 December 2011|access-date=31 December 2011|archive-date=9 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109024754/http://www.eonline.com/news/good_tidings_george_michael_out_of/282464|url-status=live}}</ref> After waking from the coma, Michael had a temporary [[West Country English]] accent, and there was concern he had developed [[foreign accent syndrome]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9407826/George-Michael-I-woke-up-from-coma-with-a-West-Country-accent.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9407826/George-Michael-I-woke-up-from-coma-with-a-West-Country-accent.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=George Michael: I woke up from coma with a West Country accent|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=18 July 2012|access-date=17 December 2012|___location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
In December 2004, [[Elton John]] stated in an interview that he believed Michael should "get out more". As both John and Michael were openly gay and seemingly friends, many were surprised at the public spat. In an open letter response in [[Heat (magazine)|"Heat" magazine]], Michael claimed he and John were not good friends and that John had little knowledge of his personal life other than what he might glean from gossip, or the "gay grapevine", as Michael termed it.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
 
On 16 May 2013, Michael sustained a head injury in a car accident on the [[M1 motorway]], near [[St Albans]] in Hertfordshire and was airlifted to hospital.<ref name=bbc_m1>{{cite news|title=George Michael injured in M1 crash|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-22571754|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 May 2013|date=17 May 2013|archive-date=19 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519014224/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-22571754|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=reuters_m1>{{cite news|last=Casciato|first=Paul|title=Singer George Michael under observation for head injuries|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-georgemichael-hospital-idUSBRE94K0K920130521|agency=Reuters|access-date=22 May 2013|date=21 May 2013|archive-date=15 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315015138/http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-georgemichael-hospital-idUSBRE94K0K920130521|url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 May, Michael's publicist confirmed that he had left the hospital and that his injuries were superficial.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/29/george-michael-leaves-hospital-fall-motorway |title=George Michael leaves hospital after falling from car on motorway |work=The Guardian |date=29 May 2013 |access-date=27 September 2021 |archive-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928030209/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/29/george-michael-leaves-hospital-fall-motorway |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Michael stated that he had refrained from using cannabis for one and one half years. In June 2015, he checked into a drug rehabilitation facility in Switzerland.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/george-michael-checks-into-rehab-for-substance-abuse/2015/06/14/aeb64f74-12e2-11e5-8457-4b431bf7ed4c_story.html |title=George Michael 'checks into rehab for substance abuse' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=14 June 2015 |access-date=27 September 2021 |archive-date=20 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220144301/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/george-michael-checks-into-rehab-for-substance-abuse/2015/06/14/aeb64f74-12e2-11e5-8457-4b431bf7ed4c_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In July 2005, it was reported that the two had ended their nine-month feud over a dinner at Michael's north London home (apparently prepared by "[[celebrity chef]]" [[Gordon Ramsay]]). The two singers further agreed that John will re-release their 1991 duet "[[Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me]]" on a forthcoming album.
 
===Politics===
{{Blockquote|"To call us [[Thatcherite]] was so simplistic, basically saying that if you've got a deep enough tan and made a bit of money then you've got to be a Thatcherite."|Michael, a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] voter throughout the 1980s, distancing himself from Thatcher's [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].<ref name="Lynskey">{{cite book |first=Dorian |last=Lynskey |year=2011 |title=33 Revolutions Per Minute |title-link=33 Revolutions per Minute (book) |page=1836 |publisher=Faber & Faber }}</ref>}}
Michael has often taken a public, socially conscious, and sometimes political stance. In 1984, he sang as part of [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] on the charity song "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" for famine relief in Ethiopia. This single held the #1 position in the UK music charts over Christmas 1984, holding Michael's own song, "[[Last Christmas]]" by Wham!, at #2. Michael donated the royalties from "Last Christmas" to Band Aid and subsequently sang with Elton John at [[Live Aid]] (the Band Aid charity concert) in 1985.
 
Michael's father was a [[communist]]. At the age of fifteen, Michael joined the [[Young Communist League (Great Britain)|Young Communist League]], under his Greek name.<ref name="Rantzen">{{cite web |last1=Leonard |first1=Charles |title=Shoot the Dog – George Michael |url=https://www.newframe.com/political-songs-shoot-the-dog-george-michael/ |website=New Frame |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=20 March 2021 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420072302/https://www.newframe.com/political-songs-shoot-the-dog-george-michael/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the time of [[Margaret Thatcher]] as the Conservative [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] throughout the 1980s, Michael voted Labour.<ref name="Lynskey"/> In September 1984, Wham! performed at a benefit concert at London's [[Royal Festival Hall]] for the [[1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike|striking UK miners]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stanley |first1=Bob |title=Why Wham! were positively the most misunderstood group of the 1980s |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/dec/26/george-michael-wham-most-misunderstood-group-1980s-thatcherism |website=The Guardian |access-date=4 January 2022 |language=en |date=26 December 2016 |archive-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102072109/https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/dec/26/george-michael-wham-most-misunderstood-group-1980s-thatcherism |url-status=live }}</ref>
In the 1980s during his years with WHAM George Michael was very critical of [[Margaret Thatcher]]'s [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] government and its [[cruise missile]] alliance with the U.S. George said that he felt bad, since through his taxes he was paying for these weapons, yet was obliged to never dodge his tax obligations to his home country.
 
In 2000, Michael joined [[Melissa Etheridge]], [[Garth Brooks]], [[Queen Latifah]], [[Pet Shop Boys]], and [[k.d. lang]], to perform in Washington, D.C. as part of Equality Rocks, a concert to benefit the [[Human Rights Campaign]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432143/george-michael-queen-latifah-rock-equality.jhtml |title=George Michael, Queen Latifah To Rock For "Equality" |last=Basham |first=David |date=28 February 2000 |access-date=12 June 2011 |archive-date=7 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107101724/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432143/george-michael-queen-latifah-rock-equality.jhtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> an American LGBT rights group. His 2002 single "[[Shoot the Dog]]" was critical of the friendly relationship between the UK and US governments, in particular the relationship between [[Tony Blair]] and [[George W. Bush]], with their involvement in the [[War on Terror]].<ref name="Blair" /> Michael voiced his concern about the lack of public consultation in the UK regarding the War on Terror: "On an issue as enormous as the possible bombing of Iraq, how can you represent us when you haven't asked us what we think?"<ref name="Blair">{{cite news|title=Michael's video lampoons the Blairs|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2077598.stm|access-date=11 April 2015|issue=1 July 2002}}</ref>
Michael also wrote "Shoot the Dog," a critical song about the friendly relationship between the governments of the U.S. and the UK towards the [[Iraqi War]]. In the animated music video for the song, Tony Blair is depicted as the "dog" that follows his "owner" (George W. Bush) everywhere. In George's latest tour, an inflatable British Bull Dog - doll is seen fellating on Bush on stage.
 
In 2006, Michael performed a free concert for [[NHS]] nurses in London to thank the nurses who had cared for his late mother. He told the audience: "Thank you for everything you do — some people appreciate it. Now if we can only get the government to do the same thing."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6199229.stm |title=Michael stages concert for nurses |work=BBC News |date=21 December 2006 |access-date=27 December 2016 |archive-date=27 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227131833/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6199229.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
He is presently touring the United States with the piano that John Lennon used to write "[[Imagine (song)|Imagine]]". On the anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King's death (April 4), he is appearing with said piano at the National Civil rights museum in Memphis, TN. Further stops are planned in Oklahoma City, and Waco, Texas.
 
In 2007, Michael sent the £1,450,000 piano that [[John Lennon]] used to write "[[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]" around the United States on a "peace tour", displaying at places where notable acts of violence had taken place, such as [[Dallas]]' [[Dealey Plaza]], where US President [[John F. Kennedy]] had been [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|shot]].<ref name="steinway">{{cite news|title=Most Expensive Musical Instruments |url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/04/10/cx_mr_0411featslide_print.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518103716/http://www.forbes.com/2006/04/10/cx_mr_0411featslide_print.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 May 2006 |work=Forbes |date=10 April 2006 |access-date=15 February 2008 }}</ref> He devoted his 2007 concert in [[Sofia]], from his [[25 Live]] tour to the Bulgarian nurses prosecuted in the [[HIV trial in Libya]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=81212 |title=Bulgaria: George Michael: Free Bulgaria's Nurses in Libya! |publisher=Novinite.com |date=29 May 2007 |access-date=27 April 2009 |archive-date=28 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183316/http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=81212 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 June 2008, Michael said he was thrilled by [[Same-sex marriage in California|California's legalisation of same-sex marriage]], calling the move "way overdue".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-06-18-georgemichael_N.htm |title=George Michael sounds off on gay marriage |work=[[USA Today]] |date=18 June 2008 |access-date=12 September 2011 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |first=Natalie |last=Rodman |archive-date=28 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028153917/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-06-18-georgemichael_N.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Discography==
 
{{main|George Michael discography}}
===Philanthropy===
In November 1984, Michael joined other British and Irish pop stars of the era to form Band Aid, singing on the charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|famine relief in Ethiopia]]. This single became the UK Christmas number one in December 1984, holding Michael's own song, "Last Christmas" by Wham!, at No. 2.<ref name="guardian nov2012"/> "Do They Know It's Christmas?" sold 3.75&nbsp;million copies in the UK and became the biggest-selling single in UK chart history, a title it held until 1997 when it was overtaken by [[Elton John]]'s "[[Candle in the Wind 1997]]", released in tribute to [[Princess Diana]] following [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|her death]] (Michael attended [[Diana's funeral]] with Elton John).<ref name="guardian nov2012">{{cite news |first=Ami |last=Sedghi |title=UK's million-selling singles: the full list |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |___location=London, England |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/nov/04/uk-million-selling-singles-full-list |date=4 November 2012 |access-date=4 November 2012 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218080740/https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/nov/04/uk-million-selling-singles-full-list |url-status=live }}</ref> Michael donated the royalties from "Last Christmas" to Band Aid and subsequently sang with Elton John at [[Live Aid]] (the Band Aid charity concert) in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gbtimes.com/life/30-years-later-original-band-aid-performers|title=30 years later... the original Band Aid performers|last=Butcher|first=Asa|date=20 November 2014|publisher=gbtimes.com|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226145946/http://gbtimes.com/life/30-years-later-original-band-aid-performers|archive-date=26 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
In 1986, Michael took part in [[the Prince's Trust]] charity concert held at [[Wembley Arena]], performing "[[Everytime You Go Away]]" alongside [[Paul Young]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Wham! star and solo artist George Michael dies peacefully at home aged 53|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/live/2016/dec/26/pop-star-george-michael-dies-peacefully-at-home-aged-53-live|work=The Guardian|date=26 December 2016|access-date=26 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226094842/https://www.theguardian.com/music/live/2016/dec/26/pop-star-george-michael-dies-peacefully-at-home-aged-53-live|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1988, Michael participated in the [[Nelson Mandela]] 70th Birthday Tribute at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] in London together with many other singers (such as [[Annie Lennox]] and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]), performing "Sexual Healing".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tonyhollingsworth.com/?q=content/nelson-mandela-70th-birthday-tribute|title=Tony Hollingsworth: Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute|last=Elman|first=Peter|publisher=Tribute Inspirations Limited|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328104810/http://tonyhollingsworth.com/?q=content%2Fnelson-mandela-70th-birthday-tribute|archive-date=28 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
An [[LGBT rights]] campaigner and [[HIV/AIDS]] charity fundraiser,<ref>{{cite news|author1=Jones, Owen|author-link1=Owen Jones (writer)|title=George Michael was a defiant gay icon. His memory must not be sanitised|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/26/george-michael-defiant-gay-icon-sex-life-lgbt-rights|access-date=26 December 2016|work=The Guardian|date=26 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226155543/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/26/george-michael-defiant-gay-icon-sex-life-lgbt-rights|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Royes|first1=Luke|title=George Michael remembered as gay trailblazer who pushed pop boundaries|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-26/george-michaels-legacy-as-gay-pop-superstar/8148634|access-date=26 December 2016|publisher=ABC|date=26 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226095123/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-26/george-michaels-legacy-as-gay-pop-superstar/8148634|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hooper|first1=Ryan|title=How George Michael became one of the world's most important LGBT rights campaigners|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/george-michael-dead-lgbt-gay-rights-figure-a7495871.html|access-date=26 December 2016|work=The Independent|date=26 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226221554/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/george-michael-dead-lgbt-gay-rights-figure-a7495871.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the proceeds from the 1991 single "[[Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me#1991 version|Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me]]" were divided among 10 different charities for children, AIDS and education. He was also a patron of the [[Elton John AIDS Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ejaf.com/about/our-patrons/|title=Our Patrons|publisher=Elton John AIDS Foundation|access-date=25 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012055947/http://ejaf.com/about/our-patrons/|archive-date=12 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Michael wore a [[red ribbon]] at the [[Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert]] at Wembley Stadium in April 1992.<ref>Sander L. Gilman ''Diseases & diagnoses: the second age of biology'' p.50. Transaction Publishers, 2010</ref><ref>Sarah E. H. Moore (2008) ''Ribbon culture: charity, compassion, and public awareness'' p.74. [[Palgrave Macmillan]],</ref> He was instrumental in bringing the compilation CD ''[[Red Hot + Dance]]'' to fruition, contributing three original songs, with the album featuring [[Seal (musician)|Seal]] and [[Madonna]] among others.<ref>{{cite news |title=Red Hot + Dance |url=https://redhot.org/project/red-hot-dance/ |access-date=19 April 2022 |agency=Redhot.org |archive-date=2 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502130416/https://redhot.org/project/red-hot-dance/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In 2003, he paired up with [[Ronan Keating]] on the UK edition of the game show ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'' and won £32,000, after having their original £64,000 winnings halved by answering the £125,000 question incorrectly.<ref name="Telegraph-50years">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10139404/George-Michael-50-years-in-numbers.html|title=George Michael: 50 years in numbers|last=Vincent|first=Alice|date=25 June 2013|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-date=26 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626202548/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10139404/George-Michael-50-years-in-numbers.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=T0nwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT336|page = 336|title = Careless Whispers: The Life & Career of George Michael|first = Robert|last = Steele|publisher = [[Omnibus Press]]|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0-85712-726-6|access-date = 28 August 2017|archive-date = 9 February 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163446/https://books.google.com/books?id=T0nwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT336|url-status = live}}</ref> The same year, Michael joined other celebrities to support a campaign to help raise £20&nbsp;million for [[terminally ill]] children run by the [[Rainbow Trust Children's Charity]] of which he was a patron. He said: "Loss is such an incredibly difficult thing. I bow down to people who actually have to deal with the loss of a child."<ref name="BBC-charity">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3120494.stm|title=Michael backs children's charity|date=18 September 2003|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927183644/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3120494.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:5 The Grove, Highgate.jpg|thumb|[[5, The Grove]], Michael's home in [[Highgate]], north London, is a [[grade II listed]] building.<ref name=EngH>{{National Heritage List for England |num=1378980|desc=Number 5 and attached railings, wall and lamp.|access-date=28 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Banks |first=Emily |title=Fans gather at singer George Michael's Highgate home following his death on Christmas Day. |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/21345344.fans-gather-singer-george-michaels-highgate-home-following-death-christmas-day/ |website=Ham & High |date=26 December 2016 |access-date=24 December 2023 |archive-date=24 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224195656/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/21345344.fans-gather-singer-george-michaels-highgate-home-following-death-christmas-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
 
From 2005 until his death, Michael was a patron of the [[Swan Lifeline]] charity. At the time he had moved to his home in Highgate, the river at the end of his garden was occupied by [[swan]]s. A neighbour, who was involved with the charity, asked him if he would be interested, and he immediately agreed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Remembering the pop star who loved his rural retreat |url=http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/events/119999/remembering-the-pop-star-who-loved-his-rural-retreat.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=Henley Standard |date=January 2018 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207215223/https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/events/119999/remembering-the-pop-star-who-loved-his-rural-retreat.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The George Michael Legacy Project™ |url=https://swanlifeline.uk/the-george-michael-legacy-project |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=Swan Lifeline |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180843/https://swanlifeline.uk/the-george-michael-legacy-project |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=George Michael Charity Work: Charities and Foundations GM Supported |url=https://gmforever.com/george-michael-charity-work/ |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=gmforever.com|date=6 January 2018 }}</ref>
 
Following Michael's death, various charities revealed that Michael had privately supported them for many years. Those charities included [[Childline]] (to whom he had donated "millions"),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/26/george-michaels-acts-kindness-revealed/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/26/george-michaels-acts-kindness-revealed/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=George Michael's incredible acts of kindness revealed following his untimely death|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=26 December 2016|last1=Lockhart|first1=Keely}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Rantzen" /> the [[Terrence Higgins Trust]], and [[Macmillan Cancer Support]].<ref name="Scotsman" /> Michael also donated to individuals: he reportedly called the production team of the quiz show ''[[Deal or No Deal (British game show)|Deal or No Deal]]'' after a contestant had revealed that she needed £15,000 to fund [[IVF]] treatment and anonymously paid for the treatment.<ref name="Scotsman">{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/celebrity/george-michael-s-secret-generosity-through-charity-donations-1-4325851|title=George Michael's secret generosity through charity donations|work=The Scotsman|date=26 December 2016|access-date=26 December 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227061232/http://www.scotsman.com/news/celebrity/george-michael-s-secret-generosity-through-charity-donations-1-4325851|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael once tipped a student nurse working as a barmaid £5,000 because she was in debt.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/george-michael-was-prolific-philanthropist-both-publicly-privately-n700331|title=George Michael was a prolific philanthropist both publicly and privately|publisher=NBC News|access-date=28 December 2016|archive-date=28 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228115956/http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/george-michael-was-prolific-philanthropist-both-publicly-privately-n700331|url-status=live}}</ref> On 3 January 2017, another woman came forward and (with the permission of Michael's family) revealed he had anonymously paid for her IVF treatment after seeing her talk about her problems conceiving on an episode of ''[[This Morning (TV programme)|This Morning]]'' in 2010. The woman gave birth to a girl in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title='I cannot ever thank him enough', says mum whose IVF was paid for by George Michael|url=http://www.itv.com/news/2017-01-03/i-cant-ever-thank-him-enough-says-woman-who-received-ivf-donation-from-george-michael/|publisher=ITV|date=4 January 2017|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104152255/http://www.itv.com/news/2017-01-03/i-cant-ever-thank-him-enough-says-woman-who-received-ivf-donation-from-george-michael/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
After his death, it was also revealed that Michael had been anonymously paying for an annual Christmas tree erected where he lived in Highgate, as well as funding the Christmas lights, for the previous decade. He was also the largest funder of Highgate's annual Fair in the Square for those ten years, donating anonymously as "a local resident".<ref>{{cite news|title=Pop star George Michael secretly funded Highgate's Fair in the Square celebrations and village Christmas Tree|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/pop-star-george-michael-secretly-funded-highgate-s-fair-in-3544116|publisher=Ham & High|date=30 December 2016|access-date=9 May 2021|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509072920/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/pop-star-george-michael-secretly-funded-highgate-s-fair-in-3544116|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Family and friends gather in Highgate for George Michael's funeral|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/family-and-friends-gather-in-highgate-for-george-michael-s-3551998|publisher=Ham & High|date=29 March 2017|access-date=9 May 2021|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509072920/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/family-and-friends-gather-in-highgate-for-george-michael-s-3551998|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
===Assets===
Between 2006 and 2008, according to reports, Michael earned £48.5&nbsp;million from the 25 Live tour alone.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Michael 'earns £1.6million for one hour's work '|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/5009563/George-Michael-earns-1.6million-for-one-hours-work.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/5009563/George-Michael-earns-1.6million-for-one-hours-work.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Telegraph|date=26 December 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In July 2014, he was reported to have been a celebrity investor in a [[tax avoidance]] scheme called Liberty.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/george-michael-and-michael-caine-accused-of-tax-avoidance-through-liberty-scheme-9594976.html|title=George Michael and Michael Caine accused of tax avoidance through Liberty scheme|newspaper=The Independent|___location=London|date=9 July 2014|access-date=11 July 2014|archive-date=9 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709170911/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/george-michael-and-michael-caine-accused-of-tax-avoidance-through-liberty-scheme-9594976.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the [[Sunday Times Rich List 2015|''Sunday Times'' Rich List 2015]] of the wealthiest British musicians, Michael was worth £105&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nightingale |first1=Laura |title=Sunday Times Rich List: Who are the UK's richest musicians? |url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/sunday-times-rich-list-who-9126070 |access-date=26 December 2016 |publisher=getsurrey.co.uk |date=27 April 2015 |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820042723/http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/sunday-times-rich-list-who-9126070 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
==Death==
[[File:Grave of George Michael in Highgate Cemetery.jpg|thumb|Grave of Michael (right) alongside his mother and sister in [[Highgate Cemetery]]]]
In the early hours of Christmas Day 2016, Michael died in bed at his home in [[Goring-on-Thames]], at the age of 53. He was found by his partner, Fadi Fawaz.<ref name=etmagazine/><ref name=yahoonews/><ref name="BBC death">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38432862 |title=Ex-Wham singer George Michael dies |work=BBC News |date=25 December 2016 |access-date=25 December 2016 |archive-date=27 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427213837/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38432862 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2017, a senior coroner in Oxfordshire attributed Michael's death to natural causes due to [[dilated cardiomyopathy]] with [[myocarditis]] and [[fatty liver disease]].<ref name=causeofdeath>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-michael-cause-of-death/|title=George Michael's cause of death revealed|publisher=CBS News|date=7 March 2017|access-date=21 April 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801001159/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-michael-cause-of-death/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38470678 |title=George Michael: Post-mortem into singer's death 'inconclusive' |date=30 December 2016 |work=BBC News |access-date=30 December 2016 |archive-date=30 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230145652/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38470678 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/818789/george-michael-autopsy-report-deems-cause-of-death-inconclusive-but-not-suspicious |title=George Michael Autopsy Report Deems Cause of Death 'Inconclusive' |first=Corinne |last=Heller |publisher=[[E!]] |access-date=30 December 2016 |date=30 December 2016 |archive-date=31 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231080329/http://www.eonline.com/news/818789/george-michael-autopsy-report-deems-cause-of-death-inconclusive-but-not-suspicious |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/autopsy-george-michaels-cause-of-death-inconclusive-w458442 |title=Autopsy: George Michael's Cause of Death 'Inconclusive' |first=Ryan |last=Reed |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=30 December 2016 |access-date=30 December 2016 |archive-date=31 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231013632/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/autopsy-george-michaels-cause-of-death-inconclusive-w458442 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
Owing to the delay in determining the cause of death, Michael's funeral was held on 29 March 2017. In a private ceremony, he was buried at [[Highgate Cemetery]] in north London, on one side of his mother's grave.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Michael laid to rest in Highgate cemetery in London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/mar/30/george-michael-funeral-highgate-cemetery|access-date=1 April 2017|work=The Guardian|date=29 March 2017|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401051416/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/mar/30/george-michael-funeral-highgate-cemetery|url-status=live}}</ref> His sister Melanie, who died after him three years to the day, is buried on the other side.<ref>{{cite news |title=George Michael's sister found dead on Christmas Day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/dec/27/george-michaels-sister-found-dead-on-christmas-day |access-date=19 April 2022 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407102651/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/dec/27/george-michaels-sister-found-dead-on-christmas-day |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
===Aftermath===
[[File:George Michael memorial garden, Highgate, July 2017 (3).jpg|thumb|right|Unofficial memorial garden outside Michael's home in [[Highgate]], 29 July 2017]]
In the summer of 2017, a temporary informal memorial garden was created outside Michael's former home in [[The Grove, Highgate]]. The site, in a private square that Michael had owned, was tended by fans for approximately eighteen months until it was cleared.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Michael's memorial garden – in pictures|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2017/aug/08/george-michaels-memorial-garden-in-pictures|work=The Guardian|date=2 December 2017|access-date=3 December 2017|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203224616/https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2017/aug/08/george-michaels-memorial-garden-in-pictures|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In March 2019, Michael's art collection was auctioned in England for £11.3&nbsp;million. The proceeds were donated to various philanthropic organisations Michael gave to while he was alive.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47584873 "George Michael's art collection sells for £11.3 million at auction"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408015525/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47584873 |date=8 April 2019 }}. BBC. Retrieved 8 April 2019</ref>
 
Michael's will left most of his £97&nbsp;million estate to his sisters, his father and friends. It did not include bequests to either Fawaz or to his former partner, Kenny Goss. In 2021, following legal proceedings, the trustees of Michael's estate entered into a financial settlement with Goss.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/george-michael-will-kenny-goss-b1846739.html |title=George Michael's former partner Kenny Goss wins a share of star's £97m will after legal battle |work=The Independent |last=Harrison |first=Ellie |date=13 May 2021 |access-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202203642/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/george-michael-will-kenny-goss-b1846739.html|archive-date=2 February 2022}}</ref>
 
==Tributes==
[[File:Elton John - Twickenham Stoop - Saturday 3rd June 2017 EltonTwicStoop030617-14 (34287287133).jpg|thumb|[[Elton John]] performing a tribute to Michael at Twickenham, London, in June 2017]]
[[Elton John]] was among those who paid tribute to Michael, emotionally addressing the audience in Las Vegas on 28 December, "What a singer, what a songwriter. But more than anything as a human being he was one of the kindest, sweetest, most generous people I've ever met."<ref>{{cite news |title=Elton John fights back tears during George Michael tribute |url=https://metro.co.uk/2016/12/29/elton-john-fights-back-tears-during-george-michael-tribute-6350239/ |access-date=9 February 2019 |newspaper=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |archive-date=10 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210152545/https://metro.co.uk/2016/12/29/elton-john-fights-back-tears-during-george-michael-tribute-6350239/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
At the [[59th Annual Grammy Awards]] on 12 February 2017, [[Adele]] performed a slow version of "[[Fastlove]]" in tribute to Michael.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/feb/12/adele-george-michael-tribute-grammys|title='I can't mess this up for him': Adele stops George Michael Grammys tribute|first=Amanda|last=Holpuch|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=13 February 2017|access-date=21 April 2019|archive-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213195432/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/feb/12/adele-george-michael-tribute-grammys|url-status=live}}</ref> On 22 February, [[Coldplay]] lead singer [[Chris Martin]] performed "[[A Different Corner]]" at the [[2017 Brit Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7701362/the-chainsmokers-chris-martin-something-just-like-this-brit-awards-performance-video|title=The Chainsmokers & Coldplay Deliver Live Debut of 'Something Just Like This' at 2017 Brit Awards|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=20 April 2019|access-date=21 April 2020|archive-date=9 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309203313/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7701362/the-chainsmokers-chris-martin-something-just-like-this-brit-awards-performance-video|url-status=live}}</ref> In June, Michael's close friend, former [[Spice Girls]] member [[Geri Halliwell]], released a charity single, "Angels in Chains", a tribute to him, to raise money for [[Childline]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Geri Halliwell Premieres George Michael Tribute, Talks 'Spice World' & LGBTQ Fanbase |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7833972/geri-halliwell-angels-in-chains-george-michael-tribute |access-date=6 June 2020 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819230003/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7833972/geri-halliwell-angels-in-chains-george-michael-tribute |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
In 2020, Michael was commemorated with a mural in his native borough of [[London Borough of Brent|Brent]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Paint me up before you go-go: London borough to get George Michael mural |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/11/london-borough-of-brent-to-get-george-michael-mural-by-dawn-mellor |access-date=3 December 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=2 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202234911/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/11/london-borough-of-brent-to-get-george-michael-mural-by-dawn-mellor |url-status=live }}</ref> The artwork, which formed part of the Brent Biennial, was commissioned to pay tribute to his contribution to the fields of music and entertainment.<ref>{{cite news |title=George Michael mural unveiled as part of Brent Borough of Culture celebrations |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/george-michael-mural-brent-borough-culture-a4550401.html |access-date=3 December 2020 |newspaper=Evening Standard |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228152927/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/george-michael-mural-brent-borough-culture-a4550401.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Artist Dawn Mellor said it celebrates the singer as a pioneering cultural and LGBTQ+ figure.<ref>{{cite news |title=Huge George Michael mural unveiled in his memory in North London |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/17/george-michael-mural-featuring-scenes-from-stars-music-video-unveiled-in-his-memory-in-london-13285743/ |access-date=3 December 2020 |magazine=Metro |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118144903/https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/17/george-michael-mural-featuring-scenes-from-stars-music-video-unveiled-in-his-memory-in-london-13285743/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2024, the [[Royal Mint]] unveiled a collectable coin featuring Michael wearing his trademark sunglasses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-68381264/|title=George Michael coin unveiled by the Royal Mint|website=BBC News|date=26 February 2024|access-date=26 February 2024|archive-date=26 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226072318/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-68381264|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Awards and achievements==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by George Michael}}
Michael [[List of awards and nominations received by George Michael|won numerous music awards]] throughout his 30-year career, including five [[Brit Awards]]—winning [[Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist|Best British Male Artist]] twice, four [[MTV Video Music Award]]s, six [[Ivor Novello Awards]], four [[American Music Award]]s (including two in the traditionally-black Soul/R&B category<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/george-michael-doc-freedom-9-things-we-learned-w509176|title=George Michael Doc 'Freedom': 9 Things We Learned|last=Leight|first=Elias|date=20 October 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=13 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213135219/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/george-michael-doc-freedom-9-things-we-learned-w509176|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theroot.com/5-times-george-michael-showed-his-blue-eyed-soul-to-b-1790858294|title=5 Times George Michael Showed His 'Blue-Eyed Soul' to Black America|last=Johnson|first=Jason|date=27 December 2016|work=TheRoot.com|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=13 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213195332/https://www.theroot.com/5-times-george-michael-showed-his-blue-eyed-soul-to-b-1790858294|url-status=live}}</ref>), and two [[Grammy Award]]s from eight nominations.<ref>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-m/georgemichael_main.htm George Michael] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124005753/http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-m/georgemichael_main.htm |date=24 January 2018 }} Rock on the Net. Retrieved 18 February 2011</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/apr/21/popandrock1|title=He was the last transcendent world pop star, and it's a shame his problems restrained his musical output|author=Brown, Mark|date=21 April 2006|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 February 2011|___location=UK|archive-date=23 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723212243/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/apr/21/popandrock1|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, he was ranked 45th in ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s list of the "Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Inside Billboard's Greatest of All Time: The Most Successful Songs, Albums and Acts of the Past 50-Plus Years|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billboard-greatest-of-all-time-charts-top-songs-album-acts-6760872/|date=12 November 2015|access-date=8 December 2021|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=8 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208190150/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billboard-greatest-of-all-time-charts-top-songs-album-acts-6760872/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Radio Academy]] stated that Michael was the most frequently played artist on British radio during the period 1984–2004.<ref name="auto"/> In 2019, Michael was named as the greatest artist of all time by [[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 January 2019|title=Smooth Icons 2019: George Michael is named the greatest artist of all time|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/smooth-icons-2019-listen-live/|url-status=live|access-date=5 September 2021|website=Smooth Radio|archive-date=4 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904213922/https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/smooth-icons-2019-listen-live/}}</ref>
In 2023, Michael was nominated for induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/george-michael-willie-nelson-among-rock-roll-hall-fame-nominees-2023-02-01/|title=George Michael, Willie Nelson among Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees|author=Mary Milliken|year=2023|website=Reuters.com|access-date=3 February 2023|archive-date=3 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203172653/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/george-michael-willie-nelson-among-rock-roll-hall-fame-nominees-2023-02-01/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 3 May 2023, Michael was selected as an inductee to the 2023 class alongside [[Kate Bush]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[The Spinners (American group)|The Spinners]], [[Missy Elliott]] and [[Rage Against the Machine]].<ref name="GeorgeHall1">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/2023-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-class-1235478084/ |title=2023 Rock Hall of Fame Class: Willie Nelson, George Michael, More |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=3 May 2023 |accessdate=3 May 2023 |archive-date=3 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503121513/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/2023-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-class-1235478084/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="George Hall2">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65467456 |title=Kate Bush and George Michael inducted to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |work=[[BBC News]] |date=3 May 2023 |accessdate=3 May 2023 |archive-date=3 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503123019/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65467456 |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2023, Michael was inducted into the Hall, with Andrew Ridgeley as his induction presenter.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Monroe |first1=Jazz |last2=Lindert |first2=Hattie |title=Miguel, Adam Levine, and Carrie Underwood Perform at George Michael's Rock Hall 2023 Induction |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/miguel-adam-levine-and-carrie-underwood-perform-at-george-michaels-rock-hall-2023-induction/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=4 November 2023 |date=4 November 2023 |archive-date=4 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104034200/https://pitchfork.com/news/miguel-adam-levine-and-carrie-underwood-perform-at-george-michaels-rock-hall-2023-induction/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
==Discography and record sales==
At the time of his death, Michael was estimated to have sold between 100 million and 125&nbsp;million records worldwide.<ref name="sky1">{{cite news |date=27 December 2016 |title=Troubled personal life of pop superstar George Michael |url=https://news.sky.com/story/troubled-personal-life-of-star-george-michael-10707623 |access-date=27 December 2016 |publisher=[[Sky News]] |archive-date=26 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226222242/http://news.sky.com/story/troubled-personal-life-of-star-george-michael-10707623 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=George Michael Dies at 53 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7633292/george-michael-dead |website=Biilboard |access-date=12 August 2018 |archive-date=7 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807192212/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7633292/george-michael-dead |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="prn1">{{cite press release |title=KEEPING FAITH! WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC RENEWS PUBLISHING DEAL WITH GEORGE MICHAEL'S ESTATE |agency=PR Newswire |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/keeping-faith-warner-chappell-music-renews-publishing-deal-with-george-michaels-estate-301447145.html |access-date=3 February 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203111133/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/keeping-faith-warner-chappell-music-renews-publishing-deal-with-george-michaels-estate-301447145.html |archive-date=3 February 2023}}</ref> As a solo artist, he is estimated to have sold over 100 million records, making him one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling music artists]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrating the Life and Legacy of George Michael {{!}} The Royal Mint |url=https://www.royalmint.com/shop/limited-editions/music-legends/george-michael/celebrating-the-life-and-legacy-of-george-michael |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.royalmint.com}}</ref><ref name="sky1"/> He is estimated to have sold up to 30 million records with Wham!.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Music Industry: The End of Vinyl? |first=J. |last=Qualen |year=1985 |___location=London |publisher=Routledge |series=Comedia's Media and Communications Industry Profile Series |volume=5 |isbn=978-0-906890-58-5 }}</ref> His debut solo album ''Faith'' sold more than 25 million copies.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=George Michael: Why He Turned His Back on Fame, and the 'Faith'-like Songs He Recorded Before His Death|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/7647600/george-michael-why-he-turned-his-back-on-fame-the-faith-like-songs-he-recorded|magazine=Billboard|access-date=8 February 2018|archive-date=18 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518085344/https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/7647600/george-michael-why-he-turned-his-back-on-fame-the-faith-like-songs-he-recorded|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
{{Main|George Michael discography}}
{{See also|Wham! discography}}
'''Solo discography'''
* ''[[Faith (George Michael album)|Faith]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Older (George Michael album)|Older]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Songs from the Last Century]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Patience (George Michael album)|Patience]]'' (2004)
 
'''Wham! discography'''
* ''[[Fantastic (Wham! album)|Fantastic]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Make It Big]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Music from the Edge of Heaven]]'' (1986)
 
==Tours==
{{See also|List of George Michael live performances}}
* [[The Faith Tour]] (1988–89)
* [[Cover to Cover tour|Cover to Cover]] (1991)
* [[25 Live]] (2006–08)
* [[George Michael Live in Australia]] (2010)
* [[Symphonica Tour]] (2011–12)
 
==See also==
* [[Imagine Piano Peace Project]]
*[[WHAM!]]
* [[List of artists with the most UK singles chart number ones]]
*[[George Michael awards and nominations]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
*[[George Michael discography]]
* [[BestList of best-selling music artists]] - World's top selling music artists chart.
* ''[[Panayiotou v Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.]]''
*[[List of number-one hits (United States)]]
{{Portal bar|United Kingdom|LGBTQ|London|Pop music|R&B and Soul Music}}
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)]]
 
*[[List of artists by total number of USA number one singles]]
==References==
*[[List of number-one dance hits (United States)]]
{{Reflist}}
*[[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart]]
 
==Footnotes==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
<!--- Please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:External_links before adding links to this section --->
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.georgemichael.com/ George Michael's Official Website]
* {{Official website}}
*[http://forums.georgemichael.com/ George Michael's Official Forum]
* {{iMDb name|0584117}}
*[http://www.georgemichaelforum.de/ 1. Forum for german-language George Michael fans]
* {{AllMusic}}
*[http://www.yogworld.com/ George Michael News]
* [httphttps://wwwlyricsmusic.georgemichael.orgname/george-michael-lyrics/ George Michael Orglyrics] at Music Lyrics
* {{Discogs artist|George Michael}}
 
{{George Michael}}
===Press articles===
{{George Michael singles}}
*[http://www.johannhari.com/archive/article.php?id=745 Revealing interview with George Michael from London Independent, in which he discusses his childhood, depression, sexuality and friendship with Diana]
{{Navboxes
*"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/446721.stm George Michael faces $10m lawsuit]" - BBC News article, dated Tuesday, September 14, 1999
| title = [[List of awards and nominations received by George Michael|Awards for George Michael]]
*"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/646004.stm George Michael video case dismissed]" - BBC News article, by Peter Bowes, dated Thursday, February 17, 2000
| list =
*"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2542097.stm Officer allowed to sue Michael]" - BBC News article, dated Wednesday, December 4, 2002
{{American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist}}
*[http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,1662016,00.html There was so much death, [[December 9]], [[2005]] Interview with The Guardian]
{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist}}
*[http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2006-10-21T015048Z_01_L20667121_RTRUKOC_0_UK-MICHAEL.xml&type=entertainmentNews&WTmodLoc=Entertainment-C3-More-2 Singer Michael says cannabis keeps him sane, [[October 21]], [[2006]], ''Reuters'']
{{Billboard Year-End Top Artists}}
{{Brit British Album}}
{{Brit British Male}}
{{Grammy Award for Album of the Year 1980s}}
{{Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Male}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction}}
{{2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Billboard Year-End number one albums 1970–1989}}
{{Billboard Year-End number one singles 1980–1999}}
}}
{{Wham!}}
{{Young British Artists}}
 
{{Authority control}}
 
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