During an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, President Barack Obama revealed he was a fan of the late Michael Jackson.

He even has his songs on his iPod.

"I grew up on his music," Obama said, speaking personally about the legendary performer's death for the first time. "Still have all his stuff on my iPod."

Obama had kind words for the music legend, who died last week at the age of 50. "I think that his brilliance as a performer also was paired with a tragic and, in many ways, sad personal life," he said. "I'm glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer."

The President dismissed any suggestion that members of the black community were upset he hadn't formally addressed Jackson's death sooner.

"I know a lot of people in the black community," he said. "I haven't heard that."

This was on top of a letter from the President sent to the Jackson family, according to David Axelrod, Obama's senior advisor.

Obama was prepared to discuss Jackson's death during a press conference on June 26th, Gibbs explained, but no one asked him.