Michael Jackson Soon To Be Father

Here’s one Election Day surprise:

Pop superstar Michael Jackson, long a special friend of the children of the world, announced Monday that he’s finally having one of his own. The little thriller’s due in early ‘97.

Mom-to-be is Debbie Rowe, 37, a nurse and a FOM (friend of Michael) for 15 years. Michael’s people have said that yes, he’s the father, and no, he’s not paying her to do this. And no, they further amplify, she was not artificially inseminated - or the female equivalent of Carlos Leon, who’s been derided as little more than a good-looking sperm donor to pop-diva Madonna’s hatchling.

And while there was no talk of “I do’s” and a white picket fence, Jackson’s spokeswoman did avow that the Gloved One will “give this child 100 percent support.”

Jackson, 38, a former child star who went on to become one of the top-selling recording artists of all time, is just as famous for his facial reconstruction, surgical masks, and the company of chimps - and children.

In 1993, a teenage boy accused Jackson of molesting him at the singer’s Neverland Ranch near Santa Barbara, Calif. Jackson took to the airwaves to tearfully deny the allegations. The case never went to trial, and Jackson paid the boy multimillions in return for dropping a civil suit.

The singer of “Scream,” “Bad” and “Billie Jean” recently split from Lisa Marie Presley after 20 months of marriage, no children.