Michael Jackson died in 2009.
The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards took place on September 13 , 2009 , at Radio City Music Hall in New York City , honoring the best music videos from June 19 , 2008 , to June 29 , 2009 . Michael Joseph Jackson ( August 29 , 1958 -- June 25 , 2009 ) was an American singer , songwriter , record producer , dancer , actor , and philanthropist . While preparing for his comeback concert series , This Is It , Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25 , 2009 , after suffering from cardiac arrest .