From today's Jeannie Williams USA Today column:

JACKSON ON A 'QUEST' FOR MILLENNIAL ANTHEM'

MICHAEL JACKSON is working with DAVID FOSTER and CAROLE BAYER SAGER, Oscar nominated for "The Prayer,"on a millenium-themed anthem for his new

album.

"A song to take us into the year 2000 with hope," Bayer Sager said Monday. But they won't do it"if the three of us can't come upwith a song that is truly,truly good,beyong good."

Jackson called Bayer Sager after he heard she and Foster had won a Golden Globe for "The Prayer, a duet by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli from"The Quest for Camelot." Bayer Sager hadn't spoken with him in a couple of years, and she didn't believe it was Jackson until he sang a duet they had done for her album with BurtBacharach in 1991.

Bayer Sager had hooked up Jackson with producer/songwriter RODNEY JERKINS ("The Boy is Mine"),but Jackson wanted to try for the anthem with her and Foster. They've had two sessions,and Bayer Sager has hopes their song will be a reality by next month.

Jackson has kept a low profile in this country lately. Bayer Sager attributes this to his being "very involved as a father. His 2-year old (Prince Michael) is so adorable, he didn't want to leave his side. Michael was very wise, he took a rest, he's gathering himself together. When he comes back,it'll be in a way that's undeniable. There's not a radio station in

the country that can NOT play him. He left as the King of Pop, he faded out a little, but he'll come back as the King of Pop. He didn't lose that title."

Jackson, she said, is "looking for some peace in his life,and I think he's found it. He seems much more content and at esae with himself," and she attributes this to being a dad of two.

Bayer Sager,who also is producing an album with Carole King,says,"Just when you think you've kind of done it (all),out of ther blue comes Michael. It gets your juices going to try to do a better job."