Joe Jackson hospitalized with minor stroke

Joe Jackson, father of Michael Jackson, suffered a minor stroke and was hospitalized late Wednesday, a family rep said, but by Friday was back to normal and cracking jokes, according to a family friend.

Jackson, 83, went to a hospital in Las Vegas, his current hometown, after he had trouble standing up and walking and had pain in his head, spokeswoman Angel Howansky told the Associated Press. She said he called a friend for a ride to the hospital and was expected to be released Friday.

“He’s back to the regular Joe Jackson, cracking jokes and talking,” family friend Rutt Premsrirut told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which also said wife Katherine Jackson was en route to Vegas from her L.A. home.

Joe Jackson has had small strokes twice before, Howansky said.

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