I'm a huge fan of both Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift.
I don't think Taylor mentions Michael much (aside from the clip above), but she is a huge Janet Jackson stan and considers her as one of her musical heroes. When I saw Taylor in concert this year, "All For You" was played before she went on. I'm sure she hand picked that because she's mentioned in interviews that it's one of her favorite Janet songs.
I don't think it's right to compare them as singers. Taylor is not a vocalist (although her voice is not bad); she's a singer songwriter who plays the guitar and piano, and sings the songs that she writes. Michael played instruments, but not well enough to play them in concert; his main instrument was his voice. It's like comparing Prince to Michael Jackson almost, because Prince was a musician who could play 27 musical instruments extremely well, but couldn't sing like Michael, either. Michael had a voice where he could sing anything and be admired as a vocalist first.
It's also unfair to compare Taylor and Michael as dancers. Michael had a gift at dancing, and could have made a career in dance outside of being a musician. Taylor Swift is a singer songwriter first, and dancer second (and even on her best days, she can't dance like Michael because practically no one can.)
I actually think Taylor could be better compared to Joni Mitchell, who was known as a singer songwriter. If Taylor Swift hadn't been marketed as a pop star who dances and puts on huge stage shows. I do think she is the biggest musician in the world right now, though.
