Several newspaper articles quote Don Weiss as stating that the hoax was inspired by Betty Johnson’s 1958 hit song “The Little Blue Man.”

Cover of "The Little Blue Man" Betty Johnson Sheet Music.
Hoax inspiration: Betty Johnson’s version of “The Little Blue Man” by Paul Klein and Fred Ebb.

The Wikipedia article reference below as well as a quick web search does not suggest that Betty Johnson ever knew of her connection to three young Michigan men and the Huron County-wide mayhem caused by the suggestion of a persistent blue alien running amok.

Betty Johnson passed away on November 6, 2022, according to the Betty Johnson official website. 

“The Little Blue Man” was one of Johnson’s biggests hits and can be heard on this tribute video. But listen at your own risk, because it is a novelty recording. The song is silly and an earworm. If you like it, you can purchase Betty’s Hits — Vol. 1, which includes “The Little Blue Man” and other more serious songs.

Wikipedia contributors. “Betty Johnson.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Johnson. Web. Accessed 14 June 2025.