You may not be there in person, but Michael Jackson's memorial service is set to begin at the Staples Center in L.A. We'll be sharing live updates all afternoon long.
As the all-star lineup including Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Usher and Jennifer Hudson honors the late music icon this afternoon, we'll be posting updates throughout.
Oh, and we'd also like to express our gratitude to our men and women in uniform, along with the police and firefighters nationwide who keep our communities safe 365 days a year. See, Peter King? You can salute these heroes and MJ.
Let the orgy of glorification begin!
1:05 p.m. EST: Running out of things to talk about after 24-hour coverage for a week straight, CNN is debating whether Michael Jackson is considered a part of the black community, even if his children are white. Please, let the event start soon.
1:10 p.m. EST: Diana Ross' son, Evan, arrived with girlfriend Cora Skinner. Random.
1:12 p.m. EST: Smokey Robinson is kicking off the event via sattelite, reading a letter from Ross, one of Jackson's best friends, and to whom he named guardian of his children if his mother, Katherine, was unable to service in that capacity.
1:15 p.m. EST: A "moment of silence" has been going on for like three minutes.
1:19 p.m. EST: Images from around the U.S. of peeps watching on TV are shown.
1:21 p.m. EST: Security appears tight in downtown Los Angeles. CBS says it is on par with what was during the 1984 Olympics. Either way, this is hella boring.
1:22 p.m. EST: Kenny Ortega of High School Musical fame is apparently directing this event. He says Jackson was "ready" and "optimistic" for his upcoming tour.
1:30 p.m. EST: NBC is analyzing his finances and debating whether Michael Jackson is worth more dead than alive. We are starting to see Peter King's point.
1:34 p.m. EST: A gospel choir just turned in a terrific performance.
1:38 p.m. EST: Pastor Luscious Smith tells the crowd how Michael wanted nothing more than to share his love and soul with the world through music and deeds.
1:42 p.m. EST: Mariah Carey delivers a performance of "I'll Be There," a 1970 #1 hit for the Jackson 5, and that Carey remade into a hit of her own in 1992. Powerful.
1:47 p.m. EST: Queen Latifah pays tribute to Michael by reading a Maya Angelou poem called "We Had Him." She also talked of idolizing Jackson while growing up.
1:50 p.m. EST: Lionel Richie performs "Jesus is Love." Man, can he sing!
1:54 p.m. EST: Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, says that Michael Jackson not only raised the bar, he broke it. Berry says Michael was "like a son" to him, and after acknowledging his "sad times" and "questionable decisions," called him the greatest entertainer who ever lived. Classy speech from start to finish.
2:06 p.m. EST: A video tribute to Jackson is broadcast. It's great.
2:13 p.m. EST: Stevie Wonder sings "I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer," as the cameras show the Jackson brothers all wearing one white glove to honor Michael.
2:15 p.m. EST: Kobe Bryant is speaking. We just hit MUTE.
2:17 p.m. EST: Magic Johnson thanks MJ for opening up doors for African-Americans, and tearfully describes meeting the music legend as the best moment of his life.
2:21 p.m. EST: Jennifer Hudson covers Michael's hit "Will You Be There."
2:25 p.m. EST: The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks and credits Michael Jackson with everything from elevating the stature of African-American entertainers to getting Barack Obama elected president. Possibly a tiny bit of a stretch there.
2:35 p.m. EST: John Mayer is performing. He is a douchebag, to be sure, but he is playing a mean guitar here in this instrumental version of "Human Nature."
2:41 p.m. EST: Brooke Shields laughs, cries, reflects and chokes up as she remembers her old, dear friend. Very heartfelt, sweet, sad and funny all at once.
2:48 p.m. EST: Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson performs "Smile."
2:55 p.m. EST: Martin Luther King III, son of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bernice King, MLK's daughter, pay tribute to Jackson with a pair of moving speeches.
3:05 p.m. EST: Sheila Jackson-Lee, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, announces she is introducing a measure honoring MJ's humanitarianism.
3:09 p.m. EST: Usher sings in honor of Jackson.
3:14 p.m. EST: Smokey Robinson speaks about Michael's remarkable talent at such a young age, along with the youngster's fearlessness and ambition.
3:19 p.m. EST: Probably not by accident, a budding child prodigy in his own right, Shaheen Jafargholi, brings the house down with "Who's Lovin' You."
3:23 p.m. EST: Kenny Ortega presents a tribute to the fallen star.
3:26 p.m. EST: The Jackson brothers join together on stage for a stirring performance of "We Are the World," the song Michael made famous back in the '80s.
3:30 p.m. EST: Michael's brother Marlon Jackson speaks while the rest of his brothers - and his children - stand together on stage to say an emotional farewell.
3:41 p.m. EST: In the most unexpected and touching moment of the event, Michael's daughter Paris Jackson speaks and says Michael was the best father ever.
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12 Comments
July 7th, 2009 1:33 PM
MJ was a great artist but hopefully we can get back to real news after today. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?p=2088
July 7th, 2009 1:58 PM
Hollywood rumors straight from the production office I work in (hush hush!) are going around that a new movie is in planning which will be called 'The Two Kings' and it will focus on the life of both Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley (the king of pop and the king of rock-n-roll)
July 7th, 2009 2:57 PM
I can’t believe he is really gone. Looking at his videos and photos Im very sad. I am watching and listening live of the memorial in LA since sadly I did not win a ticket.
You can do the same here and feel like you are right there!
http://tinyurl.com/mmuwnw
July 7th, 2009 4:59 PM
I love Michael Jackson and I will miss him. So many people came out to honor him. Random, though, that Evan Ross is dating Brody Jenner's ex girlfriend.
July 7th, 2009 8:12 PM
SOU BRASILEIRO.NUNCA VAI TER OUTRO MAICOM JACKSON.
July 8th, 2009 1:59 AM
I wish I was one of the 11,000 lucky ticket-holders for this memorial. I love Michael Jackson so much, I grew up listening to his music. I'm so gonna miss him...
http://musicalgear.net/
July 8th, 2009 2:01 AM
Look at this AWESOME image of Michael Jackson with wings like an ANGEL!!! What a touching services for sure a unique and talented man...
http://www.cafepress.com/mjangel
July 8th, 2009 3:11 AM
I am a great Fan of micheal and he will 4vr remain a legend in my heart .
good or bad he lives on
Micheal i love you
July 8th, 2009 7:45 AM
It is the last chance to say goodbye to the pop icon, Michael Jackson on the touching.
And the best way to repeat your Michael Jackson memories is to treasure up my favorite Michael Jackson DVDs , playback on your portable player
http://blogs.digitalmediaonlineinc.com/bluegrass/entry/20090708
July 8th, 2009 9:11 AM
Just Brilliant and Befitting THE KING OF POP....THE KING OF HEARTS! It is impossible to come to grips with his passing! Delightful introduction... the heartfelt and emotional songs by Ms. Mariah Carey/ Mr. Trey Lorenz, Ms. Jennifer Hudson and Mr. Lionel Richie. Long overdue tribute by the Rev. Sharpton to the Jackson family and of course, the unconquerable MR. MICHAEL J. JACKSON. Sad, more of us don’t recognize the ill will done to Michael. Touching and tearful eulogy of Ms. Brooke Shields from the heart....and oh the rendition of Smile by Mr. Jermaine Jackson to his brother..... Michael is loved much. Dr. Martin Luther King’s family tributes, Mr. Stevie Wonder’s words and music, Queen Latifah, the other Mr. MJ & Mr. K.Bryant and that Mr. Mayer... Wow! ....HE IS PROBABLY SMILING NOW! Nice to see Ms. Sheila Jackson-Lee, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives stood so boldly announcing a measure honoring MJ's humanitarianism... overdue for this INCOMPARABLE BLACK AMERICAN.....wish my President Obama could have also stood up for this GREAT AMERICAN. Kudos Michael...BRAVE and TENDER HEART...yes you are gone too soon, Michael ....beautifully sung by Mr. Usher. I loved that young Michael singing Mr. Smokey's song. Oh, how grand was Shaheen. Mr. Kenny Ortega keep Michael alive! NOT A MOMENT OF DRY EYES THROUGH THIS ENTIRE SERVICE.....be proud AMERICA...The JACKSONS represent you well... YOU ARE THE WORLD, WE ARE THE WORLD ..that is why AMERICA must set the standard for the world like MICHAEL did for all of us. Mr. Gordy... Yes, Sir ...WE BELIEVE HE IS THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER and HUMANITARIAN THAT EVER LIVED! I AM SURE MICHAEL IS SMILING especially with his daughter's words!....and so should we and the Jackson family... JUST SMILE!!! Michael, you and your family are cleared of the old wickedness.....HOPE IT WILL BE A NEW, MORE LOVING POST-MICHAEL ERA FOR THE LIVING...something Michael did not experience these last years!! BRAVO organizers and all who participated. Wish we will keep Michael's MESSAGE and DREAM alive. Good Prayer, Pastor. I learnt something from Michael today...choose to see the best in everyone. Let bygones be bygones...Shed the old burdens...Tomorrow can be/is our NEW DAY!
Sincerely hope all of Michael’s angels today and many more that couldn’t be there today will not drop this ball....ALL WHO CAN OF THE MUSIC and ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, SPORTS INDUSTRY and every other INDUSTRY/’CORPORATION with CONSCIENCE’ including our President of our government industry; will make the CONNECTION OF HUMAN LOVE and COMPASSION that our world so desperately needs... in Darfur, Tamil Eelam, Palestine, Burma, Iran, Uighur-Xinjiang, Tibet and many more; cruelty to human beings everywhere in our world HAPPENING NOW. Lets do something in Michael’s honor and memory, America. Perhaps join forces in John Lennon’s honor too and many others too. The need to heal our world is bigger than all of us put together and more than any one of us, could do alone.