Roundup: Celebs Bid Farewell to MJ

Staple Center Memorial Sees Outpouring From Fans And Celebrities Alike

(CBS)  Thousands of fans joined family members and celebrity admirers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Tuesday to memorialize the life and career of Michael Jackson.

Here's a little of taste of the scene:

Update 1:07 p.m. ET: Smokey Robinson opened the ceremonies, reading letters to the Jackson family from the singer's friends, including Diana Ross and former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Update 1:19 p.m. ET: On CBS News' special coverage, R&B singer Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds told Katie Couric that "there was a certain kind of magic about" Jackson, who could act "silly" and "told jokes all the time."

Update 1:35 p.m. ET: Jackson's flower-laden casket was brought in front of the arena's stage by his brothers while a choir sang the hymn "Soon and Very Soon."

Update 1:43 p.m. ET: Mariah Carey opened the musical tribute portion of the memorial, singing "I'll Be There" with Trey Lorenz.

Update 1:51 p.m. ET: Queen Latifah spoke about how Jackson bonded with his fans. "You believed you were there with him and he was there with you."

She then read a poem by Maya Angelou, titled "We Had Him"

Some excerpts:

"With the abrupt absence of our treasure, each of us is achingly alone."

"We were enchanted with his passion…he gave us all he had been given."

Update 1:54 p.m. ET: Lionel Richie sang "Jesus is Love," a song performed by Richie's former group, The Commodores.

Update 2:05 p.m. ET: Iconic Motown producer Berry Gordy, who guided the Jackson 5 to stardom, said that Jackson was "like a son" to him.

He remembered being blown away when the 10-year-old Jackson auditioned for him with his brothers. Jackson "way beyond his years," he said.

Gordy said that Jackson was shy off-stage, but when he performed "he turned into another person - a master, a take-no-prisoners showman."

Saying the title "King of Pop" wasn't big enough for him, Gordy called Jackson "the greatest entertainer that ever lived."

Update 2:07 p.m. ET: Crowd is shown a video montage charting his rise from child star to pop icon.

Update 2:12 p.m. ET: Stevie Wonder took the stage to perform "Never Can Say Goodbye," personalizing the lyrics for Jackson.

Before singing, Wonder said that while his fans and loved ones needed Jackson, "God must have needed him far more."

Update 2:23 p.m. ET: Current and former L.A. Lakers Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson spoke.

Bryant praised Jackson's charity despite growing up from "humble roots."

Johnson shared some personal anecdotes of spending time with the Jackson family. One night at dinner, Johnson said he was shocked when the chef brought out a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken for the King of Pop.

"Michael, you eat Kentucky Fried Chicken!?" Johnson remembered saying. "That made my day. That was the greatest moment of my life."

Johnson also credited Jackson for making him a better basketball player "by watching his greatness" as a performer.

Johnson closed praising Jackson as a pioneer who opened doors to other African-American entertainers and performers.

Update 2:25 p.m. ET: Jennifer Hudson performed "Will You Be There."

Update 2:35 p.m. ET: The Rev. Al Sharpton praised Jackson as someone who "opened up the whole world" and "broke down the color curtain" in the world of entertainment.

"It was Michael Jackson who brought whites and blacks and Latinos and Asians together."

He even credited Jackson's appeal to all races as paving the way for the election of Barack Obama as president.

Sharpton also alluded to Jackson's reputation for odd behavior in a message to the singer's children.

"There was nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what he had to deal with. But he dealt with it anyway. He dealt with it for us."

Update 2:38 p.m. ET: John Mayer played lead guitar on a primarily instrumental rendition of "Human Nature."

Update 2:50 p.m. ET: An emotional Brooke Shields gave a tribute to Jackson's playful heart.

They bonded over "being in the spotlight from a very young age," she said.

"Both of us needed to be adults very early. But when we were together, we were two little kids having fun."

She said Jackson's "laugh was the sweetest and purest laugh of anyone's I had ever known."

Jackson's "sensitivity was even more extraordinary than his talent … Michael saw everything with his heart."

Update 2:53 p.m. ET: Jermaine Jackson performed "Smile" from the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie "Modern Times," which Brooke Shields said in her comments was Michael's favorite song.

Jermaine got through the song, but was noticeably choked up by the end.

Update 3:06 p.m. ET: Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, children of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. shared praise for Jackson as a fulfillment of their father's vision.

"My father once said that in life, one must discover what their calling is, and when they do, they must do their jobs so well that the living, the dead or the unborn could do them no better … Michael Jackson was truly the best of what he was," Martin said.

"Throughout the ages, few are chosen from amongst us to use their gifts and talents to demonstrate god's love in an effort to bring the world together in true sister and brotherhood. Michael was such a one. He epitomized the words of our father that an individual hasn't started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns, to the broader concerns of humanity," Bernice said.

Update 3:12 p.m. ET: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Tex., spoke about Jackson using his role as a music icon to help others.

"When we're at war, icons like Michael sing about healing the world. And so he called us into public service. It did not matter whether we were black or white. He even told us to 'Beat It' - beat the violence, and look at yourself in the mirror."

"What a miraculous experience to be able to listen and see Michael in action. There were words cast about, but I wonder if anybody was on his shoulder when he walked into Walter Reed hospital, and he walked along the aisles in the rows in the hospital room. This was in the midst of the Iraq war, doctors stopped and nurses stopped, and individual soldiers who had lost limbs, stopped. And they were in essence moved and touched, as Michael was, by his desire to come and thank them for their sacrifice."

Update 3:15 p.m. ET: Usher performed "Gone Too Soon," a song Jackson wrote for Ryan White, an 18-year-old HIV/AIDS victim he had befriended.

Update 3:21 p.m. ET: Smokey Robinson shared some humorous anecdotes about listening to Jackson perform one of his songs, "Who's Loving You," as a 10-year-old.

Robinson said he was amazed at how the young Jackson could sing a song that required so much emotional maturity.

"How could be possibly know these things."

Robinson joked that he went to check Jackson's birth certificate after the performance.

Update 3:30 p.m. ET: Poignant close to the show, with the Jackson family, including his three children, joining performers who were to be in Jackson's upcoming tour on stage to sing "We Are The World" and "Heal The World."

Update 3:45 p.m. ET: Jackson's family had emotional words of tribute, none moreso than his daughter Paris, who spoke at the very end.

"Ever since I was born, Daddy had been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just want to say 'I love you so much,'" she said before breaking down.

[lgail1]

I love you brianbwb-2009! You are echoing my true sentiments to these insensitive idiots that are posting these ridiculous comments. Regardless of MJs skin color, he never renounced being Black or spoke against the Black race. The race of his children cannot be confirmed because there are MANY Black Americans that are the same complexion as those children. As far as the race card- some of you love to accuse people of 'using the race card'when you don't have anything else to say!

[xlib]

brianbwb-first of all,love the new soundbite-ILK!! The lib word of the day.
As for my "supporting wars", how do you know I support wars? Because I'm not a flaming liberal. How very elitist of you.
And brian, my racist buddy, again, this guy tried to be white so, catch up on the posts and tell us all how it's all the white man's fault.
As for taxes, well, seems that your messiah has an administration chock full of people who don't pay taxes. And my hating friend, the money for this will come from the taxpayer. That is, those of us that pay.
As for the kkk, so glad your senator kkk byrd is out of the hospital. Did you know your senator from WV, the klansman, was ill? YOU DIDN'T?? Well, seems that your party, the party of segregation sent the klansman an autographed sheet as a get well token. I do believe it was one of his own.
Now, brian, let's read some more hate from the left.

[xlib]

brianbwb-There you are my little race card baiting lib. Whew, it's been kind of race card free on the jackson thing. So, here's an entertainer, and no one is doubting his talent, that has been pretty much broke for quite some time and NOW look at the circus you libs have created. Where all these people years ago to help him??
As for the race issue, well, for someone who tried real, real, real, real hard to be WHITE that is so funny. Sure, it was the jackson 5 that got him into the mainstream but after that-BAMM! he tries to go white. He marries a white woman, his "supposed" children are by a white woman. And, brian, my racist buddy, they look pretty white to me.
But, hey, as a typical hating racist you'll blame that on whitey too,won't you?
It must be so comforting to know that all you have to do is play that race card and many people will back off. Well, that tide appears to be turning.

S0, he's dead a buried and hi BLACK family can now fight over any money this pathetic soul left.

[Sharkdog2000]

The vast majority of us have no clue about his medical history (kindly described here as "turning into a white woman") or his alleged "perverted" behavior (of which he was never found guilty), beyond what's been read in the gossip rags. Seriously, I mean come on! As flawed as he may have been, remember that many of his troubles were fueled by the relentless paparazzi and/or greed from people he mistakenly trusted. How would any of us deal with such hounding, every place, every day of our entire lives?

Remember, please that this is a man who had family and many, many friends who loved and cared about him. How bad could he be, to have maintained those relationships over the years? Everyone should just stop with all the cruel, hateful comments & instead shine a light on all the wonderful gifts he left this world. His children will be the ones who have to take the brunt of the negativity now & we should honor his memory by being kinder to them than we were to their daddy.

[brianbwb-2009]

Shark, you speak as a civilized person, unfortunately those to whom you address your points have no idea of civilization, they are simply projecting their self loathing onto a convenient target, most likely because they and their future generations will never be able to walk the first steps of such as Mr. Jackson.

They have nothing positive inside them so they have nothing positive to contribute to the discussion, but their misplaced ego moves them to judge someone whose contributions to world culture dwarf exponentially any thing they might conceive, they have nothing left but vitriol.

They cannot be reasoned with, only pitied.

[joy2u2]

My sinless brother is my guide to peace

Judgment and love are opposites. From one comes all the sorrows of the world. From the other comes the peace of God. Judgment will bind my eyes and make me blind

qoute- " A Course in Miracles"

[xlib]

While jackson was broke and owing a ton of money, where were these limo/lear libs? Now, when they have an opportunity for photo ops, out they come.
The other issue is the massive cost of the circus, who will pay for this?

[brianbwb-2009]

As long as you aren't paying for it, what business is it of yours? Best concern yourself with real questions, like who will pay for the wars you supported.

And before you start spewing about taxes, we know that such as your ilk will lie, cheat, and otherwise avoid and evade paying them anyway, so you will make no valid point in that regard either.

[joy2u2]

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings having a human experience."

quote -Pierre Teilhard de Cardin

[staysy1]

It sickens me that people can be so hateful to a fellow human being. Regardless of your opinion, have respect for the human life and realize that the man was a father to 3 children who love him and miss him terrible. How empty some souls must be to find joy or humor in the loss of life. My prayers are with those of you who lack compassion for life and family.

[xlib]

If you read the posts you will see that the majority are slamming the media and the disgusting "superstars" who are taking advantage of him-yet again.
He does not warrant this circus and that's what the media has made of his life and death.
Keep your prayers, no matter how well intentioned and READ the posts.
This display has been disgusting. He was not a saint, he was not a hero, he was not a role model. He was tragic in his life and these leeches are taking advantage.

[brianbwb-2009]

To xlib

You are the one with reading comprehension problems, you and your ilk preface your slamming of the media with unproven speculations about their subject matter in this case, for honoring someone whom you slam for no other real reason than you didn't care for him.

Guess what, some of us, myself being one, were never Elvis fans, but at least we had the civility to let those who did love the man celebrate his life.

That such as you find honoring a person who has had such a positive impact on the world disgusting is nothing less than an honor, for I doubt if people who make such contributions would welcome adoration from such hate filled people, it would be like receiving praise from the kkk.

[citizenusa-2009]

I have to admit that Al Sharpton is pretty smarmy...yikes! To his credit, I don't think he was one of MJ's best buds.

[citizenusa-2009]

People in Glass Houses should refrain from throwing large objects about...having said that, I want to point out that MJ never touched you, your children or anyone you know for that matter. He simply brought you music and entertainment.

You were privy to one of the finest entertainers in history and should be grateful for that. If all we had were Don Rickles, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lowhand, it would be a pretty bleak (and unentertaining) place...

[brianbwb-2009]

You know full what is at the core of their hate, the person being called the greatest entertainer is not "White", that is all it boils down to, the world has evolved past thge teachings of the parents of these types, and they are simpletons, incapable of evolving with it.

"These are people of the land, the common clay of the new west. You know... morons." - Jim to Sheriff Bart in Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles

[brianbwb-2009]

In his day, Don Rickles was quite entertaining, albeit on a different level. Anyone who can bring laughter to a generally non-funny existence is to be commended.

As for Britney and Lindsay, I had a few laughs because of them too, so let us not totally trash them, ok? I mean there are worse ways to make a living, look at Bush.

We could have laughed at him quite a bit, had the body count been zero.

[pozjetsfan]

Michael Jackson was perhaps the greatest showman to ever take a stage. His energy and soul he put into each and every performance will go down as legendary. Was Michael different, for sure. Was he at times out there, without question. But let's all remember him for who he was, the greatest performer of all time. RIP Michael.

[excoachken]

EXPLOITATION!!!!

[brianbwb-2009]

Are you any different, using this thread to complain, rather than starting your own site?

[Rocket-Gurl]

R.I.P. MJJ. The world will never forget...

[citizenusa-2009]

One question: Where were these "so called" friends when he was alone, afraid and self medicating himself because of the child abuse accusations? Hmmmmm?

That poor soul felt he had no one to turn to. Now after he is gone, the "superstars" are pushing each other in line to pay tribute. A little to late folks.

R.I.P. MJ. Hope you have real friends the next time around.

[brianbwb-2009]

One answer:

Many of these people have always been there for Michael, but Michael is an adult, and you can only help someone whose circumstance allows it, Michael's earning power attracted so many sharks and leeches, the greed of the business, and the childish jealousy of those who have no notable talent, which becomes a jealous monster that can devour presidents as well as kings.

I break my wall during this time because I did know him. He did have real friends, just because you don't know about them does not mean they did not exist.

You yourself couldn't imagine, much less endure what Mr. Jackson had to endure, people who were far less well known could not, so you should really refrain from commenting on subjects about which you know nothing.

[susiedicus]

A lot of love and warmth came near the end of the MJ memorial. Love you Michael.

[momofdaisy]

ENOUGH, PLEASE

[brianbwb-2009]

Turn the channel.

What's that, you say it is on all the channels? Well then, obviously it must be something special, so many people are interested. If you are not, maybe go on a picnic to the park, read a book, jog, you know, there are other things that can fill the time are there not?

[johninpennsyl]

Praise from Al Sharpton is a dubious honor.

[brianbwb-2009]

Just as derision from your ilk is a true honor.

[u-r-right]

Thank ya, Al! Thank ya, Al! Thank ya, Al! For bringing race into this. Michael did NOT breakdown any barriers for blacks. He ran away from his color and racism! And so should you. It's over. Get over it and find another way to make your money. YOU AL are the racist.

[xlib]

I agree.

[brianbwb-2009]

The Jackson 5 made it possible for traditionally "White" radio stations to play the music of "Black" people, and helped make it financially advantageous for "Black" artists to appear on mainstream television, in fact they were a step in getting America to the point of not being so afraid of us, and that, btw did help guide America toward today, when we have a "Black" president.

Perhaps you were too young at the time, or perhaps too racist, but you deny that which is historical and cultural fact.

I do understand how that must gall your ilk to its very core, it is your parent's worst nightmare, but for us it is the sign that we are winning the war against American apartheid. If you don't like it, then expatriation, or even suicide might provide some relief.

If, as you put it Al is a racist, there is at least one thing that can be said about it, throughout the history of America, people of your ilk have given plenty of reason for a "Black" man to find it expedient, even wise to be so.

[sly_64]

Only in America can a poor young black boy grow up to be a wealthy white woman.

[hildabrown]

Please.. enough already.. Bury him & get on with it...Remember he was a pervert..He liked "little boys". He was a strange person..turning himself white...Whats' up with that? He didn't want to be black. His kids are white..Doesn't that say anything to you?
How many soliders did we lose this week? Now that is important....

[brianbwb-2009]

What it says to me is that you have not evolved to modern humanity, where it is understood that the illusion of Race has nothing to do with anything, except as an excuse to seek a false self worth based on hatred of others.

As for the soldiers, it is not important, unless you want to bring those whose lies sent them to be lost, to justice, otherwise, you're just spewing.