The public memorial service
Posted: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 1:00 PM
3:47 p.m. ET
-- The Rev. Lucius Smith delivers a closing prayer. "The King of
Pop must bend his knee to the King of Kings," he says.
3:42 p.m. ET -- The service ends. Pallbearers wheel the casket out of the center as individuals call out, "I love you, Michael!"
3:40 p.m. ET -- Jackson's daughter, Paris, addresses the crowd: "Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father I can imagine," she says before dissolving in tears. "I just wanted to say I love him so much."
3:39 p.m. ET
-- Marlon Jackson recalls Michael Jackson's difficult childhood,
recalling him being ridiculed for being different. "Maybe now, Michael,
they will leave you alone," he says.
3:36 p.m. ET -- "I hurt," adds brother Marlon Jackson.
3:35 p.m. ET
-- As friends and family embrace behind him, Jermaine Jackson takes the
mike and thanks everyone for attending.
3:34 p.m. ET -- Crowd on its feet as the song ends.
3:29 p.m. ET
-- Now its the kids' turn, including Jackson's son, Prince Michael, as
they join the adults to sing "Heal The World."
3:28 p.m. ET
-- Family and dozens of the performers from the service are on the
stage. Big applause as they finish up "We Are The World."
3:25 p.m. ET -- Group ensemble sings "We Are The World."
3:23 p.m. ET -- Kenny Ortega, Jackson's choreographer for Jackson's London tour, addresses the crowd.
3:22 p.m. ET -- Jafargholi thanks Jackson for "blessing me and every other person on earth."
3:19 p.m. ET -- Shaheen Jafargholi, a finalist from "Britain's Got Talent," sings "Who's Loving You?"
3:18 p.m. ET
-- Robinson says Jackson will live forever in heaven and on earth,
saying his musical legacy will never be forgotten.
3:15 p.m. ET
-- Robinson says young Jackson was able to communicate musically far
beyond his years: " I did not believe that someone that young
could have that much feeling and soul and 'know.'"
3:13 p.m. ET -- Smokey Robinson, who wrote the song, returns to stage and recalls his first meeting with the Jacksons.
3:12 p.m. ET
-- Video clip shows the Jackson 5 singing "Who's Loving You?"
in an early appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
3:11 p.m. ET -- An emotional Usher removes dark glasses as he concludes, shares a group hug with the Jacksons.
3:08 p.m. ET -- Usher takes the stage to sing Jackson's "Gone Too Soon."
3:06 p.m. ET
-- Rep. Jackson Lee recalls Michael Jackson visit to Walter Reed
military hospital to visit wounded soldiers and speaks of his
philanthropy: "Michael never stopped giving."
3:01 p.m. ET
-- Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas addresses the crowd. She refers to
accusations of child abuse against Jackson in reminding the crowd that
the U.S. Constitution guarantees that a person is considered "innocent
until proven guilty."
2:59 p.m. ET -- Bernice King calls Jackson "a thoughtful and selfless man full of unconditional love."
2:57 p.m. ET
-- Martin Luther King III tells a parable of a street-sweeper
who became the best street-sweeper ever to illustrate Jackson's
devotion to being "a great entertainer who did his job well."
2:53 p.m. ET -- Martin Luther King III and Bernice A. King, children of Martin Luther King Jr., take the stage.
2:52 p.m. ET -- Jermaine Jackson returns to the family seating area in front of the stage.
2:48 p.m. ET
-- Jermaine Jackson sings "Smile," the theme music for Charlie
Chaplin's 1936 film, "Modern Times." Michael Jackson also
recorded the song.
2:47 p.m. ET
-- Shields reads from "The Little Prince." She concludes by quoting
from the song "Smile" and reminding the crowd that "we need to smile."
2:45 p.m. ET
-- Fighting back tears, Shields continues: "To the people who were
lucky enough to know him personally, he was caring, funny, honest,
pure, nonjaded and he was a lover of life. He cared so deeply for his
family, his friends and his fans."
2:43 p.m. ET
-- Shields says Jackson tried unsuccessfully to teach her the moonwalk.
She recalls that "Michael loved to laugh" and that his laugh was "the
sweetest and purest of anyone that I have ever known."
2:40 p.m. ET -- Actress Brooke Shields says she "had the most natural and easiest of friendships" with Jackson.
2:39 p.m. ET -- Mayer embraces Jackson's after he leaves the stage.
2:36 p.m. ET -- Choir chimes in with the refrain: "Why? Why? Tell them that it's human nature."
2:33 p.m. ET -- Crowd claps in accompaniment as John Mayer plays "Human Nature."
2:32 p.m. ET
-- Sharpton concludes heartfelt appreciation of Jackson. "Thank you,
Michael! Thank you, Michael! Thank you, Michael."
2:31 p.m. ET
-- As the service continues, Forest Lawn issues a press release saying
that Jackson's body "is not coming back here" and instructing the media
to "vacate ASAP."
2:29 p.m. ET
-- Sharpton continues to praise Jackson as instumental in breaking down
racial barriers: "He created a comfort level where people who felt they
were separate became interconnected with his music. ... Michael made us
love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other."
2:27 p.m. ET
-- Sharpton: "He never gave up a dream. It was that dream that changed
culture all over the world... Because Michael kept going, because he
didn't accept limitations... he opened up the whole world."
2:26 p.m. ET -- The Rev. Al Sharpton, a longtime family friend, speaks.
2:24 p.m. ET -- Emotional voice-over by Michael Jackson concludes the song.
2:22 p.m. ET -- Jennifer Hudson, 7-months pregnant sings the Jackson 5's "Will You Be There?"
2:20 p.m. ET -- Magic Johnson says Jackson's children will be well cared for by the Jackson clan.
2:18 p.m. ET
-- Johnson says he's known the Jacksons for 30 years. He recalls being
invited by Michael Jackson to co-star in a music video with the late
"King of Pop." Jackson family responds with grins and applause.
2:16 p.m. ET
-- Basketball stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson address the crowd.
Bryant says Jackson set the Guinness Book of World records by
supporting the most charities.
2:15 p.m. ET -- Rousing applause as Wonder leaves the stage.
2:10 p.m. ET -- Wonder performs “Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer," from his 1971 album “Where I’m Coming From,” then segues into his "They Won't Go When I Go."
2:08 p.m. ET
-- Stevie Wonder takes the stage: "This is a moment that I wish I
didn't live to see come. But as much as I can say that and mean
it, I do know that God is good. And I do know as much ... as we needed
Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more."
2:07 p.m. ET -- Jackson video montage showcases his dance moves, the adoring fans, his kids and his efforts on behalf of charity.
2:04 p.m. ET -- The crowd greeted Gordy’s comment with “a huge roar and a standing O,” msnbc.com’s Courtney Hazlett reports.
2:03 p.m. ET -- Powerful close from Motown’s Gordy: “I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.”
1:59 p.m. ET -- More
from Gordy: “When he did his iconic moonwalk, I was shocked. It was
magic. Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down.”
1:56 p.m. ET -- Berry
Gordy: "He raised the bar and then broke the bar. … Michael had a
quality that I couldn’t completely understand. But we all knew he was
special."
1:52 p.m. ET -- Lionel Richie sings “Jesus is Love” with Gospel choir back-up.
1:49 p.m. ET -- More from msnbc.com’s Courtney Hazlett inside the center: “No backing tracks here. This is the real deal. Amazing!”
1:46 p.m. ET --
Queen Latifah offers tribute to Jackson: "All you people who came to
pay respect to someone you felt was one of you ... a human being first."
1:45 p.m. ET -- She is joined in duet by Trey Lorenz, who recorded the song with her.
1:40 p.m. ET -- Mariah Carey sings Jackson's "I'll Be There," a No. 1 hit for the Jackson 5 in 1970.
1:39 p.m. ET -- Pastor
Lucius Smith addresses the crowd: “As long as we remember our time with
him, the truth is he is never really gone at all. As long as we
remember him, he will be there forever to comfort us.”
1:35 p.m. ET -- Gospel singers perform "We are Going to See the King."
1:33 p.m. ET -- Music resumes. Msnbc.com’s Courtney Hazlett reports from within the Staples Center: “I have never seen such a large, respectful group of people in one place. Nearly complete silence for almost 15 minutes.”
1:30 p.m. ET -- More from Diana Ross’ condolence message: Jackson
was "part of the fabric of my life in a way that I can't seem to find
words to express. Michael wanted me to be there for his children, and I
will be there if they ever need me. I hope today brings closure for all
of those who loved him. Thank you Katherine and Joe for sharing your son with the world and with me. I send my love and condolences to the Jackson Family."
1:22 p.m. ET -- Long silence continues after Robinson’s reading.
1:20 p.m. ET -- People.com’s TVWatch blog reports that Stevie Wonder will sing the song “Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer,” from his 1971 album “Where I’m Coming From,” at the memorial.
1:16 p.m. ET -- More
celebrity sightings at the service: Terry Crews of "Everybody Hates
Chris," Lou Ferrigno, the former "Incredible Hulk" star and Jackson's
personal trainer; Omarosa of "The Apprentice"; and Mike Tyson.
1:14 p.m. ET -- Message from Nelson Mandela, also read by Robinson, closes with words to family: “Be strong”
1:12 p.m. ET -- Public memorial service begins with Smokey Robinson reading of condolence message from Diana Ross.
1:08 p.m. ET -- The
Associated Press describes the venue: “A stage was bathed in blue light
and a spray of yellow and orange flowers was placed in front of a
podium. The backdrop features a photo of a smiling Jackson looking up
toward the sky and the words: "In loving memory of Michael Jackson King
of Pop. 1958-2009."
1:04 p.m. ET -- An announcement inside the Staples Center says the performance will start in 10 minutes.
Click here to read posts preceding the public service.
