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 07 July Michael Jackson given send-off fit for superstar
Michael Jackson's family and fans paid tribute to the pop superstar at an emotional memorial service in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.
The venue is where Jackson had been rehearsing a comeback show before his sudden death, aged 50, on 25 June.
The singer's coffin was placed in front of the stage during the event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after an earlier private funeral.
From the world of music Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey paid tribute before the family joined a sombre finale on stage.
Stevie Wonder said: "This is a moment I wished I didn't live to see come. Michael I love you."
Mariah Carey opened the show, performing I'll Be There, ending with the words: "We miss you."
Jackson's brother Jermaine took to the stage to perform the heart rending song, Smile, made famous by Nat King Cole. The song is reputed to have been one of Michael’s favourite, featuring the lyric: "Smile though your hearts are aching."
Others paying tribute included Jennifer Hudson, and actresses Queen Latifah and Brooke Shields.
Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton gave a fiery speech, telling Jackson's children: "There weren't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with but he dealt with it."
Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label who signed the Jackson Five, ended his tribute with the words: "Michael, thank you for the joy, thank you for the love. you will live in my heart forever."
The 17,500 people in the arena cheered as clips of Jackson's life and music were played on big screens.
Messages were read from absent guests including former South African President Nelson Mandela, poet Maya Angelou and singer Diana Ross.
More than 1.6 million fans applied to attend the memorial event, with 8,750 people chosen at random to receive a pair of tickets. Millions of fans around the world watched on TV.
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