BREAKING NEWS: Jackson Family Arrives at Forest Lawn For Michael’s Private Service; Body To Then Be Transported To Staples Center
Jul. 7 2009, Published 2:20 p.m. ET
The Jackson family has now arrived at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles for a private service to honor the late King Of Pop, Michael Jackson.
Several Limousines – carrying Jackson’s parents, siblings, and other family members – left the family’s home in Encino, California shortly before 8 a.m. PDT for the 12-mile journey to Forest Lawn. The caravan is being escorted by a large number of police.
The ceremony will be brief, and only attended by members of the Jackson family.
As RadarOnline.com reported earlier, in a surprising and stunning move, Jackson will not be buried Tuesday morning at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, as was first thought.
Instead, a source tells RadarOnline.com that the body of the King Of Pop –- enclosed in a $25,000 gold casket -- will be transported around 9 a.m. PDT to the Staples Center in L.A. where a massive public memorial will be held later in the morning.
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Our source tells RadarOnline.com that Jackson will not be buried Tuesday at Forest Lawn because, at this time, arrangements have not been made for the singer to be buried there. Instead, the source says several different scenarios could play out. The body could be kept at Forest Lawn until it is eventually buried there. Another possibility: Jackson’s body could be cremated and his remains laid to rest at his beloved NeverLand Ranch near Los Olivos in Santa Barbara County.
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After the private service Tuesday morning, Jackson’s body will be brought by limousine to the Staples Center, in time for the start of the 10am massive public memorial that will be broadcast live on television worldwide. Thousands of people will attend the 90-minute memorial, including a slew of stars such as Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey, Usher, Diana Ross, John Mayer, Queen Latifah and Stevie Wonder, among others. Jackson’s dear friend, Elizabeth Taylor, says she will not attend the memorial, preferring instead to grieve in private.
The source also tells RadarOnline.com that if traffic is bad around the Staples Center, the body could possibly be transported – not by limo – but by helicopter to the memorial.
At noon PDT, the body will be brought back to Forest Lawn for the time being.
Ironically, on this date back in 1988, Jackson was at the top of his game. He had the number one song in the country, Dirty Diana.