BREAKING NEWS: Jackson Body Arrives At Staples Center For Public Memorial
July 7 2009, Published 4:04 a.m. ET
The body of Michael Jackson has now arrived at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the massive public memorial to honor the late King Of Pop.
Jackson’s body arrived shortly before 10 a.m. PDT Tuesday. His body – laying in a $25,000 gold casket - was brought by hearse to the Staples Center following a private service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
The private service was attended by Michael’s parents, siblings and members of the extended Jackson family.
The public memorial is expected to begin sometime after 10 a.m. PDT and is expected to last 90-minutes and will be televised live worldwide (click for a live feed).
Some 18,000 people are attending that memorial after winning free tickets to the event via a lottery over the internet.
6,500 other people will be able to watch the memorial on giant television screens nearby in the Nokia Theatre.
A slew of stars will also be there including Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey, Usher, Brooke Shields, John Mayer, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, Chris Brown, among many others.
Jackson’s good friend Elizabeth Taylor has said she will not attend the memorial, preferring instead to grieve in private.
Debbie Rowe -- Jackson’s ex-wife and mother of his two children – also says she will not attend, saying her presence there would only cause a distraction.
Earlier, it was believed that Michael would be buried Tuesday at Forest Lawn, but as RadarOnline.com reported earlier, that will likely not happen.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Michael Jackson's Family Arrives to View His Body
A 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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Michael Jackson: A Life In Pictures
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.
