Michael Jackson's body, in a golden (coffin), took centre stage as an estimated one billion people watched the biggest (celebrity) send-off of all time last night.
The singer once said his own (funeral) would be the "greatest show on earth" and he would not have been disappointed as music (royalty) turned out at a memorial service for the "King of Pop".
Many of the 11,000 fans who had (won) tickets in a global online lottery were reduced to tears as a stellar line-up, including Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, and Smokey Robinson (appeared) in an emotionally charged atmosphere at the Staples Center sports arena in Los Angeles. Jackson's children (sat) in the front row of the crowd close to his coffin.
Among the singers (chosen) to perform was Shaheen Jafargholi, a 12-year-old from Swansea, who rose to (prominence) after singing the Jackson 5 song "Who's lovin' you" on ITV's Britain's Got Talent.
The ceremony began with a (message) of condolence from Nelson Mandela calling the singer a "giant and a (legend)".
Jackson's ￡15,000 coffin was then (wheeled) into the arena. It was made of solid bronze, plated with 14-karat gold and had a blue (velvet) interior.
It was placed in front of a stage (decorated) with extravagant floral tributes and a screen proclaiming: "In Loving memory of Michael Jackson, King of Pop 1958 - 2009".
Mariah Carey performed the Jackson 5 hit "I'll Be There" and was (followed) by the singer Queen Latifah, who fought back tears as she told the audience: "Michael was the (biggest) star on earth. In Birmingham, Alabama and in Birmingham, England we are missing Michael Jackson. We are the world."
Jackson's brothers, in the audience, wore single (sparkling) white gloves, echoing the singer's signature style. Eerie images of Jackson during his life and career were projected above his coffin.
Before performing, Stevie Wonder told the (audience): "This is a moment I wished I didn't live to see come. Michael, I love you and I told you that many times."
Notable absentees included Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two (elder) children, who was invited but stayed (away) so as not to cause an "unnecessary distraction".
Elizabeth Taylor, a long time friend of Jackson, also stayed (away), saying: "I cannot be part of the public hoopla. I love him too much."
Outside the arena tickets changed (hands) for hundreds of dollars but fears that up to 700,000 ticketless fans would besiege the building did not materialise.
Earlier, the singer's family and (closest) friends had gathered at Forest Lawn memorial park, a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills The mourners included his three children Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, seven, all (clad) in black.
As the family (emerged) from the cemetery's Hall of Liberty, Paris clutched the hand of the singer's mother Katherine, 79, a Jehova's Witness, and his brothers helped (load) the coffin, covered in red flowers, into a plain black hearse..
It was then driven 11 miles to the memorial service (escorted) by the California Highway Patrol. A helicopter had been on standby in case the (roads) were blocked by traffic.
It was not clear where the body would be (taken) after the memorial service, although it was likely to go back to Forest Lawn for (burial).
Jackson's grave would (remain) secret as the cemetery never reveals the resting spot of its famous clients and some areas are closed (off) to the public.
Other stars known to be buried in the (cemetery) include Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Liberace, Bette Davis and Marvin Gaye.
Question)
1. How do you think of MJ's passing away and the memorial service?
2. Why could MJ win so much respect?
