Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Michael Jackson In Memoriam @ Staples Center

Below are several of the biggest moments from Michael Jackson's memorial. Some are light-hearted, some are heart-breaking, but all are memorable.

Brooke Shields, a very good friend of Jackson's, shared some of her favorite memories. Ms. Shields choked up a bit at the end of her speech, giving a voice to many in the audience and at home who must have felt the same way.

The Reverend Al Sharpton credited Jackson with demolishing racial barriers. Sharpton also called on fans to not focus on the scars of Jackson's career, but to focus on the journey. To Jackson's kids he said: "There wasn't nothing strange about your daddy."

Magic Johnson's humorous story about how he was shocked to discover that a huge star like Michael Jackson enjoyed Kentucky Fried Chicken gave fans an insider's glimpse into an unknowable icon.

With all the star-power in the room, it was less expected that a 12-year-old from the U.K. would make a huge impression at the memorial, but Shaheen Jafargholi's performance of the Jackson 5's "Who's Loving You" inspired a raucous round of applause.

Jennifer Hudson is no stranger to tragedy. Perhaps that's why her performance of "Will You Be There" came across as one of the memorial's most special moments.

Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson performed MJ's favorite song: "Smile." The lyrics were especially poignant: "Smile, what's the use of crying/You'll find that life is still worthwhile/If you just smile."

Perhaps the most touching moment came at the very end of the memorial when Michael's daughter, Paris, expressed her love for her late father.





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