Usher sings a touching rendition of “Gone Too Soon” next to the casket of legendary entertainer Michael Jackson at the public memorial service for the star held at Staples Center on Tuesday, July 7th in Los Angeles, California.
The whole service was a very touching and very well put together. Berry Gordy said it best, “To say he’s the king of pop is an understatement, he was the greatest performer that ever lived!”
Other performers and celebrities that attended the public service were: , John Mayer, Queen Latifah, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Brooke Shields, Al Sharpton, Jennifer Hudson and more. Check out all the photos below.
If you missed the full program, make sure to check out the CBS stream video we posted or CNN & YOUTUBE through out the upcoming hours. I’m pretty sure they will have it available somewhere.
long live the KING
REST IN PEACE MICHAEL JACKSON…something this world didn’t give you in your last days…
beautiful service
i truly enjoyed every part except one
Mariah
she really has lost her voice..when she and tre last sung that song it was fire..they totally butchered that song..i was cringin watchin that one part..im glad she went first tho and they got that out the way
i think i have to admit i forgot how good usher is as a singer
his performance was the first one that moved me to tears
I’m just now watch the coverage as I type (damn work computers). It was truly put together well.
And yeah Mariah was difficult to watch sing
usher made me cry!!! jennifer hudsons performance was amazing as well.
The memorial service was beautiful. I watched it via cnn at work.
Most touching moments was Stevie’s performance, Brooke Shields, them carrying out the casket and when Paris …”I love you”
Everything was heartfelt, the family held it together…
and Michael we love you!!
where was chris brown in the back row
What a beautiful service……….speechless!!!
R.I.P………..KING OF ENTERAINMENT.
(DEUCES UP IN THE AIR)!!!
The service was really good and was a touching send off for Michael Jackson. The people that sang did a very good job and I am proud of little Shaheen from the UK seen as he is so young. I also commend the bravery of Paris Jackson, it must have been very hard for her to say a single word, but she did and her words touched many hearts just like Michael did.
Martin Luther King Jnr daughter was excellent she is so eloquent and it was touching to hear how Michael had made Coretta Scott King smile.
The memorial service definitely helped me come to the realisation that Michael has gone and although he is not with us he will never be forgotten!!
Rest In Peace Michael Jackson and may your family find peace, in knowing that God wanted his child nearer to him.
beautiful service…
Beautiful beautiful moving tributes all….but Mariah did not sing that like she did in the 90′s…….no no…she should have sat this one out!
Do you remember the days when no matter how jacked up Mariah’s voice was, she would always pull it together and pull it off…she would even make the cracks sound melodic (kinda like Keyshia Cole tries to do now)….But it seems her voice is soooo far damaged now….It went from beautifully damaged and soulfully raspy (at the beginning of her career), to cute damaged (during the Rainow-Glitter era) and now it’s just…painfully damaged
I still enjoyed her perforamce, for its sentimental merit…No One should be singing that song, other than Michael or Mariah.
When Usher and Jermaine sang, I cried….When Al Sharpton spoke, my heart was extremely moved…his words were resonant and impactful, in the same way that Michael always was…RIP Michael
YEAH WHAT HAPPEN TO MARIAH’S VOICE!
IM WIT YOU #1 LONG LIVE THE KING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
R.I.P Michael Jackson. Always love you
Mariah Carey butchered that song,damn shame. I loved Stevie Wonder performance ,that’s one of my favorite songs from him.
How did they do that????????? If I was a singer. I would never be able to get through it without balling my eyes out.
Very nice memorial.
I agree with most of these comments, Mariah was not sounding that good.
Liked the other performances though.
I love you Michael and I will never forget you! R.I.P King of Pop!!! Best wishes from Germany, all my thoughts are with you!! I love you Michael Jackson!!
The memorial was so wonderful. The family did a great job organizing this and I’m glad that even during their time of grief, they were willing to share Michael with the world one last time and put together a service so amazing and respectful, it allowed all of us to say goodbye.
Some of the highlights definitely were Usher’s performance of “Gone Too Soon”, Jermaine Jackson singing “Smile” and Paris Jackson speaking about her father. Each of those moments had me in tears.
And while I love Mariah’s original rendition of “I’ll Be There”, her performance today was not up to par. Her vocals have definitely fallen off but I’m still glad she performed to show her love for MJ.
nothing happened to Mariah’s voice! she was emotional, & her voice was just shaky. does there have to be negativity? straighten up! I cried watching this… but The Memorial means closure. Michael can finally rest in peace now…
I love Mariah i really do… but what the hell has happened to her voice?? Usher did great i know Michael meant alot to him so it was sad to see him cry.
usher and jermaine moved me to tears..i FORGOT JERMAINE CAN SING like that…..jhud and lionel brought the church in….AL SHARPTON GREAT…pleasant surprise
I have felt sorrow due to MJ’s death, but I did not cry until I saw Paris….That is unbearable! Like Janet said at the BET awards “Michael was a Icon to yah, but to us, he was family”…Marlon’s speak was very GOOD as well! That was deep about him asking MJ to hug his twin in heaven:(. Tears are fillin up as I type. Very sad, sad couple of weeks. Its like Pop Culture frozed. Nothin is appealin like it was before. All these artifical artists now, make a mockery to what MJ did! People can ccompare Chris to MJ as they please, but truth is, he could never impact Pop culture for the better GOOD of society. Brown is does nothing but reinforce the stereoypical negro. But whatever….point blank when MJ left, a huge chunk of Pop culture left as well and it will never come back! We just have to settle for this garbage or truly take note of the past when it comes to musical quality.
R.I.P Michael Jackson
this memorial event was beautiful I loved Stevie Wonder and ushers performances
@23,
I was thinking the same thing. But honestly,I think she was choked up. It was all in her voice clearly. Trey, the dude who sang with her did his thang though!
Stevie and Usher were amazing.
Mariah
J Hud too much screaming for me, does she know how to sing without being that loud all the time? But what a beautiful service for a king.
RIP MJ !!! We love you and you will live forever in our hearts!!….I am watching the memorial on VH1 …..so touching and well put together….. I didn’t get a chance to watch the entire show today because of work…..My prayers goes out to the Jackson Family.
Hey yall… leave Mariah alone. She had to sing while (like all of us) emotional and sad. I can’t even speak when I am on the verge of crying never mind belt out a song. Mariah is still a powerhouse when it comes to singing. Give her a break (just like Jermaine) her voice was compromised due to emotions no doubt!
i loved the whole service!!! i wish people would stop bashing mariah for her performance…. she was all choked up…. you could tell!!! as for chris brown… with all due respect to the king of pop…. i don’t think chris should have been there!!! but obviously others think differently!!! i know at my funeral there better not be any women beaters/rapists/murderers/etc!!!…. i’d come down and knock people in the foreheads with my elbows!!!
That was awesome..it wasn’t crazy like people predicted…it was just flat out- a nice homegoing service fit for a king!
I definitely enjoyed all the performances and speakers. The songs relived his genius and showed us others. My favorite performances being Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Shaheen, and the group singing We Are The World. I applaud the Rev. Al Sharpton, Brooke Shields, Magic Johnson, Smokey Robinson, Martin L. King III and Bernice King, and that Texas rep for so eloquently making Michael seem so personable. Big Ups to little Paris- that was so brave of her.
And also big ups to the whole Jackson Family for holding it down. They looked amazing and did a great job holding it together. Them brothers {whistles} were CLEEEEEAN!
What a legacy he left behind. Never let it die. Long Live the King!!!
O H HCH NAH ! ! !
CONCRETELOOP, WTH is wrong wit yall putting this whack Mariah Carey wallpaper up after she just butchered that song and ridding us of our Michael. Can’t you read?! LONG LIVE THE KING…..
Yall and these BACKGROUNDS. First it was that Creepy ass Diddy cologne campaign and now Mariah….GOOOOOOOOOOOOONE NOW WIT DIS FOOLISHNESS.
Mariah should’ve lip synced
Usher did wonderful
Jen was okay, I could’ve done without the yelling
I loved John Mayer’s performance
Paris made me cry so much.. god bless those beautiful kids!
Like everybody said, it was a beautiful service, but I was wondering where Oprah was. Im surprised she wasn’t there of all people. Usher definitely moved me with his performance but seeing Paris..man that was too much to even bear. I feel for these three kids.
seem like Mariah was emotional but its great she was there along with every performr and speakr. Al Sharpton brought the church fahreal tho. Magic story bout MJ and KFC was funny and appropiate cuz Id nevr think he’d eat sme chickn lol.
why DA FUK IS MARIAH CAREY WALL PAPER UP??
GOOD MEMORIAL SERVICE EVERYBODY DID GREATTTT TREY TOTALLY SAVED MARIAH’S PREFORMANCE SHOUT OUTS 2 MY COUSIN TREY LORENZ !!!!!!
R.I.P. Michael…maybe they will leave you alone now!
JHud looks so cute.
Beautiful service.
DANGGGG THEY GOT CHRIS IN THE AUDIENCE. IN THE COBB WEB SEATS. RIP MJ
#33 thats what I was thinking (sort of)
What a great way to promote your new single Mariah….
Sing live in front of almost a billion people across the world and do a HORRIBLE job at it. lol
SMH @ Mariah. Something about Usher’s performance & him touching that casket bothered me…Paris killed me. John Mayer killed it. Of course CB was going to be there.
The memorial was very heartfelt and MJ will never be forgotten glad all that could make it went and thanks to the media for covering it for those who couldnt make it there but could watch live. Although Chris Brown had his own drama w/ Rhi Rhi I’m glad he got to atleast sit in on the memorial because he truly was a fan. People who still hating on him about that let it go the boy is 19 or 20 and he is young and made mistakes..give him another chance if he messes up again then feed him to the bears..lol…I mean besides MJ supposedly had his indiscretions, T.I., Usher, Rihanna because I don’t even like Chris Brown but I believe in all fairness and she played her part and was fighting and hitting on that boy as well(court order is for her to stay away from him and vice versa they dont give orders like that to victims) Plaxico,Mike Tyson(beat on Robin Williams) he changed and ppl still love him, Lil Kim..the list goes on and on I’m just saying people make mistakes..but they learn to rebuild and become better and we learn to forgive.
THEY GOT CHRIS SITTING WITH THE BODY GUARDS.. WAITING FOR HIM TO LAY A HAND ON SOMEONE.
Again just a great service really touching…I have a new found respect for Al Sharpton a fantastic speech, fantastic.
There was just no way you could not feel something during that memorial.I cried when Usher and Stevie sang,I cried when Brooke spoke and I cried when Paris spoke about her father.It’s time to bury al that everyone thinks he did wrong,I hate the fact that his kids can’t turn the TV on without hearing their father being put down and that’s not his fault it’s the media’s.Let this family rest and please allow his kids the great memories they have of their father.
Mariah’s performance was good, she had trouble with some of the high notes, but other than that it was a nice performance I cried throughout the whole memorial.
~Love you Michael Jackson Rest in Peace~
If you have nothing positive to say about this man just leave him alone.
This is NOT about MARIAH CAREY. She was emotional and Natural, it wasn’t all about her CHEST AND HIGH HEELS. We all know she’s 39 and her voice has NOT held up like Chante Moores, Gladys Knight etc… her voice is damaged from giving YOU people all those high notes and belting notes for 16 years…
the woman’s voice is on it’s last leg. But i’m glad her lazy scared to sing live ass, came to support Michael.
Mariah sounding a mess has been an ongoing issue for a year now…WE wouldnve had that problem if FANTASIA would have been there….to bad shes on the Color Purple again.
Beautiful, touching memorial. Rest In Peace to Michael Jackson. He will surely live on in our hearts.
it was so nice I’m recording the memorial service.My heart just melt especially when Usher was singing and John Mayer was playing my favorite song “Human Nature”. I’m going miss him but his music will live on forever.
Great Service. Paris made me cry. I am glad that she spoke because the media always dogges MJ on how he treated those kids. Her words spoke volume on how well he treated his kids.
As for Chris Brezzy being there, I am glad that the family invited him. The man made a mistake and let him pay his dues and move on with his life. Abuse can be mental or physical. So if no women abusers should have been there, the place would have been 1/2 empty.
Nobody said anything about KOBE being on stage speaking and he was accused of RAPE.
I don’t Mariah was that horrible I think she was trying to keep from crying
Jen is big!
I also agree with you Nay, Chris made a mistake and we need to move on from it.
Chris like many others have been touch by Michael’s music and he deserves to be there to remember his role model
So Sad
No one has said anything about Kobe being on stage. He was accused of rape and paid his way out of it. The last I check, raping a women is a crime also.
If we can forgive Kobe, then we should be able to forgive Chris Brown. He is a kid. Hopefully, he learned from it and it want happen again.
Nay, I wasn’t talking about Kobe I was just talking about Chris, and how people should move on from his mistake
IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! PARIS DID IT FOR ME I JUST BROKE DOWN!!!! MY HEART GOES OUT TOO HIS KIDS!!!!!! TAKE YOUR REST MICHAEL WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU MICHAEL, NO MATTER WHAT!!! I MUST CONFESS I DIDN’T AGREE WIHT UR CHOICES OF DECISION AND OTHER THINGS IN THE PAST BUT I NEVER WISH DEATH ON NO ONE, NOT EVEN ON MY GREATEST ENEMIES! YOU’VE GIVEN ME AN ETERNITY OF MEMORIES EVEN THOUGH IM 26 YOU, PRETTY MUCH SHAPED THE WAY I SAW MUSIC AS A CHILD AND AS AN ADULT!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOUR WONDERFUL KIDS AND ONCE AGAIN I LOVE YOU MAY YOUR GENTLE SOUL REST IN PEACE!!! LONG LIVE THE KING