A truly touching tribute

Michael Jackson's memorial service, held today at LA's Staples Center was a moving, heartfelt and respectful tribute to a man some people consider the greatest performer to ever have lived. It was a carefully constructed event, performed with class and dignity -- no hamming, no upstaging, just genuine love and honor from a select few chosen to speak on his behalf and share their memories and thoughts about the King of Pop. Among those few was close friend Brooke Shields (who shared a very moving and private look into their relationship). But the truly tortuously sad moment came when MJ's daughter said a few words, then broke down in tears. For all that's been said, for all that's been surmised, it's clear people loved him. It's clear he had the support of his family, and maybe, in the end -- that speaks volumes. He was a complicated person, to say the very least. And I think my feelings about him will always be slightly conflicted. But, if his volume of work were to speak for itself, it tells the story of a deeply feeling soul who cared about this planet and the inhabitants who call it home. And, maybe that's the real story after all.

Jermaine, and all his brothers in attendance — as well as Janet Jackson — wore sequined gloves to honor their late brother, who famously wore a single glove. The Jackson brothers, who carried Michael’s casket onto the stage at the Staples Center, also wore yellow ties. [people]

The model-turned-actress spoke at the memorial about how they first met when she was 13 years old and instantly became friends...during her tearful eulogy, she smiled and said that "Michael always knew he could count on me to be his date." [us weekly]

“This is a moment that I wished I didn’t live to see come,” Stevie Wonder said at Michael Jackson’s memorial service in Los Angeles. “But as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good. And I do know that as much as we may feel, and we do, that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more. Michael I love you and I’ve told you that many times so I’m at peace with that.” Wonder then performed “Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer.” [people]

Mariah Carey performs “I’ll Be There,”...Trey Lorenz... joins Carey onstage at the service. The pair riffed a little bit of the Jackson 5’s “Never Can Say Goodbye” into their performance while people in the audience wept. [people]

As the star-studded tribute to the King of Pop concluded, Michael Jackson’s own children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael II (Blanket), 7, took the stage during a group performance of “Heal the World.” After the song, Paris gave an impromptu speech from the stage surrounded by the Jackson family. “I just want to say ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine,” she said through tears. “And I just want to say I love him so much.” Her aunt Janet Jackson then took her into her arms for a hug before the entire Jackson family then left the stage, closing the service that lasted more than two hours. [people]