The Staples Center hosted the public memorial service. Jackson had held the final rehearsal for his upcoming "This Is It" tour at the 20,000-seat venue, just two days before to his death.

A glossy, full-color, 12-page program featured photos of Michael Jackson with his family, friends and dignitaries, as well as performing.

Michael Jackson's father, Joe, acknowledges the crowd outside the Staples Center prior to the public memorial service.

Michael Jackson's son, Prince Michael, arrives inside the Staples Center with his aunt Latoya (under hat) and grandfather Joe.

Actor Corey Feldman, a friend of Jackson's, attended the service in an outfit inspired by the King of Pop.

Michael Jackson's brothers, Randy, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito, serve as pallbearers, each wearing a single, sequined glove.

Michael Jackson's casket is brought to the front of the stage as the Andrae Crouch Choir sings the hymn "We Are Going to See the King."

Michael Jackson's family friend, Pastor Lucious Smith, welcomes the crowd and returns to provide the final words and prayer for the service.

As the opening performance, Mariah Carey sings her version of the Jackson 5 ballad "I'll Be There" (one of her hit covers in the 90s) alongside former back-up singer Trey Lorenz.

Queen Latifah refers to Michael Jackson as "the biggest star on Earth" and reads a poem by Maya Angelou called "We Had Him."

With a classic photo of himself and Michael Jackson in the background, Lionel Richie performs a powerful rendition of The Commodores' "Jesus Is Love."

"This is a moment that I wish I didn't live to see," Stevie Wonder says before his performance of "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" that transitions to "They Won't Go When I Go."

Magic Johnson tells a funny memory of the time he went to visit Michael Jackson to discuss the video "Remember the Time" and Jackson ordered a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

A very pregnant Jennifer Hudson brings down the house by singing a soulful rendition of "Will You Be There," followed by Michael Jackson's spoken lyrics off the original recording.

"Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama." — The Rev. Al Sharpton

Barely able to hold back her tears, Brooke Shields says her longtime friend was known as the King of Pop, but she always saw him as the main character in from "The Little Prince."

Wearing a sequined glove, brother Jermaine Jackson sings his version of the song Brooke Shields says was Michael's favorite — "Smile" from the Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times.

Bernice King and Martin Luther King III talk about how Michael Jackson epitomized their father's words.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas tells the crowd she introduced a resolution into the House of Representatives recognizing Jackson as a musical icon, legend and humanitarian.

R&B artist Usher would deliver one of the afternoon's most moving performances, fighting back tears as he sang "Gone Too Soon."

Smokey Robinson reads letters to the Jackson family from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela at the beginning of the service, and later returns to the stage to talk about what an amazing talent Michael Jackson possessed at the age of 10.

Britain's Got Talent finalist Shaheen Jafargholi, 12, evoked a young Michael as he paid tribute with a cover of the Jackson 5's "Who's Lovin' You."

Kenny Ortega, the director of Michael Jackson's upcoming "This Is It" tour, introduced a performance of the "We Are the World" number from the now perhaps never-to-be-seen production.

All three of Jackson's children — Paris, Prince Michael and Prince Michael II (behind program) — were on hand to say goodbye to their father.

Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, Paris, says, "Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine," as she was overcome with tears.

The Jackson family — including Janet, Prince Michael, Latoya and Paris — joined a chorus and many child performers for the service's final song, "Heal the World."