Some 17,000 fans who won a ticket lottery entered by almost 1.6 million people for the privilege of being there, gathered at the cavernous Staples Center in Los Angeles to bid farewell to the King of Pop. This marked the final curtain call of the legend’s glittering career. It was a somber event, attended by Jackson family, stars from the music world and incredible numbers of fans.

Before a gold-plated casket holding the remains of Michael Jackson took center stage at the memorial service, people listened to Michael Jackson songs. The service began with Smokey Robinson reading the letter from Diana Ross-

“Michael was my great love, a very important part of my world, part of the fabric of my life in a way that I can not explain. No words to express this feeling.”

It was a star-studded memorial with some of the biggest names in pop music taking part in the memorial service, including Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Lionel Richie, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and John Mayer. Other prominent figures who spoke at the memorial service included civil rights leader Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, basketball stars Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, congresswoman Sheila Jackson, Hollywood actor Brook Shield and Bernice A. King.

The rose covered coffin bearing Michael Jackson rests in the front of stage while the celebrities gave their speech and performed and Jackson family mourned. Usher, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey led an emotional public memorial and sang for the music legend during the ceremony.

The memorial service for one of the greatest entertainers ever was filled with celebs, but those who could not make it to the event sent statements that were read on stage to family of Michael Jackson and millions of fans. Robinson read the letter from Nelson Mandela,

"A big honor for his great talent and was able to triumph over all the tragedies come upon his life. Michael was a giant and a legend in the music industry. We have troubles with millions of fans around the world.”

The farewell to the pop legend could not get bigger! It was beautiful, but heartbreaking! Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 after suffering cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles. He was 50 years old when he died.

By Gerry Grant

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Farrah Fawcettt was a Texas native and former model who was starred in TV movies “Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story, “The Burning Bed”, “Small Sacrifices” and more. Some of her big screen credits include “Dr. T and the Women”, “Extremities” and “The Apostle”. The actress also made guest appearances on “The Guardian”, “Spin City” and “Ally McBeal” series.

The model became 1970s pop-culture icon after the release of the poster in which she was wearing a red swimsuit. Millions of copies were sold and she retained the sex-symbol image by posing for Playboy Magazine at the age of 50.

Farrah Fawcettt was nominated thrice for Emmy Award: Once for guest actress in the drama series “The Guardian (2003)” and twice for lead actress in “Small Sacrifices (1990)” & “The Burning Bed (1985)”.

When “Farrah’s story”, a video diary about her courageous battle against cancer was run as an NBC special last month, more than 8.9 million people tuned in to view it. She also advocated for domestic violence victims as well as fought for the privacy of patients in hospitals.

Farrah Fawcettt’s longtime partner, actor Ryan O’Neal told People Magazine, “ She’s gone. She now belongs to the ages. She’s now with her mother and sister and her God. I loved her with all my heart. I will miss her so very, very much. She was in and out of consciousness. I talked to her all through the night. I told her how very much I loved her. She’s in a better place now”.

The actress died at 12.28 pm. EST at St. John’s Health Center and is survived by O’Neal and their 24 year old son Redmond O’Neal. Farrah Fawcettt was previously married to actor Lee Majors.

The Tonight Show host and the legendary TV star had been battling ill health for some time. Doctors diagnosed him with systemic bone cancer and he was being admitted for pneumonia since February in the hospital.

Ed McMahon was Johnny’ Carson’s sidekick forever and hosted blooper shows & Star Search. He also made a special guest voice in on The Simpsons. The booming voice and barking laugh were the traits of his personality.

When his voice changed at adolescence, McMahon did part time work calling bingo games. He also worked as a street vendor and carnival barker, as well as became an unseen voice in many TV and radio commercials. McMahon also got dummy’s job where he was required to laugh extra loud at Carson’s jokes. For thirty years, his job was to laugh and shout “Heeeeere’s Johnny!”.

Ed McMahon also acted in cheesy movies and sitcoms, became Jerry Lewis’s co-host on muscular dystrophy telethons and hosted “specials” on T.V. He stopped endorsing products since breaking his neck in a fall in 2006.

“Ed McMahon’s voice at 11:30 was a signal that something great was about to happen. Ed was a true broadcaster, and an integral part of Johnny Carson’s ‘Tonight Show.’ We will miss him," said Letterman.

"I am deeply saddened by today’s news about Ed McMahon. He is responsible for giving so many artists their first shot, including myself. … He was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed", Britney Spears Tweeted on Tuesday.

McMahon’s last years were surrounded by legal troubles and financial difficulties. When he fell at a friend’s house, he sued the homeowners and doctors at a Los Angeles hospital claiming that he was misdiagnosed for neck fracture.

He filed various lawsuits related to mold at his California mansion and was facing financial difficulties. All this would have ended up in Ed McMahon losing his home and falling behind on mortgage payments.

The main cause of Ed McMahon’s death is still not confirmed. He is survived by his wife Pam Hurn and five children.

The pop star got full cardiac arrest at his Holmby Hills home in LA and paramedics were unable to revive him. CPR was performed when we has being taken to the UCLA Medical Center where he was declared dead.

The Los Angeles Times said that robbery-homicide detectives are still investigating the death of eccentric entertainer, though there was no evidence of a wrongdoing. An autopsy will be conducted by Los Angeles County Coroner to find out how Michael Jackson died. The post-mortem exam will be performed on Friday.

Michael Jackson was an Indiana native and the 7th youngest member of the pop group family. He enjoyed a successful solo career with “Beat It”, “Thriller” and “Billie Jean”. Moonwalk dance, glittery glove and military-style costumes soon became his fashion statement and gave him the highest place in pop-culture history.

However, the reports of bizarre behavior, plastic surgery and legal & financial allegations later overshadowed the glorious career of Michael Jackson. He was also accused of child molestation. All this made Michael maintain a low profile in the past few years.

Jermaine, Jackson’s brother said “ His personal physician, who was with him (at the house) at the time, attempted to resuscitate my brother, as did paramedics. A team of highly skilled doctors, including emergency physicians and cardiologists, attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour, but were unsuccessful.”

The pop artist known for his falsetto voice is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II. His two marriages, one to singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley and another to former dermatologist nurse Deborah Rowe ended in divorce.

What do you think? Is it a good move for the actor? What about Betty – who should she go after (what type of guy?)?

♥
KW

photo courtesy of people.com

There are only 3 movies on this list that don’t break the 9 figure mark  – that is definitely an accomplishment! I have to say, my favorite was either Bad Boys II or Shark Tale…

 So, what is your favorite Will Smith movie?

♥
KW

Nicole Kidman has given birth, her rep confirms to Usmagazine.com.

The actress welcomed a girl, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, Monday morning.

The baby weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces.

"Husband Keith was by Nicole’s side and mother and baby are very well," the rep said.

It is the first child for Kidman, 41, and husband Keith Urban, 40. She has two adopted children " Connor, 13, and Isabella, 15 " with ex Tom Cruise.

Kidman has said she was "yearning" to have a baby with Urban. Early on in her relationship with Cruise, she had suffered a miscarriage.

She told July’s Vogue that she cried when she saw her ultrasound.

"I didn’t think I’d get to experience that in my lifetime," she said. "I like the unpredictable nature of it. To feel life growing with you is something very, very special, and I’m going to embrace that completely."

The actress said being pregnant "taps into that thing in human nature that is universal and collective and beautiful."

Urban shared her enthusiasm.

"Well, God, yeah!" he told Us of their excitement for their newborn.

The Australian couple " who wed in June 2006 " announced they were expecting in January.

In an interview on Oprah’s Oscar Special, pal Russell Crowe asked the actress if she planned on getting pregnant. "I hope so," she replied.

When Crowe remarked that he’d like to see Kidman "walking around barefoot and pregnant," the actress agreed " "I’d like to see that, too."

She also told Vogue in December: "I always thought I’d eventually live on a Fijian island. I love the idea of being in a sarong, with hair down to my bum and kids following my around and hanging out."

So… what do you think? Will they make good parents?

♥
KW

Anyway, whether or not it is a little or a lot higher, it is interesting to look at why. There are hundreds upon thousands of reasons that marriages fail, and it is rare that any marriage is ended for the exact same reason than another. But, I believe there are 3 main reasons that celebrity marriages fail:

1. Love Triangles from movies: Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston were the epitome of the perfect couple - then he started filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Enter Angelina Jolie and say goodbye to Jennifer.

2. The paparazzi stories. It is difficult enough to trust your partner when they are traveling all the time and when time together is hard to come by but when the entire gossip world is telling stories that your significant other is cheating…it can be almost impossible.

3. Great careers vs. fledgling careers. In the real world, it isn’t strange to see only one person in the couple working. Or one that makes more than the other. And, while this can put a strain on a relationship, imagine the life of 2 celebrities in very different places in their career. For example: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe. Although they both worked, she was significantly more successful than he was. So, he found someone new, someone who made less money than he did and said goodbye to his successful wife.

I’m not saying these are the only 3 reasons that marriages end, but they are definitely 3 of the reasons we see most often. I wish that I could say I was surprised that the marriages don’t last, but I don’t really believe that the celebs think marriages are that serious. The whole ’til death do us part’ seems to be forgotten amidst the life and lights of fame.

Is there another reason you see as overly prevalent reason for celebrity divorce?

♥
KW

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080703/music_nm/whitesnake_dc