On June 25 2009 Michael Jackson passed away at a Los Angeles medical centre, stunning the world and leaving behind a legendary musical legacy and an amazing, if controversial life.

Today the Jackson family, Los Angeles and the world bid farewell to the icon with a private funeral and a very public memorial at the Staples Centre in downtown Los Angeles. A galaxy of stars are due to pay tribute to the entertainer.

Only a handful of those who wanted to pay tribute can be there for the memorial to Michael, but I'll be here to bring you blow by blow updates of the service.

4:52am: Michael's hearse arrives at the Staples Centre in LA led by a convoy of California Highway Patrol. The streets around the stadium seem quite calm considering the huge worldwide interest in this event.

4:56am: The start of the memorial has been delayed 30-45 minutes.

5:01am: Larry King and Jesse Jackson arrive.

5:03am: Kobe Bryant has arrived, the latest celeb to turn up in a fleet of black SUVs.

5:12am: Smokey Robinson takes the stage inside the Staples Centre, and reads a message from Nelson Mandela, which ends ‘Be strong' to great applause.

5:14am: Centre goes into dark and silence, and a projection appears on the back wall ‘In Loving Memory of Michael Jackson, King of Pop. 1958-2009.' Eight and a half thousand people sit in silence.

5:23am: Michael's family is reportedly still arriving.

5:27am: Diddy, Jennifer Hudson arrived moments ago. The Jackson family have reportedly taken their seats.

5:33am: A gospel choir takes the stage. Cheering erupts as MJ's coffin enters the centre, adorned with flowers and carried by his brothers.

5:36am: Greetings and a welcome from Jackson family friend Pastor Lucius Smith, who says today is for ‘those who know and love Michael best, and those who grew to know and love him.'

5:39am: Here's Mariah! She's singing ‘I'll Be There', which she covered back in the day, with a montage of old pictures of Michael in the background. Duetting with Trey Lorenz, there's a blast from the past. Cut to Michael's brothers in the front row wearing matching suits, yellow ties, sunglasses and white gloves.

5:44am: Diana Ross isn't coming?

5:45am: Queen Latifah says she's there to ‘represent the fans.'

5:49am: Michael's old friend Lionel Richie performs with the full backing of a gospel choir.

5:54am: Cue Motown founder Berry Gordy. "The Motown family mourns the death of our friend and brother Michael Jackson, who was like a son to me." He's speaking of when the Jacksons first auditioned for him in Detroit in 1968.

"He sang with such feeling and inspiration...he had a quality I couldn't completely understand but we all knew he was special."

He says Michael blew him away when he sang Smokey Robinson's ‘Who's Loving You' and that he sang it better than Smokey did - cut to Robinson laughing in the audience.

He says when Michael sang "you could feel the happiness in his soul."

"There were some sad times and maybe some questionable decisions on his part but Michael Jackson accomplished everything he dreamed of."

"I think the King of Pop isn't big enough for him. I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived."

6:04am: Time for a compilation of Jackson's finest video moments.

6:06am: Here's Stevie Wonder, led out to the piano. "This is a moment which I wish I didn't live to see coming," he says, before breaking into song.

6:10am: Stevie still playing. Shot of the casket covered in red roses. Sniff!

6:15am: Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson. "Michael a true humanitarian who gave as much off stage as on stage."

Kobe announces Michael made the Guinness Book of World Records for most charities supported by a pop star. Wow!

Magic talks about his friendship with the family which began thirty years ago, when Jackie was a season ticket holder for the Lakers. Speaking about opening doors for African-American people, and dining at Michael's eating Kentucky Fried Chicken.

They both get big hugs from the Jackson brothers.

6:20am: First broadcast shot of Prince, Paris and Blanket, in the front row clinging to their grandmother Katherine.

6:21am: WOW. Jennifer Hudson appears dressed in white, singing 'Will You Be There' like a champion. It sounds amazing.

6:25am: Here's the Rev. Al Sharpton. Wow, that guy knows how to work a microphone.

"It's not about the mess, it's about his message."

"He outsang his singers, he outdanced his doubters."

To Michael's three kids: "Ain't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with." Gets standing ovation from entire family.

6:30am: Blanket's holding a Michael Jackson doll!

6:35am: John Mayer comes out to perform an instrumental.

6:38am: Up comes Brooke Shields, who's already crying before she even begins. They've been friends since the eighties, and she's speaking about how their friendship was the most ‘natural and easiest' of relationships.

"I started when I was 11 months old. You were a slacker. What were you, five? Both of us needed to be adults very early. But when we were together we were two little kids having fun."

His laugh was "the sweetest and more pure of anyone I've ever known."

Their relationship, she says "may have seemed odd to the outside. But we made it fun and we made it real."

Apparently she was no fan of the one glove look when it first emerged, asking Michael "What's up with the glove?"

6:48am: Jermaine Jackson takes to the stage to sing an acoustic version of Michael's favourite song, Charlie Chaplin's 'Smile.' Yes, the one that's on the ad for insurance.

Oh, he's tearing up at the end. SAD.

6:52am: Martin Luther King III and Bernice A. King take to the stage to pay tribute to MJ.

6:59am: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee says she represents everyone in the US Congress today.

"We know people are innocent until proven otherwise, and that is what the constitution stands for."

7:08am: Out comes Usher, sunglasses still on, to sing ‘Gone Too Soon.' Sings directly to Michael's coffin, and cries just before he could finish the track. Gets a big hug from the Jackson siblings afterwards.

7:13am: Flashback to Michael in 1969 singing ‘Who's Loving You.' He was so small! Still such an amazing voice.

7:15am: Smokey Robinson back on stage speaking about writing that song and being amazed at the soul 10-year-old Michael put into singing it.

"He has made an enormous impact on all of our lives...he will live on forever."

"I'm glad I lived in an era where I got to see the greatest entertainer of all times."

7:19am: Here's Shaheen, the little Welsh boy who sang ‘Who's Loving You' so brilliantly on Britain's Got Talent. How crazy must this be for him? The 12-year-old gets a standing ovation and it's revealed that he was to join MJ on stage at one of his London shows.

7:24am: A segment which would have been performed at the ‘This Is It' shows is performed, a medley of performers singing ‘We Are The World.' All the celebs, Michael's sisters, brother and kids are up there singing to his coffin.

Next up it's ‘Heal The World.' Kids are swaying, arms are in the air, I guess it's a moment for musical history.

7:34am: Here are Michael's brothers, led by Jermaine. "I am lost for words, I was his voice and his backbone."

Next brother up, Marlon, has to be comforted by those behind him and has Janet holding his arm. "I stand here trying to find words of comfort and solace, trying to understand why the Lord has taken our brother from such a short visit here on earth."

"Michael I will treasure the good times and the fun we had."

"We will never understand what he endured. Being judged, ridiculed, how much pain can one take? Maybe now they will leave him alone."

Group hug on stage! Bless.

Daughter Paris unexpectedly comes to the microphone. "Ever since I was born Daddy has been the best father I could ever imagine...and I just wanted to say I love him so much."

How could that not bring the house down? So SAD.

"We want to thank you all for loving our brother. Thank you and goodnight."

As Michael's coffin is walked out by his brothers, ‘Man In The Mirror' fills the stadium.

7:45am: Lucius Smith closes out proceedings with a prayer. "We should all look at the man, or woman, in the mirror...and make that change starting today."