Shields: We Need to Smile

Longtime Jackson friend Brooke Shields took the stage after John Mayer. She was extremely emotional when she began her speech.

Shields said she and Michael had a bond. She often teased Jackson about how late in life he started in entertainment. He started a 5...she started at 11 months. Shields said when they were together, they were two little kids having fun.


Shields talked about how much Jackson loved to laugh. She said his laugh was the purest of anyone she had ever known. Shield said that people from the outside may have thought they were odd..but they didn't find it odd at all.

Here comes random guy

Everyone I've talked to has wondered what in the world John Mayer was doing at the memorial... here it is: he's performing Jackson's "Human Nature." Not singing, just playing it on the guitar with backup singers while images of Michael and his fans play in the background.

I'll reserve my opinion on this. Talk amongst yourselves.

Sharpton: He Taught The World to Love

The Reverand Al took the stage and I prepared for the long haul...I figure he'll take all day. We'll see, huh?

Sharpton gave some great background on the Jackson family and the world he grew up in. Sharpton stressed how Jackson was able to change the racial landscape and pave the way for so many others. Sharpton said Jackson made us "heal the world and feed the hungry."

Sharpton said Michael's music made whites and blacks comfortable to watch Oprah...comfortable to watch Tiger Woods play golf...and comfortable to vote for a black president. Sharpton's speech is very stirring...

Rev. Sharpton brought down the house when he said, "there wasn't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what he had to deal with." His three children clapped along as the crowd stood and cheered.

I was wrong about Sharpton...great stuff.

Will you be there?

Now this is the Jackson song of my childhood: Will You Be There.

Never realized until recently that the Free Willy movie was a metaphor for his life -- a star trapped who wants a child to free him.

Not so sure about the dancers/actors in the back doing a really weird Broadway thing. Definitely not my favorite moment of the service.

Does anyone know where that audio of Michael speaking is from?

Johnson: He Made Me Better

Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson discussed Jackson as a humanitarian. It was obvious that Johnson was extremely emotional. You may remember Johnson appeared in Michael's "Remember the Time" music video.

Johnson discussed his relationship with the Jackson family and how great a family they were. Interestingly, Johnson said Jackson made him a better basketball player because of the way he performed.

Johnson shared a hilarious story about visiting Michael's home and eating KFC chicken with him on the floor. Great ad for KFC, huh?

Stevie Wonder: God Needed Him

Stevie Wonder said he's at peace with Michael's death because God must have needed him more than people in this world. Words seemed to be off the cuff, nothing prepared.

He's playing an extremely sorrowful version of "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer."

I recently saw Stevie Wonder in concert and don't remember him playing that song.

He was by far the most inspirational musician I've ever seen. Talk about a man with a heart of gold who wants to heal the world -- that's Stevie.

Gordy: He's The Greatest Entertainer Who Ever Lived

Mowtown Founder Berry Gordy just discussed how he met Michael and what Jackson meant to music. Jackson often discussed his love for Gordy...and how Gordy allowed him to grow creatively throughout the years.

Gordy just talked about a Smokey Robinson song that Michael remade and said Jackson did it better. Gordy said when he told Robinson "I think Michael got you on that one," Robinson responded by saying, "I think so too."

It looks like the Jackson brothers all have on a traditional Michael Jackson white glove. Would they do it up any other way?

Gordy discussed the Mowtown 25th show in which Jackson debuted the moonwalk. Gordy said he was shocked when he saw the move. He called it "magic." Gordy said Michael went into orbit and never came back.

Gordy ended by saying Jackson was too big for the title, "King of Pop." Gordy called him the greatest entertainer who ever lived....that was followed by a standing ovation. Gordy thanked Michael for the joy and love...and said he'd live in his heart forever. Very touching.