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Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Usher, and Jennifer Hudson are tonight preparing to perform in a service that could make history as the world's biggest celebrity send-off. More on the Michael Jackson memorial serviceIn a public memorial expected to attract crowds bigger than Elvis' and Princess Diana's combined, the event will be beamed to television viewers from around the world, including Australia from 3am (AEST).
Up to one billion people are expected to watch the event live on television, easily eclipsing major world sporting events. Millions are expected to watch a live web stream and police are expecting between 250,000 and 700,000 fans to flood downtown Los Angeles where Jackson's public memorial is to take place at the Staples Center.
About 75,000 turned out to Elvis Presley's memorial in 1997 and 250,000 attended Princess Diana's service in 1997. The BBC estimated a further 2.5 billion people watched the service on television.
AEG Live, which organised the Jackson memorial, was expecting a huge global audience.
"We are estimating the full feed will be seen by one billion people worldwide," AEG chief Tim Leiweke said. Others will watch online and through their iPhones, with Apple due to stream the event.
"This will obviously be a huge media event, and with web streams of the funeral, it may be impossible to say for sure how many people watched once all is said and done, because there's still no comprehensive way to measure Web viewing," said Toni Fitzgerald, of Media Life.
Just 17,500 people have tickets to get inside the main venue and a nearby arena where the event will be beamed on big screens.
Jackson kids attend service
A Jackson family gathering has taken place at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills for a "Celebration of Life" service for the late pop star.
His 11-year-old daughter Paris wiped tears from her face as she was driven away at the conclusion of the service.
Family and close friends are expected to return on Tuesday morning (1am Wednesday AEST) for a private funeral.
The entertainer's two other children, Prince, 12, and Prince II, 7, were also at the "Celebration of Life" service, along with hundreds of Jackson relatives.
A Jackson family source yesterday told People magazine the kids would stay close throughout the day.
"We're talking about 300 cousins and 40 grandkids and great grandkids and some of the old acts the Jackson 5 used to perform with, like the Chi-Lites will be there," the source said.
"The plan is for everyone to be together."
Jackson's family is hoping the funeral will be a quiet affair, but the cemetery, a resting place for Hollywood legends including Bette Davis, Buster Keaton and Liberace, is swarming with paparazzi and news crews on the ground and in helicopters above.
Rowe, Taylor staying at home
Jackson's former wife Debbie Rowe, the mother of his two oldest children, was not planning to attend the public memorial at the Staples Center.
"Debbie will continue to celebrate Michael's memory privately," her lawyer said.
In a Twitter post, Jackson's close friend, glamorous Oscar winner Elizabeth Taylor, said she had been invited to attend, but felt to upset to go.
"I cannot be part of the public whoopla. And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word. I just don't believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others," she wrote.
Hotels in LA were booked to near-capacity and some were quoting $US200 for valet parking on the day.
Merchandising vans have set up shop around major hotels, selling Michael Jackson T-shirts, badges - even white socks in a nod to one of Jackson's favourite on-stage outfits.
Australian guitarist Orianthi Panagaris, 24, part of Jackson's comeback show, is to perform and Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Brooke Shields are also tipped to attend.
Entertainment insiders tip even bigger names to storm the stage when the event unfolds.
About 260 million people tuned into the 2006 Fifa World Cup while the Super Bowl attracts 100 million viewers a year.
Jackson redefined the Super Bowl, turning the half time performance from a sideshow to a major event - his 1993 performance blazed the trail for other A-listers from Diana Ross to Bruce Springsteen.
