Jackson's weeping daughter caps memorial

Pop star Michael Jackson's memorial ended Tuesday with his 11-year-old daughter Paris taking the stage of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, following a star-studded tribute that included performances by Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson and Lionel Richie.

"Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine," Paris said, sobbing as she was surrounded by family.

"And I just want to say I love him so much," she managed to say before being hugged by aunt Janet Jackson.

The family then left the stage and the Jackson brothers carried the casket away as a photo montage lit up the stage and audience members filed away after the 2½-hour ceremony.

The only other family member to speak was brother Marlon, wearing a glittering glove on his left hand.

"Michael, I will treasure the good times, the fun we had, singing, dancing laughing.... we would try to watch the Stooges before Mom said it was time to go to the record studio."

He referred to Michael's pain in being judged and ridiculed because of his status: "Maybe now Michael, they will leave you alone." He finished by asking Michael to give Marlon's dead twin a hug for him in heaven. 

Jermaine Jackson took the stage at one point to croon the heartbreaking Smile, composed by Charlie Chaplin and said to be Michael's favourite song.

Singer Smokey Robinson got the tribute rolling by reading letters from two of the pop superstar's closest friends, Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela.

After a 20-minute period of silence, the audience was greeted with a choir singing the hymn Soon and Very Soon: "We are going to see the King, Hallelujah, Hallelujah" they sang as Jackson's casket, adorned with bright red flowers, was brought to the foot of the stage.

Some 11,000 people were packed the Staples Center, with an additional 6,500 in the Nokia Theater overflow section. They all got a 15-page program detailing the event with a statement signed by Janet Jackson on the back of the booklet.

'This is the moment I never wished was coming'

The memorial blended speeches and music from Jackson's closest friends.

Among the performers who sang their tributes was Mariah Carey, resplendent in a glittering black gown, with a gentle version of I'll Be There. She was joined by singer Trey Lorenz as members of Jackson's family sang along in the front row.

Stevie Wonder came on half way through the ceremony and sat at the piano, saying: "This is a moment I wished was never coming ... Michael I love you and I've told you many times. I'm at peace with that."

He then launched into an impassioned version of I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer and They Won't Go When I Go.

Jennifer Hudson, backed by a chorus, sang a rousing rendition of Will You Be There and was soon followed by an energetic Rev. Al Sharpton who talked about Jackson's ability to unite people from all backgrounds, races and nationalities.

John Mayer appeared onstage doing an understated electric guitar version of Human Nature, with a few strains from backup singers.

'Biggest star on earth'

Queen Latifah stepped up to the podium, calling Jackson "the biggest star on Earth."

"Somehow Michael sang when he danced ... he made you believe in yourself."

Queen Latifah also shared a few words from poet Maya Angelou that included the line: "Now we know a bright and shining star can slip from our fingertips like a puff in the wind."

Motown founder Berry Gordy said as a child, Jackson could sing the blues with the passion of a man who had been hurt his whole life. Gordy went through Jackson's history from his time with the Jackson 5 to his iconic moonwalk dance.

"When Michael performed a song, you could feel the happiness in his soul."

Gordy recalled the singer as "child-like" offstage but a "master" when he performed onstage. The crowd roared to life when he called Jackson "the greatest entertainer that ever lived."

Biggest pop star donor

Basketball stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson spoke about the singer's charitable efforts. They reminded fans Jackson made the Guinness World Records book for the most donations made by a pop star.

The two honoured the 50-year-old singer for "opening the doors for all the African-Americans."

Actress Brooke Shields met Jackson when she was 13. She reminisced that it was "the most natural friendship" of all, saying that they both had experienced being in the spotlight from a very young age.

"Both of us needed to be adults very early," said Shields, whose voice shook. "When we were together, we were two little kids having fun ... MJ's laugh was the sweetest and purest I have ever known." She also read an excerpt from the book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

"Michael saw everything with his heart," Shields said.

We are the World

"Michael never stopped giving because he reconstructed the lives of those who were destroyed because the King said: 'I care about you,' " declared Congresswoman Sheila Jackson of Texas.

Jackson said she was introducing a special tribute into the House of Representatives that would honour Jackson with the designation of World Humanitarian.

Robinson returned to the stage and called Jackson "my little brother." He spoke about the first time he heard a 10-year-old Michael sing Robinson's own song, Who's Loving You.

"I could not believe someone that young could sing like that. I thought the Jacksons had pulled a fast one on me ... I wanted to check his birth certificate," said Robinson, sparking laughter from the audience.

Kenny Ortega, who was choreographing Jackson's comeback at London's O2 arena, talked about the superstar's preparations for the concert series called This is It, rehearsing at the same arena where the memorial took place.

Members of the This Is It band and backup singers were joined by Robinson and the Jacksons, who mounted the stage for We are the World.

It's estimated a billion people around the world witnessed the memorial, either watching it over the internet or on television.