King of Pop - Laid to Rest

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, was finally laid to rest in a private burial ceremony on Thursday evening, 70 days after his death. The Jackson family arrived 90 minutes late to the service at Forest Lawn Glendale. Among the high-profile guests attending the private service were Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Al Sharpton and many other friends of Jackson and his family. A media camera feed was allowed inside in the hours before the ceremony, but cut off once Jackson's body arrived, leaving little to no information as to what happened during the service.

A police escort ushered the Jackson family motorcade of 31 cars, including Rolls-Royces and Cadillacs, to the solemn event. The planned start of the service came and went as the crowd of about 200 awaited the arrival of Jackson's parents Joe and Katherine and the singer's children. The motorcade from their Encino compound departed more than a half-hour after the funeral was to begin.

At the funeral service, a large, inflated production light, the type used in film and television production, and a boom camera hung over the seating area placed in front of the grand marble mausoleum. The equipment raised the possibility the footage would be used for the Jackson documentary "This Is It."

A family spokesman later revealed some details about the memorial itself.

The service began when Jackson's three children -- Prince, Paris and Blanket -- placed a crown on their dad's coffin. Gladys Knight performed 'His Eye Is on the Sparrow' and directed guests to sing the Lord's prayer together. Speakers included the Rev. Al Sharpton and Jackson's father, Joseph.

The pallbearers were Jackson's five brothers -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy -- who wore sequin gloves on their left hands as they carried the coffin to his crypt.

Among the other celebrities to attend the service:

- Barry Bonds

- Macaulay Culkin

- Mila Kunis

- Chris Tucker

- Gladys Knight

- Kenny Ortega (choreographer)

- Corey Feldman

- Lisa Marie Presley

The Reverend Al Sharpton took to Twitter from his cell phone before the ceremony started. He texted of mingling with Jackson lawyer Tom Mesereau, who represented Jackson in his child molestation case. A peek at Sharpton's words from inside the ceremony, taken from http://twitter.com/TheRevAl.

Do you think what Rev Sharpton did was appropriate? I don't... Your thoughts?

Other Hollywood legends are also buried in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn, including Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and W.C. Fields are buried.

May the Jackson Family finally have the peace of mind that Michael has been laid to rest. The battle over the estate and the pending homicide charges will continue to remind the family of the tragic loss. My heart goes out to all of them.