Michael Jackson One Year Later

Michael Jackson: A year after his death

Michael Jackson fans around the world began Friday marking the first anniversary of the music icon’s death, with events from candlelight vigils to slumber parties planned in honor of the tragic superstar.

Jackson, 50, died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as “The King of Pop.”

In Hollywood, a wax likeness of Jackson has been placed on display in front of Madame Tussauds on Hollywood Boulevard, a short distance from Jackson’s star on the Walk of Fame.

In the only official memorial event planned Friday, family matriarch Katherine Jackson, 80, is slated to unveil a monument at the home where she raised her famous son and eight other children in Gary, Indiana.

Meanwhile, Billboard magazine reported Jackson’s estate has generated more than one billion dollars in revenues since the singer’s death, through the re-issue of his music, films and other commercial spin-offs.

Janet Jackson To Go On Tour With Her Brothers

Janet Jackson is going to be joining her brothers on their world tour later this year. She will filling in her late brother, Michael Jackson, to act as a member of the Jackson 5.

There was a rumor that Janet would be joining her brothers as a tribute to Michael Jackson, but she has not given any confirmation.

According to her brother Jermaine Jackson, Janet is busy getting prepared to perform on the tour.

He says, “We had a conference call and Janet has agreed to join us on tour.”

Would you purchase tickets to see Janet Jackson on tour with the Jackson 5?

Michael Jackson’s Death Is The Top Entertainment Story Of 2009

2009 has been a pretty eventful year. Here are 2009′s top entertainment stories as voted by U.S. newspaper and broadcast editors surveyed by The Associated Press.

1. Michael Jackson Dies: On June 25, Jackson was pronounced dead at the age of 50. One of the most momentous and shocking deaths in pop culture history, the event reverberated in many ways. There was the ongoing investigation: Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide, and his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who says he’s innocent of wrongdoing, is being investigated for manslaughter. There was the gigantic Los Angeles funeral. There was the documentary, “This is It,” of Jackson’s preparations for a comeback concert series. But, perhaps most of all, there was the celebration of his music, on stages and sidewalks the world over.

2. Susan Boyle Becomes Overnight Sensation: Two 21st-century powers – reality TV and the Web – combined to turn the humble, unknown Boyle into an international star. After Boyle sang “I Dreamed a Dream” on “Britain’s Got Talent” on April 11, the clip spread like wildfire online, totaling more than 120 million views on YouTube. Her album, released in November, had the best opening week sales of a female debut in decades.

3. Late-Night Swap: On NBC, Conan O’Brien took over the “Tonight” show, and Jay Leno moved to 10 p.m. All the fanfare may have been overdone, though: At year’s end, neither was receiving good ratings.

4. Walter Cronkite Dies: The passing on July 17 of Cronkite, a paragon of journalism and a father figure to a nation, was not only the sad loss of a universally acknowledged great man but was a reminder of a bygone era in broadcasting.

5. David Letterman Affair: Letterman’s Oct. 1 announcement on his “Late Show” carried two bombshells: He alleged that he had been the victim of an extortion attempt, and he confessed to having affairs with women on his staff. Letterman, who hasn’t shied from the subject on air, saw some of his best ratings in years. The man accused of trying to blackmail Letterman, Robert J. “Joe” Halderman, says he was just shopping a screenplay.

6. Chris Brown Assaults Rihanna: The big story on Grammy night in 2009 didn’t take place on stage but outside the ceremony. Chris Brown assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna, an altercation that led to Brown pleading guilty to felony assault in June. Both R&B stars were in comeback mode before the year was out, releasing new albums just weeks apart.

7. Kanye West Robs Taylor Swift: Bad behavior, not awards, also ruled the story line at the MTV Video Music Awards. When a stage-crashing West interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video, the rapper clearly underestimated the negative reaction he would inspire.

8. Live Video Explodes On The Web: One of the biggest trends in online video was the emergence of demand – and supply – for live video. Live online video particularly suited daytime news events (when people are at work in front of computers). Millions online watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama and the funeral of Michael Jackson.

9. Kate And Jon Gosselin Broadcast Split: One of reality TV’s latest sensations fell apart just as it was reaching fruition. TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ was winning its best ratings in its fifth season when the Gosselins – parents of eight children – announced their separation. With more than 10 million viewers, that episode earned the show its best ratings. Arguments in the divorce, which became final in December, have thus far prevented the show from continuing. TLC hopes to debut a show for Kate Gosselin in the spring.

10. Heath Ledger Wins Posthumous Oscar: Ledger, whose death topped the poll of 2008′s top entertainment stories, remained a presence in 2009, when he won an Oscar for best-supporting actor for his performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

The Jackson 4 To Go On Tour?

Michael Jackson’s brothers have announced they’re set to hit the road as The Jackson 4. Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon want to tour the world playing the hits that took them to the top of the charts before their little brother Michael went on to become a solo superstar.

Eldest sibling Jackie, 58, says, “For 40 years, we’ve had great support from our fans around the world. And we should give them a great tour.”

Jermaine, 54, adds, “We want to go out there, hit the road and just jam.”

The King of Pop passed away aged 50 in June after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Will Be On DVD Jan. 26

The Michael Jackson concert documentary “This Is It” will be released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on Jan. 26.

The film has yet to gross 100,000 million dollars domestically…..I don’t think it will.

Will you be purchasing the dvd?

Jermaine: Suicide Proves MJ Didn’t Molest

Michael Jackson’s alleged abuse victim has cleared the King of Pop’s name by insisting the singer “never touched” him, according to the star’s brother Jermaine.

Jackson was the center of a 13-month police investigation after Evan Chandler accused the Thriller hitmaker of molesting his son Jordan in 1993.

The star was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing in the courts, paying the then-teenager $22 million for “personal injuries arising out of claims of negligence” in return for dropping a civil suit against him.

Jordan has never spoken publicly about the case – but Jermaine claims the 29 year old has come forward since Jackson’s death, admitting the late superstar never molested him.

And Jermaine believes Jordan’s dad Evan committed suicide earlier this month because his guilt over the false accusations was too much to bear.

He says, “From the ’93 case, they were accusing him (Jackson) of just the most horrible things. This kid’s father has committed suicide because he just couldn’t take it and now the kid has come forward and said Michael never touched him.”

Officials ruled 56-year-old Evan Chandler’s death a suicide after he was found with a gunshot wound to the head and a revolver in his hand at his home in New Jersey.

Count of hands who think Jermaine should just keep his mouth shut for a little while?! Haha seriously.

Michael Jackson Wins Record-Breaking 23 American Music Awards

Artist of the Year Taylor Swift may have been the night’s big winner, but The King of Pop broke the record for the artist with the most American Music Awards ever at the ceremony in Los Angeles Sunday night. Michael Jackson posthumously won awards for both Favorite Pop/Rock artist and Favorite Male Soul/R&B artist at the 2009 AMA. The two awards brought Michael’s lifetime total to 23.

Rest in Peace Michael Jackson!

Janet Jackson Refuses To Watch “This Is It”

Janet Jackson has no plans to ever see her late brother Michael’s concert documentary movie This Is It – because it would be too painful for the grieving star to watch.

The film, which features video footage of the King of Pop rehearsing for his ill-fated London residency, has been a huge hit with fans and recently passed the $200 million mark at the global box office, just three weeks after its release.

Members of the Jackson family, including patriarch Joe, and Michael’s brothers Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon, all turned out for the Los Angeles premiere of This Is It last month – but Janet refuses to watch it. And she admits even walking past the promotional posters for the film gets her choked up with emotion.

In an ABC News exclusive, Janet says, “I have not seen it. I definitely won’t, not right now. I don’t know if I’d ever see it. (It’s) too soon, too hard. It’s hard when I see the posters around the city, the commercials, the trailers (on TV). It has (caught me off guard emotionally).”

The Thriller superstar died in June, shortly before he was due to kick off his mammoth tour.

Janet Jackson Blames Doctor For Michael’s Death

Janet Jackson blames Dr. Conrad Murray for her brother Michael’s death. She told ABC News in an interview to air Wednesday that Murray should no longer be allowed to practice medicine. “He was the one that was administering,” Jackson said. “I think he is responsible.”

Prosecutors in Los Angeles are weighing charges against Murray in the pop singer’s death. Murray told police he administered a powerful anesthetic to the singer shortly before Jackson died June 25.

A spokeswoman for the doctor, Miranda Sevcik, said Monday he continues to maintain he neither prescribed or administered anything to Jackson that should have killed him.

Jackson told ABC’s Robin Roberts that she was at her home in New York on June 25 when her assistant called to say Michael had been taken to the hospital. She told relatives to call her when they got to the hospital and grew concerned when she wasn’t getting any calls back.

She says that a day doesn’t go by when she doesn’t think of Michael. “It just didn’t ring true to me. It felt like a dream,” she said. “It’s still so difficult for me to believe.

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