BET Awards show turns into memorial for Michael Jackson

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/30/2009 - 07:23

The 2009 Black Entertainment Television Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium here Sunday night was turned into a memorial for Michael Jackson, with at least two of his family members attending the show.








Fans mourn for American pop icon Michael Jackson in Hollywood, California, the United States, on June 26, 2009. American pop icon Michael Jackson was announced dead here Thursday at a hospital after suffering a heart attack at his rented home in a wealthy Los Angeles suburb. (Xinhua/Qi Heng)


The "King of Pop" died Thursday at UCLA Medical Center, soon after he was rushed to the hospital in a deep coma from his rented home, where he had been staying while preparing for a comeback series of 50 concerts in London.

The superstar's father, Joe Jackson, walked the red carpet and spoke about his son's death before the BET Awards show.

"I wish he could have been here to enjoy all of this," he said.

The show opened with a medley of songs by the Jackson 5, performed by the reunited pop group New Edition, including the former member Bobby Brown.

Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx, who hosted the show, entered to Jackson's hit song "Beat It" wearing the singer's trademark red jacket and single white glove.

"When somebody dies, we celebrate," Foxx said breathlessly after performing a dance sequence similar to the choreographed fight scene in Jackson's "Beat It" music video.

Various artists including Beyonce, Ne-Yo and Ciara performed Jackson's songs to pay tribute to Jackson, and thanked him for his influence on their music.

Beyonce, while accepting the award for Best Female R&B Artist, said, "This is for you, Michael Jackson. I have to thank Michael Jackson for being my teacher, my hero."

Sister Janet Jackson made a surprise appearance at the end of the show and thanked the audience for their support.

"I'd like to say that to you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family," Janet Jackson said.

The BET Awards show actually became the first former memorial for the late "King of Pop" after his untimely death. Producers of the show quickly put together a long list of entertainers to prepare a tribute to him after they learned of his death Thursday afternoon.