Michael Jackson's memorial underway in LA (Live Blog)

I watched full event through MSNBC TV Live coverage today, and here are the highlights:

A few hours before fans gathered at the Staples Center for the public tribute, Michael Jackson's family and close friends said a private goodbye to the pop icon at an early morning ceremony at Forest Lawn cemetery. A hearse carrying Michael Jackson’s golden casket has left and now apparently heading to a public memorial in downtown Los Angeles.

The memorial service for Michael Jackson has begun with readings from veteran singer Smokey Robinson at 10:12a.m. at the Staples Center. He reading comments from Nelson Mandela, Diana Ross and other friends of the “King of Pop.” Following a long silent period inside the venue, piano music and a gospel choir kicked things off with a stained-glass motif in the background.

"There's nothing that can't be done if we raise out voice as one." A lot of friends have taken to the stage to spoke or perform, such as Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Brooke Shields, and Al Sharpton, and others.

Social networking site Twitter has been bombarded with messages from people attending the Jackson memorial service.

I was trying to attend the event, but unfortunately, I got an email Monday morning from "The Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service at STAPLES Center" that "Thank you for your registration. Sorry, we regret to inform you that your registration to attend the Public Memorial Service for Michael Jackson was not selected. Hundreds of thousands registered, but only a few can be in attendance."(8,750 memorial tickets chosen from 1.6 million online applicants.)