Michael Jackson Memorial Service Underway in Los Angeles

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Los Angeles Prepares For Michael Jackson Memorial Service

Michael Jackson fans leave messages on a tribute banner outside the Staples Center, site of the Jackson memorial service, on July 6, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Some 17,500 people are expected to attend Tuesday's memorial tribute, out of a total of 1.6 million people who registered in the online lottery for the event. (Getty Images)more pics »With his final resting place secured at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles, friends, family, and an overwhelming showing of fans showed up to the Staples Center Tuesday morning to pay their last respects to Michael Jackson.

A ubiquitous television presence and livestreaming news sites showing footage from the service have turned his memorial service into a national viewing experience. No program has been made available for the service, but performances from Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey were expected. Jackson's body arrived at Staples Center in a solid brass casket with gold plating. It was the same model casket soul legend James Brown was buried in.

Circus Elephants Arrive At Staples Center Hours Before Jackson Memorial

Eleven Asian elephants and seven horses (not seen) walk into the Staples Center, hours before a memorial service for recently deceased singer Michael Jackson is to take place at the same location, during the traditional Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus Animal Walk from the circus train on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Wherever the Ringling Bros. circus performs, the elephants and other animals must walk from the train to the performance arena. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is arriving for their 2009 month-long southern California engagement. Jackson, 50, the iconic pop star, died at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)more pics »

Brothers Otis Collins, 24, (R) and Anthony Collins, 22, from Los Angeles, who slept on the roof of their car watch as Asian elephants head to the Staples Center, hours before a memorial service for recently deceased singer Michael Jackson is to take place at the same location, during the traditional Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus Animal Walk from the circus train on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Wherever the Ringling Bros. circus performs, the elephants and other animals must walk from the train to the performance arena. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is arriving for their 2009 month-long southern California engagement. Jackson, 50, the iconic pop star, died at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)more pics »

Family Gathers For Funeral Of Michael Jackson At Forest Lawn Cemetery

Motorcade arrives to Forest Lawn Memorial Park on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson, 50, the iconic pop star, died at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)more pics

Friends And Family Pay Last Respects To Michael Jackson

Fans gather outside of Forest Lawn Memorial Park on July 6, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Jackson, 50, the iconic pop star, died at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)more pics »

The World Watches The Michael Jackson Memorial Service

Fans of the late U.S.pop-star Michael Jackson arrive to view a live broadcast of Jackson's funeral at the O2 Arena on July 7, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. An estimated 750 million people worldwide will watch the live broadcast of the funeral in California. (Getty Images)more pics »

Joe Jackson departs the Jackson family compound for the memorial service for his son, pop singer Michael Jackson, on July 7, 2009 in Encino, California. Jackson, 50, the iconic pop star, died at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)more pics »

Horses walk to the Staples Center, hours before a memorial service for recently deceased singer Michael Jackson is to take place at the same location, during the traditional Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus Animal Walk from the circus train on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Wherever the Ringling Bros. circus performs, the elephants and other animals must walk from the train to the performance arena. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is arriving for their 2009 month-long southern California engagement. Jackson, 50, the iconic pop star, died at UCLA Medical Center after going into cardiac arrest at his rented home on June 25 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)more pics »