The stage was set Monday for Michael Jackson’s final act as the world capital of make-believe braced for what could be the biggest, most spectacular celebrity send-off of all time. Ecstatic fans who won the lottery for seats at Tuesday’s memorial received the tickets and spangly wristbands that will get them into the 20,000-seat Staples Center downtown. The family announced the participants will include Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Usher, Lionel Richie, Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer and Martin Luther King III. As night fell, activity was spotted at the Forest Lawn Cemetery involving the Jackson family. The cemetery is the location where relatives were expected to hold a private funeral. La Toya Jackson, wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat, was seen leaving the cemetery. KCAL-TV showed helicopter footage of a hearse backing up to the Hall of Liberty — a circular building at the cemetery that contains a 1,200 seat auditorium — to deliver a casket. A few hours later, the casket was reloaded into the hearse and delivered to another nearby building, this time covered in a blue cloth. The legal maneuvering that marked Jackson’s extraordinary and troubled life also continued on Monday, with his mother losing a bid to control his enormous but tangled estate. And in one of the few reminders of Jackson’s darkest hours, a New York congressman branded Jackson a “pervert” undeserving of so much attention. More than 1.6 million people registered for free tickets to the 10 a.m. memorial, which will be broadcast live worldwide. A total of 8,750 people were chosen to receive two tickets each. The lucky ones picked up their passes Monday at Dodger Stadium amid heavy police presence. “I got the golden ticket!” one fan screamed out of his car window in a Willy Wonka moment as he drove out of the parking lot. “My mother loves Elvis. This is my Elvis,” said ticket winner Mynor Garcia, 29. Downtown hotels were quickly filling. Police, trying to avoid a mob scene, warned those without tickets to stay away because they would not be able to get close to the Staples Center. British Airways reported a surge of bookings as soon as the memorial arrangements were announced. Virgin’s trans-Atlantic flights to San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles were all packed with fans and VIPs, spokesman Paul Charles said. “I think this is America’s version of Princess Diana. People want to be in the vicinity. People from the UK and elsewhere want to share their emotions together,” Charles said. About 50 theaters across the country, from Los Angeles to Topeka, Kan., to Washington, D.C., were planning to broadcast the memorial live, said Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. spokeswoman Suzanne Moore. Admission will be free — first-come, first-served. Jackson’s friend Elizabeth Taylor will be mourning in private. She said on her Twitter feed Monday that she would not attend the memorial. “I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others,” she tweeted. “How I feel is between us. Not a public event.” In Los Angeles Superior Court, meanwhile, a judge appointed Jackson’s longtime attorney and a family friend as administrators of his estate over the objections of his mother, Katherine. Attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain had been designated in Jackson’s 2002 will as the people he wanted to oversee his empire. Mrs. Jackson’s attorneys expressed concerns about McClain and Branca’s financial leadership. “Frankly, Mrs. Jackson has concerns about handing over the keys to the kingdom,” said one of her attorneys, John E. Schreiber. Another one of her attorneys, Burt Levitch, told Judge Mitchell Beckloff that Branca had previously been removed from financial positions of authority by Jackson. Branca’s attorney said he was rehired by Jackson on June 17, days before Jackson’s death. Branca and McClain will have to post a $1 million bond on the estate, and their authority will expire Aug. 3, when another hearing will be held. “Mr. Branca and Mr. McClain for the next month are at the helm of the ship,” the judge said. Jackson died at age 50 with hundreds of millions in debts. But a court filing estimates his estate is worth more than 500 million. His assets are destined for a trust, with his three children, his mother and charities as beneficiaries. On eBay, bids for memorial tickets were reaching as high as $3,000, and prices on Craigslist were in the thousands, although both sites were removing postings attempting to sell memorial tickets. Debbie Rowe, Jackson’s ex-wife and the mother of Jackson’s two oldest children, had planned to attend the memorial but backed out Monday. “The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael’s legacy,” her attorney Marta Almli said in a statement. “Debbie will continue to celebrate Michael’s memory privately.” In New York, Republican Rep. Peter King released a YouTube video calling Jackson, who was acquitted of child molestation charges, a “pervert” and a “low-life.” But the memories of Jackson’s problems were far from the minds of fans preparing to say goodbye. “It’s the passing of a great soul,” said Matt Tyson, 31, of Ojai, Calif. “He brought people together, helped express something that’s in us all.” In a symbolic convergence of events, however, the circus will be there. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey starts a run at Staples Center on Wednesday. In the predawn hours before Jackson’s memorial, the elephants will walk from the train station to the arena.

BREAKING NEWS ALERT from Billboard.biz
The 20th Annual Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards – April 20 – 24, Eden Roc Resort, Miami Beach
Join Billboard, today’s top artists, managers, media, promoters, sponsors and key digital, record label, branding and touring executives at the most important Latin Music industry gathering of the year. Highlights include informative panel discussions, networking receptions, live performances, the Billboard BASH, Superstar Q&A with Don Omar, and the Billboard Latin Music Awards show and official after party. For details and to register www.BillboardLatinConference.com
Registration questions, contact Lisa Kastner 646 654 4643 LKastner@Billboard.com

NO DOUBT, DAVE MATTHEWS, FLO RIDA SET FOR ‘TODAY’ SUMMER SERIES

No Doubt, Dave Matthews Band, Flo Rida, Black Eyed Peas and Jennifer Hudson are among the artists scheduled to appear on NBC’s “Today” show as part of the morning program’s 14th annual summer concert series.

Click here for the full ‘Today’ summer lineup.

NOMINEES ADELE, CHRIS BROWN, AND SUGARLAND ADDED TO SUPERSTAR LINEUP FOR 51ST ANNUAL GRAMMY® AWARDS

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE WITH MILEY CYRUS AND TAYLOR SWIFT ESTELLE AND KANYE WEST TO PERFORM TOGETHER

FOUR TOPS TRIBUTE TO FEATURE DUKE FAKIR, JAMIE FOXX, AND NE-YO

Sheryl Crow, Craig Ferguson, Al Green, Jay Mohr, Queen Latifah, and T-Pain Are Latest Presenters Announced for Music’s Biggest Night® Live on CBS Sunday, Feb. 8

Current GRAMMY® nominees Adele, Chris Brown, and Sugarland; a special performance with Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift; Estelle and Kanye West to perform together; and a Four Tops tribute featuring Duke Fakir (2009 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree and original member of the Four Tops), Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx, and current nominee Ne-Yo are the next round of performers announced for the 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards. They join previously announced performers Kenny Chesney, Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Brothers, Kid Rock, Lil Wayne, Paul McCartney (with special guest drummer Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters), Katy Perry, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Radiohead, Rihanna, T.I. and Justin Timberlake, U2, Carrie Underwood, and Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I. and Kanye West in a special performance of their hit single “Swagga Like Us.” Nine-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Sheryl Crow, talk show host Craig Ferguson (CBS’ “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson”), nine-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Al Green, actor Jay Mohr (CBS’ “Gary Unmarried”), GRAMMY winner Queen Latifah, and rapper and current nominee T-Pain are the latest presenters announced for Music’s Biggest Night®. Previously announced presenters include actor Simon Baker (CBS’ “The Mentalist”), actor/musician Jack Black, current three-time GRAMMY nominee Duffy, current nominee Josh Groban, three-time GRAMMY-winning jazz musician and current nominee Charlie Haden, actor Samuel L. Jackson and Academy Award®-winning actress and current GRAMMY nominee Gwyneth Paltrow. The music industry’s premier event will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 8, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, on Twitter at “theGRAMMYs,” on Facebook at “The Recording Academy,” on YouTube at “51stGRAMMYs,” and on Last.fm at “the51stgrammys.” Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.

Ne-Yo has six nominations: Album Of The Year and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Year Of The Gentleman; Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (”Closer”); Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (”Miss Independent”); and two nods for Best R&B Song (”Miss Independent” and “Spotlight,” both with Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen).

Adele and T-Pain have four nods: Adele is up for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year (with Eg White) and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Chasing Pavements,” and Best New Artist. T-Pain has two nominations

in Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (”Low” with Flo Rida and “Got Money” with Lil Wayne), one for Best Rap Song (”Low” with T. Dillard and M. Humphrey), and one for Album Of The Year (as a featured artist and producer on Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III).

Al Green is nominated in three categories: Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (”Stay With Me (By The Sea)” with John Legend), Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (”You’ve Got The Love I Need” with Anthony Hamilton), and Best R&B Album (Lay It Down).

Chris Brown, Estelle and Sugarland each have two nods: Chris Brown is nominated for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (”No Air” with Jordin Sparks) and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (”Take You Down”). Estelle has nominations in Song Of The Year (with William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, and Kanye West) and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (with Kanye West) for “American Boy.” Sugarland is up for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals (”Stay”) and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (”Life In A Northern Town” with Jake Owen and Little Big Town).

Sheryl Crow is up for Best Pop Vocal Album (Detours).

As previously announced, this year’s “My GRAMMY Moment” segment on the telecast gives music fans an opportunity to virtually share music’s biggest stage with current GRAMMY nominee Katy Perry. Produced in partnership with CBS.com, music fans can upload a 30- to 60-second video of themselves singing along to a portion of Perry’s “I Kissed A Girl” to www.cbs.com/grammys through Feb. 6. Videos will be voted on by fans and the public at-large, and the most popular videos will be shown as part of Perry’s performance on Music’s Biggest Night.

Additionally, The 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony will take place from 1 – 3:45 p.m. PT at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be streamed live internationally on www.grammy.com beginning at 1 p.m. PT. Hosting and performing at the Pre-Telecast will be current GRAMMY nominees Wayne Brady and Tia Carrere, with additional live performances by Latin GRAMMY-winning folk/jazz singer and current nominee Lila Downs, GRAMMY-winning classical artist and current nominee Hilary Hahn, and current GRAMMY nominee Heavy D. Presenting GRAMMY Awards in approximately 99 categories will be four-time GRAMMY-winning gospel singer Yolanda Adams, producer/host of “Millennium of Music” radio show Robert Aubry Davis, GRAMMY-winning songwriter/producer Lamont Dozier, GRAMMY-winning children’s folk artists Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, comedian Alex Raymundo, and actor Blair Underwood. The live stream of the Pre-Telecast will remain on GRAMMY.com for 30 days following the event.

The 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions in association with AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette are executive producers, Walter C. Miller is producer/director, Tisha Fein is the coordinating producer, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers. Musical directors for the telecast and pre-telecast are Rickey Minor and Larry Batiste, respectively.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.

With only a few days to go until the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy is atwitter with news of additional performers and presenters — literally. The Grammy Twitter feed lit up this morning with word that Kanye West would be performing with U.K. newcomer Estelle, pretty much guaranteeing a rendition of one of 2008’s hottest singles, “American Boy.” (How good was it? It hit Number Seven on Rolling Stone’s list of the Top 100 Singles of 2008.)

And Sunday night will feature another duet: Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus are teaming up for the former’s sweet song “Fifteen” from the chart-topping Fearless, according to Ryan Seacrest’s Twitter. In addition, Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx have been confirmed as performers for the Four Tops tribute, which will feature original member Duke Fakir. Adele, Chris Brown and Sugarland will also take the stage at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, while Sheryl Crow, Craig Ferguson, Al Green, Jay Mohr, Queen Latifah and T-Pain will head to the podium to make awkward banter and present trophies.

Just last week, the Grammys added a slew of big-name artists to Sunday, February 8th’s performance lineup: U2, Kid Rock, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and Rihanna joined Radiohead, Coldplay, Paul McCartney with Dave Grohl, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, T.I., Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, Jonas Brothers and Jennifer Hudson.

As always, Rolling Stone will be on the ground in L.A. Grammy night bringing you the latest from the red carpet to the green room to the afterparties. But for now, check out artists’ predictions for who will walk away with the biggest honors in our Grammy Faceoff ‘09 — and don’t miss all our other essential Grammy coverage on our Grammy hub.