michael jackson (407 posts)

Kevin Mazur/AMA2009/Getty Images

Kanye West might have a problem with it, but this is definitely Taylor Swift's year.

The 19-year-old twanger pocketed a leading five prizes, including the biggest, Artist of the Year, at Sunday's American Music Awards, while Michael Jackson made some history from beyond the grave.

The late King of Pop won four posthumous awards—including Favorite Pop/Rock Artist and Pop/Rock Album for his 2003 greatest hits set, Number Ones—bringing his AMA career total to 25.

In a night win neither of the top winners were present (Jackson for obvious reasons; Swift was in London rehearsing for a show at Wembley Arena), the Los Angeles cemerony was marked by a couple of outrageous performances (thank you, Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga) and welcome comebacks by Rihanna and Whitney Houston. But in the end, the ghost of Jackson was the night's most compelling presence.

"We love you, Michael," said a sequined-glove-sporting Jermaine Jackson who accepted the honor on his brother's behalf. "It's not just about the winnings, the awards, it's mainly the message. The message that Michael had will live on forever...and he saw good in everyone and he wanted them to do good.  To start with love and let's love each other."

Sister Janet kicked things off with a medley of her hits. Even Swift, who accepted her Artist of the Year award (without interruption) live via satellite, paid tribute to Michael, whom she beat.

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AP Photo

Buying a pair of gloves for the winter: $19.99.

Owning Michael Jackson's infamous moonwalk glove: priceless $350,000 plus tax. 

The King of Pop's rhinestone-studded white glove was auctioned off to the highest bidder in New York City Saturday.

The iconic accessory became the late star's signature after he sported the glitzy glove during a moonwalk-debuting performance at Motown's 25th anniversary TV special in 1983. 

So, who took home the highly sought-after glove? 

The lucky bidder was Hong Kong native Hoffman Ma, who after taxes, will pay $420,000 for the "Thriller" crooner's glove—a price, Ma said, was a bargain.

The 36-year-old fan purchased the legendary glove on behalf of the Ponte 16 Resort Hotel in Macau. 

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AP Photo

Buying a pair of gloves for the winter: $19.99.

Owning Michael Jackson's infamous moonwalk glove: priceless $350,000 plus tax. 

The King of Pop's rhinestone-studded white glove was auctioned off to the highest bidder in New York City Saturday.

The iconic accessory became the late star's signature after he sported the glitzy glove during a moonwalk-debuting performance at Motown's 25th anniversary TV special in 1983. 

So, who took home the highly sought-after glove? 

The lucky bidder was Hong Kong native Hoffman Ma, who after taxes, will pay $420,000 for the "Thriller" crooner's glove—a price, Ma said, was a bargain.

The 36-year-old fan purchased the legendary glove on behalf of the Ponte 16 Resort Hotel in Macau. 

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Janet Jackson may be about to answer the musical question, "What Have You Done for Me Lately?" A source who caught Jackson rehearsing Friday for her upcoming American Music Awards performance says the "Nasty" singer appears poised for a major comeback.

"Even though Janet was marking most of the dance moves today, the choreography is obviously very complicated, and she knew it all by heart," says the eyewitness. "She looked really strong and at ease onstage."

The singer is expected to perform her new song, "Make Me," to kick off Sunday's AMAs. We're guessing some of her routine may be cribbed from her new video for the song (see above), which features a vintage Janet vibe, including space-age shoulder pads and countless hat-tips to brother Michael.

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AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Pool Photographer

Whoever said "everything leaves a paper trail" was damn right.

Dr. Conrad Murray has admitted to giving Michael Jackson the surgical anesthetic propofol to help him sleep, and police say they know where he got it.

According to additional search warrant documents released Friday, investigators found receipts in Murray's Nevada office showing that the cardiologist purchased five bottles the drug from a Las Vegas pharmacy on May 12 and had it mailed to the L.A. mansion Jackson was living in when he died a month later.

All of which should come as no shock to anyone, according to Murray's attorney.

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Flynet

Gerard Butler paid tribute to Michael Jackson yesterday by dangling a fake baby out the window of his London hotel room. Aw, remember when M.J. did that with a real baby in Berlin? Memories...

Anyway, Gerry's fake baby is actually a plant wrapped in a towel, and he looks a little too pleased with himself. You can just tell he's high-fiving himself in his head for coming up with such an epically funny stunt that's actually pretty lame. And that is what we find amusing.

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Want more famous families besides Gerry and his plant babies? Check out our Famous Families gallery.

AP Photo/Reed Saxon

The man whose son derailed Michael Jackson's career with blockbuster accusations of molestation is dead of an apparent suicide.

Evan Chandler, 65, was found in his luxury New Jersey apartment on Nov. 5 with a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and the weapon still in his hand, police confirm.

The former Beverly Hills dentist and aspiring screenwriter did not leave behind a suicide note. However, detectives found prescription medication indicating he was suffering from a serious medical condition. Police did not disclose the nature of Chandler's illness.

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EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT POOL

The stakes have gone up along with the price tag.

The Los Angeles City Council is still gunning for Anschutz Entertainment Group to reimburse it for the star-studded memorial service for Michael Jackson that took place at AEG-owned Staples Center in July and the Public Safety Committee will review the issue at a meeting next week.

While AEG and the Jackson family hosted the actual service, some guys with calculators have determined that the city spent $3.2 million to help pull it off, mainly in the form of security and increased police presence around the venue and locations where the Jackson family congregated in the days following the King of Pop's death on June 25.

The cost was originally estimated at $1.4 million.

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AP Photo/Isaac Brekken

Now we know why he took that ill-fated gig with Michael Jackson.

Dr. Conrad Murray, the financially strapped cardiologist targeted by Los Angeles authorities in a manslaughter investigation stemming from the King of Pop's death, appeared in a Las Vegas courtroom today to make nice to his baby-mama.

 Flanked by his lawyer, Murray aknowledged that he had reachead a deal to live up to his paternal obligations to Menita Malibiran. She waived her right to $13,000 in back support in return for the doctor's guarantee that he will send monthly checks for $1,000 to care for their 10-year-old son. He was also ordered to pay up $700 in court fees.

Here's guessing he won't be getting any back pay from the Jackson family—especially if Janet has a say

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Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images; AP Photo/Houston Chronicle

While many of her family members have danced around the accusation, Janet Jackson isn't hiding her thoughts on who's to blame for her brother's death.

Dr. Conrad Murray is at fault for Michael Jackson's premature passing, she says.

"He was the one that was administering," she tells ABC's Robin Roberts in an exclusive interview airing Wednesday night. "I think he is responsible."

The doc is still under investigation for the death, and has admitted to giving the icon anesthetic propofol.

Placing blame isn't the only thing Miss Jackson is spilling in the rare sit-down.

"I couldn't believe it," she says, recalling June 25 and the moment she found out her brother was deceased.

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Sony Pictures

Michael Jackson's This Is It has made HIStory at the box office.

The behind-the-scenes oncert documentary chronicling what would undoubtedly have been one of the biggest comebacks in musical history has rung up $200 million in worldwide ticket receipts.

The milestone solidifies This Is It's standing as the king of all concert films. With $61 million in domestic receipts and more than $140 million internationally, the critically acclaimed Jackson tribute/goodbye has handily dethroned Miley Cyrus' Best of Both Worlds 3-D movie, which accounted for $65 million in its U.S.-only release.

This Is It has done its biggest business abroad, most notably in Japan, where it earned $27.2 million. In the U.K., where the concert would have been stated, the film bagged $14.3 million; France and Germany accounted for $12.1 million in sales; Australia, $7.2 million.

Sony Pictures, which paid $60 million to win a bidding war to distribute the film, originally planned a two-week theatrical run for This Is It. But with the cash rolling in and the companion soundtrack dominating the charts, the show goes on.

Like the man said, don't stop 'til you get enough.

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Take a look at what's new—and hot—in our Totally New Releases gallery.

VINCENT LAFORET/AFP/Getty Images

It cost big bucks to lay Michael Jackson to rest.

Court documents obtained by E! News show that funeral expenses amounted to nearly $1.1 million from start to finish, security to sarcophagus.

Jackson's estate petitioned the court to approve the immediate release of the funds from the King of Pop's fortune to pay for the proceedings.

Per the paperwork, $855,730 was owed to Forest Lawn Memorial Park & Mortuary, where Jackson was interred in September at a service attended by his whole family, close friends like Quincy Jones and Elizabeth Taylor, many celebrities and a few unwelcome news helicopters.

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