Michael Jackson fans around the world are preparing to bid the beloved and controversial musician farewell at Tuesday’s public memorial to the fallen pop star.  Many of music’s biggest names are slated to participate in the memorial, which will be held in L.A.’s famous Staples Center at 8am, EST.  Though reports of just who will perform at tomorrow’s event differ, E!Online is reporting the following:

E! News has confirmed that both Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson will be performing.

Kobe Bryant, Berry Gordy, Magic Johnson, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Brooke Shields, Usher and Stevie Wonder are also confirmed participants. Ditto for the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Andraé Crouch Choir, Martin Luther King III, Bernice A. King and family friends Ron Boyd and Pastor Lucious Smith.

Whitney Houston and Beyoncé Knowles have been mentioned as possible attendees, but a press release from organizers did not mention their names. But Shaheen Jafargholi, a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent, somehow made the cut.

Extra is reporting that in addition, top stars such as Jennifer Hudson, Justin Timberlake, Liza Minelli and Lionel Richie might also make appearances.  It has also been speculated that Diana Ross will open the show, though sources say security concerns may prevent the legendary diva from performing as planned.

Despite the big names pledging their attendance and participation at the highly anticipated event, Michael’s close friends Quincy Jones and Elizabeth Taylor have both announced that they will not attend the public ceremony, with Elizabeth stating that she does wish to share her grief for Michael with the public, and Quincy stating that he has chosen not to attend any more funerals in his lifetime. 

17,000 tickets were issued to lucky fans through a lottery system, but CNN reports “just 11,000 of those are for seats inside the Staples Center. The other 6,500 would be for viewing the memorial telecast at the adjacent Nokia Theater.”

Stay posted throughout Tuesday for breaking news on the memorial.

FWO-ForWomenOnline.com