One last look, MJ's fans gathered at Staples Center

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Michael Jackson, his passing has played out in the spotlight: Thousands swamped Los Angeles, California to mourn and bid goodbye to world's greatest performer, Michael Jackson.

Fans and friends of King of Pop gathered at Staples Center where the public viewing was held. There were estimated 17,000 people were there to take a last glance of their idol, even if he is in the bronze casket.

Here are some of the highlights from Tuesday's memorial service to Michael Jackson.

The ceremony opened with Motown legend Smokey Robinson reading letters from friends, including Diana Ross as a spotlight shone on Jackson's gold-plated casket.

Jackson's body had been transported from a private memorial service at a Hollywood Hills cemetery to the massive public memorial, which began shortly after 10 a.m. PDT.

It was a rare public moment for Paris-Michael and her brothers, 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, and 7-year-old Prince Michael II, known as Blanket. 

Jackson famously shielded his children from the media, covering their faces with veils or masks. But all three children appeared on stage as the memorial service came to a close. 

The two boys each wore the same dark suit and yellow tie as the rest of the men in the Jackson family. Prince chewed gum and toted the memorial service program on stage. Blanket held his program and clutched a Michael Jackson doll. Paris-Michael wore a black dress with white trim and carried a small patent-leather purse. 

The children comforted one another on stage as members of the arena crowd did the same in their seats.

Paris to her dad, ''Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine," said Paris Katherine Jackson, the second of Michael Jackson's three children, as a massive memorial service for her father neared its end in downtown Los Angeles.

"And I just want to say that I love him so much," Paris added, before breaking down in tears and burying herself in the arms of her aunt, Janet Jackson.

Embedded video from CNN Video

Usher's heartbreaking rendition of "Gone Too Soon," which Jackson wrote as a memorial for Ryan White, one of the early public faces of AIDS, captured the pain not only of his fans and friends, but of his family, as the Jackson brothers came together and gripped a sobbing Usher in their arms afterward.

Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz sings their version of "I'll Be There" .

Actress Brooke Shields, who was friends with Jackson since both were children, said that "Michael always knew he could count on me to support him or be his date. ... We had a bond and maybe it was because we both understood what it was like to be in the spotlight from a very, very young age ... Both of us needed to be adults very early, but when we were together, we were two little kids having fun. ... M.J.'s laugh was the sweetest and purest of anyone I've known," Shields said."This is a moment that I wished that I didn't live to see come, but as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good," singer Stevie Wonder said before launching into an emotional rendition of his 1971 song, "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer."

Queen Latifah said good words about Jackson and read a poem written for Jackson by Maya Angelou.

A pregnant Jennifer Hudson sang Jackson's "Will You Be There".

Members of the family ended the ceremony by giving their emotional words for Michael.

GOODBYE, MJ.

*photos from web/ CNN video