MICHAEL JACKSON's father JOE JACKSON has praised the late singer's THIS IS IT concert rehearsal movie after watching it in Las Vegas on Tuesday night (27Oct09).Joe Jackson had initially poured scorn on the film, suggesting director Kenny Ortega had used a Jacko body double to flesh out the film. But now he's seen the finished product, Joe Jackson is thrilled with the movie, which he saw with boxing promoter Don King at The Palms resort. He says, "The performance is great because it’s Michael performing. He’s always going to give a good show." And now Joe Jackson is calling on critics to be kind to his son's swansong film: "I don’t know what the media are going to say, but after they see the movie, I hope it's good... If the media talks good in favor of the movie, that’s fantastic." Brother Jackie Jackson, who first saw the film last week (22Oct09), also attended the world premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday night (27Oct09) and admits he loves the movie: "It's Michael at his best... ...

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MICHAEL JACKSON is poised to dominate the American Music Awards from beyond the grave - after earning five posthumous nominations, including Artist of The Year, at the upcoming ceremony.The King of Pop is up against Lady Gaga, Eminem, Kings of Leon and Taylor Swift for the top honor. Jackson is also up for Favorite Male Artist and Favourite Album (Number Ones) in both the pop/rock music and soul/R&B music categories. But the Thriller hitmaker, who died in June (09), isn't the nominations leader - that honor belongs to country music sensation Swift, who landed six nods on Tuesday (13Oct09). Swift will compete in categories including Favourite Female Country Music Artist, Favorite Female Pop Artist and Favourite Album (Fearless). Rapper Eminem garnered four nominations, while Beyonce, the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Kings of Leon and T.I. each received three. Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys and the Black Eyed Peas are among the acts lined up to perform at the 37th annual AMAs in Los Ange...

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MICHAEL JACKSON's first posthumously released new track THIS IS IT will be available to download at the stroke of midnight on 12 October (09).Sony Music will unleash the previously unheard song, which features backing vocals from Jackson's brothers, online on Monday. The track will then appear on a new two-disc album of the same name, set to go on sale later this month (Oct09) to coincide with the global premiere of Jackson's This Is It documentary, about his ill-fated comeback concerts in London. Album co-producer John McClain has previously said, "This song only defines, once again, what the world already knows - that Michael is one of God's greatest gifts." Jackson died on 25 June (09). His death has since been ruled a homicide.

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RANDY JACKSON has hit out at the media after some outlets deployed helicopters to cover his brother MICHAEL's private funeral ceremony - demanding they pull the footage from any future broadcasts.The King of Pop was laid to rest at the Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park and on Thursday evening (03Sep09), more than two months after his tragic demise in June (09) Following the star-studded public memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in July (09), only a select group of family and close friends was allowed to the outdoor ceremony. Macaulay Culkin, actor Chris Tucker, and best pal Elizabeth Taylor were some of the attendees at the outdoor ceremony, which saw around 200 guests pay their last respects to the Thriller hitmaker. But despite allowing cameras in to record the guests arriving at the ceremony, the Jacksons are furious some press organizations sent helicopters to film the funeral. The late superstar's brother Randy has spoken out - insisting a private family g...

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MICHAEL JACKSON knew he was about to die, according to his alleged gay lover who has come forward reporting the pair was in a romantic relationship before the late star's death.Jason Pfeiffer, an executive working for Jackson's dermatologist Arnold Klein, alleges he enjoyed a string of dates with the superstar during his final weeks - and they became more than close friends. The 35 year old, who calls Jackson his "soulmate", was devastated when the King of Pop passed away earlier this year (09) - because the odd couple was just embarking on a very strange romance. And Pfeiffer has revealed more mystery about the circumstances surrounding Jackson's death from a cardiac arrest, revealing the superstar may have known he was about to die in the two weeks leading up to his passing. He tells Woman's Day magazine, "He completely changed in the final two weeks. He was overly religious, overly dramatic, exhausting and exhausted. He was saying goodbyes the week before passing. Everyone was cr...

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MICHAEL JACKSON's longtime friend MARK LESTER has sensationally revealed he could be the father of the star's daughter, PARIS.The former child actor is godfather to 11-year-old Paris and the King of Pop's two sons, Prince Michael, 12, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket. Lester donated his sperm to Jackson following a request from the superstar, leading him to believe Paris is his daughter - and he's decided to speak out because fears he is being cut out of the children's lives by Jackson's mum, Katherine. He says, "It's been a secret for so long. In 1996 Michael asked me if I would give him my sperm and I said yes. It was a gift to him, no money was paid, it was something I was honored to do. He wanted children so badly." Lester insists he has only gone public with the revelations because Jackson's mother Katherine has stopped him from seeing the children since the star died in June (09). He adds, "This isn't what Michael would have wanted. I feel I have to come forw...

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JANET JACKSON has offered to help raise her brother MICHAEL's young children, who look to their aunt as a "mother figure", according to new reports.Janet Jackson, 43, is said to have been helping her mother Katherine Jackson look after Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II aka Blanket, since the sudden death of their father last month (Jun09). And the pop star has allegedly offered to take in the youngsters if their elderly grandmother, 79, is unable to do so. A source tells Britain's The Sun, "Janet has said, 'I love them and I'll step forward and raise them if this is what they want.' She tells everyone she loves them as if they were her own. "The children have chosen her as their confidante and mother figure, and Janet feels her place is at their side. She's completely bonded with those children in the last two weeks. "It's clear to everyone that they are looking to her for comfort and guidance. Janet is blossoming as a woman with tremendous mate...

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MICHAEL JACKSON's mother KATHERINE and his ex-wife DEBBIE ROWE have agreed a secret deal to keep family patriarch JOE away from the star's three children, according to reports.A custody hearing for Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, was scheduled for Monday (13Jul09) in Los Angeles. But court officials have confirmed it has now been postponed until 20 July (09), at the request of Katherine Jackson and Rowe - who is the biological mother of the two eldest children. The two women are attempting to put their differences aside and reach a custody agreement whereby Katherine will bring the children up while Rowe will have regular access. Rowe and Katherine want to ensure Jackson's father, who Michael accused of beating him as a child, does not get access to the children after he was reported as saying he wants to turn them into stars like their late father. Jackson's former wife, who gave up her custody rights to her two children in 1999, i...

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The custody hearing for MICHAEL JACKSON's three children has been postponed while the singer's mother KATHERINE and ex-wife DEBBIE ROWE try and come to an agreement over the kids' future.Jackson clan matriarch Katherine was made temporary guardian of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, after her superstar son died last month (25Jun09). A hearing was scheduled for Monday (13Jun09) in Los Angeles, but court officials have confirmed that it has now been put back until 20 July (09), at the request of Katherine Jackson and Rowe - who is the biological mother of Jackson's two eldest children. A statement from the L.A. courthouse says, "(The) guardianship hearing originally scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2009 will be continued to July 20, 2009. "All prior orders remain in full force and effect, with Katherine Jackson as temporary guardian of the children." It is not known for sure if Rowe will attempt to gain custody of her children with Jacks...

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The concert promoters behind MICHAEL JACKSON's comeback tour will receive a multi-million dollar payout from the show's insurers if reports linking the superstar's passing to drugs are correct - because their policy covers death by overdose.AEG Live bosses took out a $17.5 million insurance policy from Lloyd's of London in the event a health crisis would cause Michael Jackson to pull out of his 50-date London residency. Following his sudden death last week (25Jun09), rumors have swirled about the Thriller hitmaker's prolonged dependence on prescription drugs, with some reports suggesting his cardiac arrest was triggered by an accidental overdose. Further tests to determine the singer's cause of death have been ordered by the Los Angeles coroner's office and the results are expected within weeks. If drugs are proved to have played a part in Michael Jackson's untimely passing, AEG executives will be able to recoup some of their massive losses - but not if he's ruled to have died of na...

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