In Pictures: Michael Jackson memorial

Fans and stars, including actress Brooke Shields and basketball star Erwin "Magic" Johnson, have been gathering at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for a memorial to celebrate the life of Michael Jackson.

Singer and actress Jennifer Hudson and R&B star Usher are among stars who will make an appearance at the celebration of the life of Jackson, who died on 25 June.

A total of 8,750 people were chosen at random to receive a pair of tickets to attend the memorial service.

Fans lined up to leave tribute messages outside the Staples Center.

Some fans carried Michael Jackson dolls as they waited outside the venue.

A Michael Jackson fan poses in front of the huge poster, which has been signed by thousands.

Singer Joanelle Romero performs in front of Michael Jackson"s memorial outside the Jackson family home in Encino, California.

A fan holds up tickets to the concert - many ticketless fans also arrived in Los Angeles hoping to get into the Staples Center.

Earlier, fans also gathered at the Forest Lawn cemetery where the singer was buried.

Many queued overnight to pay their respects to the legendary singer, who died at the age of 50 of a suspected cardiac arrest.