Jackson fans prepare for 'King of Pop' final curtain

Hundreds of millions of fans were preparing to bid an emotional farewell to Michael Jackson Tuesday as Los Angeles braced for a star-studded memorial to the tragic King of Pop. Nearly two weeks after the death of the iconic singer, America is expected to grind to a standstill as devotees gather to celebrate Jackson's life and times in a glittering, celebrity-fueled send-off. Jackson's family and close friends are to attend a private funeral service for the star at 1500 GMT at the picturesque Forest Lawn mortuary nestled in the Hollywood Hills above Los Angeles. Reports early Tuesday said Jackson's body -- resting in a 25,000-dollar gold-plated casket -- would then be transported to the lavish public memorial at the 20,000-capacity Staples Center starting at 1700 GMT. It was not clear where Jackson's body would be taken after the memorial. A staggering 1.6 million people applied to win free tickets for the service, which were allocated via an online lottery over the weekend. Precise details of the service have been kept under wraps but organizers have confirmed that Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson were among the stars due to participate. An additional 1,400 police officers will be on duty to provide security, while city blocks surrounding the venue have been sealed off.