known as the "King of Pop", was an American musician and one of the most commercially successful entertainers of all time. His unique contributions to music and dance, along with a highly publicized personal life, made him a prominent figure in popular culture for four decades.

While preparing for the This Is It concert tour in 2009, Jackson died at the age of 50 in Los Angeles, California, after suffering from cardiac arrest. In late August, 2009, news reports based an anonymous source claimed that the Los Angeles County coroner's report had ruled Jackson's death a homicide. His memorial service was broadcast live around the world.