Update!

Michael Jackson Set for Birthday Burial; Osmonds Plan Vegas Tribute

Source confirms that King of Pop will be interred in a mausoleum on Aug. 29, what would have been his 51st birthday

By Gina Serpe, Ashley Fultz Aug 17, 2009 7:24 PMTags
Michael Jackson, Joe JacksonGetty Images

Weird? A little. Cyclical? Definitely. Appropriately mythology-building? As if you would expect anything less from the Jacksons.

A source close to the Jackson family confirmed to E! News that Michael Jackson will be finally be laid to rest in Los Angeles' Forest Lawn Cemetery on Aug. 29 at 10 a.m., more than two months after his death and on what would have been his 51st birthday.

Never one to go small, the source added that Jackson's burial will indeed be fit for a king, as rather than a traditional burial, his body will instead be interred in a specially-built mausoleum on the cemetery's grounds.

(So much for an unmarked grave—announcing the exact date, time and location of his burial, to say nothing of what will no doubt be a less than humble tomb, more or less renders any privacy concerns moot.)

All the Jackson family members are expected to be in attendance for the service, which will precede yet another posthumous honor for the King of Pop.

After the service, both Joe Jackson and La Toya Jackson will be heading to Las Vegas, where Joe has already retaken to his life, to accept a star from the Brenden Theatre at the Palms Resort and Casino in Michael's honor.

After the presentation, a tribute concert is scheduled to take place.

"Donny and Marie, and Wayne Newton are some of the celebrities that are coming to perform at the concert," a source told E! News.

Usher was also rumored to be among the scheduled artists, but a rep for the R&B star tells us that he is "not confirmed for any MJ tribute or burial."

Other celebrities—presumably some who have nothing to do with Dancing With the Stars—are also expected to attend, and will be announced tomorrow.

As it happens, the star and concert may only be the start of Sin City-based Jackson tributes.

The proposal being worked on between Jackson's estate, concert promoters AEG and Colony Capital to move Neverland to Vegas as a Graceland-style attraction is still on the table, sources tell E! News.

While unofficial (and often unsought) family spokesman Papa Joe this morning denied to the New York Daily News that Neverland would be making the trek to Nevada, he doesn't actually have a say in the matter—that privilege lies with the estate, and the estate alone.

Meanwhile, as for matters slightly more within his purview, Jackson also spoke out, somewhat surprisingly, in support of Dr. Conrad Murray, for whom things continue to look, well, not good.

Jackson said he supports the Los Angeles Police Department's cross-state investigation into his son's death, but worries that Murray may turn into "the fall guy for a whole lot of people."

As for Katherine Jackson, whom Joe told the NYDN was taking her son's death hard and frequently bursts into tears over the loss of Michael, her attorneys will be back in court this morning to hash out more plans for his estate.

The judge is expected to rule today on merchandising that could potentially be generated by the estate, and may sign off on several pending million-dollar deals to license and merchandise products connected to the King of Pop.

(Originally published on Aug. 17, 2009 at 7:45 a.m. PT)

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