At long last, the King of Pop was laid to rest tonight within the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif.
Macaulay Culkin and Mila Kunis, Elizabeth Taylor, Lisa Marie Presley, Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Gladys Knight, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Corey Feldman, Chris Tucker, Kenny Ortega, Marlon Brando's son Miko and baseball star Barry Bonds were among those who braved the stifling San Fernando Valley heat to bid Michael Jackson a final goodbye, more than two months after his tragic death at the age of 50.
Rows of white chairs were set up for the mourners on the lawn right outside the mausoleum, which is not visible from the cemetery's main gate.
But Culkin, Presley, the 77-year-old Taylor and close to 200 others had to wait for the arrival of the family motorcade, which didn't even set out for Forest Lawn until 7:30 p.m., a half-hour after the service's scheduled start time.
Jackson's children, Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket, parents Joe and Katherine, sisters Janet, La Toya and Rebbie Jackson and his five brothers were eventually all in attendance, with the kids taking seats in the front row, facing a portrait of their father.
The family had commissioned a fleet of Rolls Royce Phantoms and Cadillacs to ferry them from the family compound in Encino to the cemetery, and ultimately more than two dozen vehicles made the trip.
Jermaine, Marlon, Randy, Tito and Jackie each donned one sparkly white glove apiece in tribute to their fallen brother, as they did at his memorial extravaganza back in July.
Bouquets of white lilies and roses adorned the stage, from where Pastor Lucius Smith delivered the opening prayer. Knight sang the gospel hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" and songwriter Clifton Davis sang a tune he penned for the Jackson 5, "Never Can Say Goodbye."
Singer Chase Kuker, who attended the burial with his friend, producer Rodney Jerkins, tells E! News, "The ceremony was powerful, very heartfelt as the family and friends of M.J. expressed the impact he had on their lives."
Following the service, Jackson's five brothers carried Michael's casket into the Great Mausoleum.
"The Jackson Family wishes to once again thank all of Michael's fans around the world for their generous outpouring of support during this terribly difficult time," read a statement released tonight by the family's rep, Ken Sunshine. "Their expressions of love for Michael and his music have sustained the Jackson Family."
Jackson's family had originally planned to say their latest round of final goodbyes on Aug. 29, which would have been the artist's 51st birthday, but the burial was postponed for unexplained reasons.
Katherine Jackson has since successfully petitioned the court for funds from her late son's estate to pay for the interment and reimburse the city for security services.
Jackson's crypt is in the mausoleum's Holly Terrace section, where his neighbors include old-school stars like Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and Jean Harlow.
A number of mourners were expected to head over to restaurant Villa Sorriso in Pasadena for a reception following the service.
(Originally published Sept. 3, 2009, at 6:55 p.m. PT)
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Tonight and for the past two months, friends, family and fans have been Mourning Michael Jackson.