by Outpouring support and deeply felt concern over Michael Jackson’s passing on Thursday continues to flow from entertainers. Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, like so many, remember Jackson’s magic. Beyonce, citing the King of Pop’s impact, wrote “This is such a tragic loss and a terrible day. The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music. He was magic. He was what we all strive to be. He will always be the king of pop! Life is not about how many breaths you take, but about how many moments in life that take your breath away. For anyone who has ever seen, felt, or heard his art, we are all honored to have been alive in this generation to experience the magic of Michael Jackson. I love you Michael,” in a statement Thursday. Whitney Houston, who like Michael Jackson, was preparing for a comeback this year, issued a statement late Thursday saying “I am full of grief”. Houston, long associated and often compared to Jackson over the years, was pitted against the King of Pop on networks earlier this year in a playful “Whitney Vs. Michael” showdown. The comeback showdown, of course, was simply to celebrate the fact that two pop icons were essentially getting back up after being dogged by personal woes that became tabloid fodder. Nonetheless, it is evident through Whitney Houston and fellow diva Mariah Carey’s statement, that their lives were touched just as much by the King of Pop even though they are seen as icons themselves. Carey, stating ” I am heartbroken,” goes on to say: “My prayers go out to the Jackson family, and my heart goes out to his children. Let us remember him for his unparalleled contribution to the world of music, his generosity of spirit in his quest to heal the world & the joy he brought to his millions of devoted fans throughout the world. I feel blessed to have performed with him several times & to call him my friend. No artist will ever take his place. His star will shine forever.” Michael Jackson will live on through his music — the same music that has provided the soundtrack to our lives throughout its difficult, exciting and most memorable times.
