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BET Salutes the "King of Pop"; Investigating Michael Jackson's Death
Aired June 28, 2009 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Live here at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California for the BET Awards, which is really a tribute to Michael Jackson today.
I want to bring in someone who everyone is familiar with. Because I certainly have my coffee with her and I probably watch her certainly when I shouldn't be watching -- I should be working. Sherri Shepherd, how are you doing?
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I'm wonderful. How are you?
LEMON: I'm doing well. You know what? You guys pre-taped on Friday so you didn't get to talk about it on the air. Have you had your moment yet, Sherri?
SHEPHERD: No, I'm still numb. I mean, Michael Jackson shaped every part of our lives. Every song that he sang I think we all have a memory.
And I just remember lying in bed and I used to dream about marrying Michael Jackson. I thought we we're going to have matching jumpsuits at our wedding. I mean, I had the whole thing to planned out -- I used to take the bus to his compound on Hayvenhurst and sit outside there all night just waiting for a glimpse of a black limo to come out thinking it was Michael.
LEMON: Did you ever see him?
SHEPHERD: I think I did, it might have been Ricky (ph) though, but I used to scream, "Michael!" "Michael!"
LEMON: You sure it wasn't Tito?
SHEPHERD: No, I don't think it was Tito. I'm kind of seeing LaToya, I don't know but I'm hoping it was Michael and he saw me.
LEMON: We have to tell you and Sherri has a date at MVP. And it was like, why is this man grabbing you? Well, why is he with you?
SHEPHERD: He is my date for the weekend. You know this is nice, I mean, you're going to bring anybody, you want to bring MVP.
LEMON: Show them that chain, MVP? That will hurt you.
SHEPHERD: Yes. It's heavy and it's real. And he's got good credit, ladies. I'm loving it.
MVP: I have a job and I have good credit.
LEMON: And you know what we're here joking and I keep saying we're here joking, but really it's -- because we're celebrating.
The tears will come, right? And Michael, again, as I've been telling everyone, Michael was a fun guy and he would want us to be celebrating it.
SHEPHERD: Absolutely. We mourn -- we've mourned Michael's loss but thank you for the legacy he has left behind. He has left some amazing songs. And I was playing "Ben" for my son who is 4 years old. "Look no more" -- I mean, and I think about the good times.
And so I'm so thankful for the memories that he's left us. So we rejoice. Even when we had the pre-party, Jamie Foxx he was so somber and Jamie said, "You know what? Michael wouldn't want us doing this."
LEMON: Right.
SHEPHERD: We got to -- he said you're going to get in the party. "Rock with You." We were all dancing and shouting and we had a good time.
LEMON: So thank you, Jamie Foxx.
SHEPHERD: Yes, thank you, Jamie. He ignited it. We celebrated Michael Jackson.
LEMON: You know what's hard when the music coming out of the breaks -- we've been playing the music going in and out of the breaks. And I'm bopping my head. I know Michael is gone. And I get that.
SHEPHERD: But you know what somebody said...
LEMON: But the music.
SHEPHERD: Somebody told me and said Ed McMahon went first so he could introduce his special guests -- Farrah Fawcett with special musical guest, Michael Jackson.
LEMON: All right now.
SHEPHERD: All right, I'm like, we celebrate Michael.
LEMON: And you know I've got to tell you. I cannot wait when I'm done with this long stretch that I've been doing here with Michael Jackson, I'm going to be in New Orleans next week for the Essence Festival, I can't wait to get home with my family...
SHEPHERD: Yes.
LEMON: ...and whip out our old Michael Jackson music. And sit around and talk about it.
SHEPHERD: You remember the "Thriller?" The "Thriller" move?
LEMON: I'm talking about "ABC, it's easy as 1-2-3."
SHEPHERD: "1-2-3."
MVP: I was saying that, I challenge anyone to put together a soundtrack of your life without at least one Michael Jackson song.
LEMON: Hard to.
SHEPHERD: That's right.
MVP: At least you can't do it.
SHEPHERD: You cannot do it.
LEMON: MVP and the lovely and talented Sherri Shepherd. Thank you very much. You put me in a good mood, girl.
SHEPHERD: Thank you very much.
LEMON: Enjoy the show. Come back out and tell us what goes on inside, we'd appreciate it. We're going to be live here all night. Sherri Shepherd and MVP.
We're having a good time out here because as we're saying, we're paying tribute to the late Michael Jackson.
But in the meantime there is an investigation; there are questions about what led to the entertainer's death. And there's also some new developments in that.
I want to get to our Ted Rowlands who is at our headquarters here in Los Angeles with the very latest -- Ted.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, at the center of that investigation-- of course it is a death investigation -- of course, is Dr. Conrad Murray. He has been the subject of a lot of speculation. This is the doctor that was with Michael Jackson at the time that he died at his rented home in the West Side.
Well, the doctor has come out swinging. Through his attorney, Conrad Murray is basically saying that he never gave Michael Jackson or prescribed Michael Jackson, Demerol or Oxycontin. There have been reports, numerous reports that he supposedly gave him a shot of Demerol.
Well, the doctor, through his attorneys are saying that is absolutely not true. He says he discovered Jackson in bed not breathing but with a slight pulse. He said at that point they began giving Michael Jackson CPR. They say he was still warm at the time that they discovered him in bed.
And you remember the 911 call where the operator says -- he's on the bed, well, get him off the bed, get him on the floor. A lot of people thought what's a doctor doing keeping him on a bed or putting him on a bed. Well, this explains it from Dr. Murray, through his attorney, that Jackson was found on the bed and they immediately started to give -- started giving him CPR.
So now meanwhile, the LAPD is still investigating this and they still have Dr. Murray's car. You remember, hours after Michael Jackson died they impounded the doctor's car. They say they still have that car. Dr. Murray has been cleared, he says, but he's staying here in southern California for the foreseeable future to answer any more questions that the LAPD may have -- Don.
LEMON: All right, CNN's Ted Rowlands is following the developments for us. Ted had an exclusive interview with one of the attorneys last night who is going to be representing that doctor.
Ted, as soon as you get more information on that, will you bring it to us? Because I know you're working on every single development that comes out of this.
In the meantime, we want to turn to another legend here who is helping to celebrate the life and legacy of a legacy, there she is. How you doing, doll? Chaka Khan, it's good to see you.
CHAKA KHAN, SINGER, SONGWRITER: It's good to see you.
LEMON: What are you going to be doing tonight to celebrate?
KHAN: Well, I'll be presenting "Best New Artist" but you know of course, this entire occasion is overshadowed by the amazing tragedy that -- we're presently going through. I think that -- I don't think that we've all wrapped our heads around the fact yet that he's gone. I haven't.
LEMON: Yes. And you seemed that -- you're emotional, I know everyone who comes up here is emotional.
KHAN: Yes. I haven't gotten to the point where I can break down yet because I just don't believe it. But my heart and all my prayers go out to the family. And I have to believe that energy lives on...
LEMON: It does.
KHAN: And that he is still with us in some amazing way.
LEMON: You perform with him. Did you guys perform together?
KHAN: No. But I did cover one of his songs.
LEMON: You did?
KHAN: When the deejays played it; and this is was a duet performance, "Got to be There."
LEMON: Yes.
KHAN: Yes, in the '80s.
LEMON: Can you do a little for us? Come on, Chaka.
KHAN: Got to be there -- be there and I'm on it. We'll express our love to the world.
All right?
LEMON: Chaka Khan. Amazing.
KHAN: Thank you.
LEMON: Chaka, you are the best.
KHAN: Thank you so much for you.
LEMON: Thank you so much for doing this.
And our hearts go out to the family. We did hear from the family. I want to tell you, a BET reporter went into the compound and said the family is doing well, they're getting through it.
KHAN: Oh good, I was just with Janet a couple weeks ago in England for the Prince of Brunei's birthday and it's just so amazing. Yes, it's just funny how time plays itself out? I just want to tell Janet -- to just hang in there Janet. And his mother and father as well.
LEMON: Someone is going to be here tonight, we're not sure. But a member of the family is going to be here.
KHAN: Ok.
LEMON: Chaka Khan, everyone. Thank you Chaka, we really appreciate it.
We want to get now to -- we've been talking to some of the stars. You saw Chaka there and make sure Chaka gets off our little platform here.
I want to go now to our Dan Simon, Dan is standing by here. He's talking to the people, just fans who have come out to see the people here and to pay tribute to Michael as well -- Dan.
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes hey, Don.
Here with Alexandria Thomas from Gary, Indiana. Show us your cell phone. What do you have on there?
ALEXANDRIA THOMAS, MICHAEL JACKSON FAN: Brian.
SIMON: I don't think if you can see this stuff, but she's got a picture of Michael Jackson on her screen saver there on her cell phone. You're 20 years old, you were born in 1989. You didn't really listen to Michael Jackson as kid but you started to appreciate him as you got older.
THOMAS: Oh yes, I did. I remember actually listening to him as I was a younger child. It's amazing, he's a great person and it's really sad that he's gone.
SIMON: Yes, what brought you out here today? Was it to see all the entertainment but also to figure out or to see what was happening with the tribute?
THOMAS: Yes, I just came out here today, just so you know, to be entertained and to see what's going on with Michael Jackson and the whole memorial thing.
SIMON: All right, let's talk to somebody else, thanks, Alexandria.
This is Marquise Jones. Where you from Marquise?
MARQUISE JONES, MICHAEL JACKSON FAN: I'm from Los Angeles -- L.A.
SIMON: And your thoughts about Michael Jackson and being around this atmosphere as people are talking about him?
JONES: I think it was -- that he went the other day I think it's very sad -- it was sad, that we're able to celebrate it today, BET Awards; there's nothing bigger than this. Yes, I think they're going to do something real great tonight. And I'm ready to see the tribute.
SIMON: Yes, what would you like to see happen in the show?
JONES: I would like to see all the celebrities get together, Beyonce, all the big celebrities and get together and pay tribute to Michael Jackson.
SIMON: All right Marquise, thanks a lot.
So Don, that gives you an idea in terms of the things that we're hearing from the fans out here. Everybody -- a lot of anticipation for this show and obviously people talking about what's happened and remembering the life and times of Michael Jackson. Back to you.
LEMON: All right, thank you very much for that, Dan Simon.
Just to let everybody know, we are on twittering and twittering here right now from the Red Carpet. Someone says, "Don Lemon is a little star struck tonight on CNN." I'm not star-struck. I'm just having a good time and celebrating the life of Michael Jackson. I've met many of these people before.
Someone else says, "Oh, my God, Don just talked to Chaka Khan. That was great, singing live on the air with Chaka Khan." Yes, real people, we're real people, we're having a good time and we're celebrating.
But also keeping up on the investigation of Michael Jackson into his death and also checking in on some of his family members.
As we have learned, one of them will be here tonight. Let's go to the family compound now in Encino, California and Susan Roesgen -- Susan.
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, this is where all the real people who could never get into the BET Awards are tonight. What you see behind me is all the reporters lined-up, all the satellite trucks media from around the world are here.
All with their cameras focused right there at the family home here in Encino; the home bought by Berry Gordy for the Jackson 5 when they were first shooting the big back in the 1970s.
What you see now is sort of a swelling of the crowd and of all the flowers, the balloons, the teddy bears, lots of stuffed animals. And all the handwritten notes to Michael Jackson saying "We Love You," "You Will Live Forever," "Your legacy will live on forever."
In about an hour we expect the Reverend Al Sharpton to be here to speak to some of the family members. But we do understand Don, that he'll probably come to your spot -- the BET Awards first and then come back here to the family's home.
But right now you have people who are sharing their memories. And we found one woman who has a very young son who is a very young Michael Jackson fan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADRIANA ORTIZ, FAN: He's really a big fan. He wears his costume all the time. I have so many videos of him practicing. Huh, baby? "Billie Jean" is his song.
If I could talk to him, I would tell Michael thank you for all that he's done for humanity. I would tell him that -- unfortunately, I wasn't able to see him -- but I would tell him that we love him. The Ortiz family loves him a lot as many fans do. And from heaven keep doing what you did on earth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROESGEN: And amen to that, Don. Back to you.
LEMON: All right, Susan Roesgen, thank you very much for that.
Send us your thoughts on this awards coverage tonight and what you would like to ask some of the people here, what you want to know about Michael Jackson's legacy; Twitter.com/don lemon CNN. or you can go to iReport.com and send us an iReport or you can send it on MySpace or Facebook and we'll get it -- we'll get your comments on the air tonight.
In the meantime we are interviewing a lot of folks, a lot of stars here.
Hello. We're going to get to you right after the break. She's one of my favorite -- you're my favorite gal.
DEBRA LEE, CEO, BET: Great. Ever since Don -- Right, ok. LEMON: All right, we'll get it right after the breaks. Ok, all right. Yes, yes, lady.
We're back at the BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. We're live on the Red Carpet at the 2009 BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium. The person who is responsible for this is standing right next to me; it's Debra Lee, the chairman and CEO of BET. Thank you so much for joining us.
LEE: No. Thank you for being here.
LEMON: Why did you turn this into a tribute?
LEE: Well, Michael Jackson was the King of Pop. He was so important to the growth of BET over the years. He's the biggest thing that's happened in music in our lifetime.
When we heard that he had passed away we knew we had to revamp this whole show and make it special just for him.
LEMON: You had -- what -- two days' notice; three days' notice?
LEE: Three days' notice. But, you know, we worked overtime. It was a labor of love for our staff. Michael Jackson showed up for us. He always made sure we got his videos. He made the best video in the world. He made other artists step up their game to be like him.
You know, it is going to be a celebration tonight. It's going to be a little sad but it is going to be a celebration.
LEMON: You know, I heard in the pre-party people started getting sad and Jamie Foxx said why are you sad? Listen to his music.
LEE: Jamie got up there and took over. He and Joe and Tyrese did "Rock with You" and every artist at my dinner last night got up and it was just the best moment. Everyone at their seats got out and danced. And it was a celebration. That's the way Michael would want us to do it. So that's what tonight is going to be about.
LEMON: Even at the last second if you tell artists, this is for Michael Jackson, they're going to step up.
LEE: That's right. They're going to bring their A-game. They're going to practice until 5:00 in the morning, rehearse all day. And that's what's happened.
People are like, yes, we'll be there. Some of the performers that were already in the show are doing extra duty. Then we have new performers. It is from the opening act to the closing act. It is going to be a fabulous night.
LEMON: You have anything that you want -- any anecdotes, any little stories about Michael you want to tell us?
LEE: Michael was our first Walk of Fame recipient at BET. He came to my house for a reception a couple of years ago. He was so genuine, so real.
I remember him as a little boy. I remember my purple suede vest when I went to my first Jackson 5 Jackson. I'm a huge fan. I feel like I grew up with him.
Like I said, he was always there for BET. And we are so honored to be the first awards show after his death to be able to do it like only BET could do it. So everyone has to be there at 8:00 tonight. It's going to be a special moment.
LEMON: We'll all be here.
Arsenio Hall said it best, he the date of this couldn't be more appropriate because these people certainly know how to celebrate the life and legacy of Michael Jackson.
Thank you so much.
LEE: Thank you for being here.
LEMON: We appreciate you letting us be here on the Red Carpet.
LEE: Right. You're just a wonderful group.
LEMON: I think it is great that you allowing this to be a tribute.
LEE: Great. Thank you.
LEMON: 8:00, she said. We want everybody to be tuned in.
Be tuned in to CNN as well. I have people twittering me, Miss Lee, saying, "I'm flipping back and forth. And I'm watching you guys."
LEE: All right. We're going to have the whole audience Twitter right before the show starts.
LEMON: All right. Great. Thank you so much.
We're here, we're live. We're with the stars and with the president and CEO of BET. We have everyone on the Red Carpet.
There you see, Chaka Khan is here; Chaka Khan came over and I sang with her. I'm sorry about my voice but I wanted Chaka Khan to sing. And also you see Reno 911; see her right there in that gold dress? There she is.
I have to tell you this. Breaking news in to CNN, Joe Jackson, patriarch of the Jackson family, the father of Michael Jackson, spotted on the Red Carpet tonight. We're hearing that he is here and if he is here and if he will come over and talk to us, we're going to try to get Joe Jackson to come over and talk to us; to tell us exactly how he feels, what the family is going through. And what they want to know.
We hope he's talking tonight. He is here. I think it's a good thing he's here.
CNN is live on the Red Carpet. We hoping to talk to Joe Jackson who we're told is spotted here tonight.
We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Don Lemon here, live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. We're talking to -- everyone's starting to come up now. And people are wanting to talk because they want to celebrate Michael Jackson.
You may recognize this person; Ving Rhames. Hello, sir.
VING RHAMES, ACTOR: Hey, how are you doing? I'm here with Nipsey Hustle and his manager Big U. We're doing a film -- we start filming tomorrow that we're dedicating to Michael Jackson.
Basically it's kind of an anti-violence, anti-gang movie. A true depiction, and it basically shows the bond between Crips and Bloods. I play a father, and one of my son's a Crip and one is a Blood.
LEMON: Why are you dedicating it to Michael?
RHAMES: Because I think Michael was a man who was universal and to coin a phrase that B.I.G., "stereotypes of a black male misunderstood and it's still all good." And I find that with the rolling 60's could in a lot of quote-unquote, "stereotypes of ganghoods."
Basically most people don't know that much about them but when you live that experience and you live in that hood you come away with knowledge and a different perspective.
LEMON: And we know Michael Jackson also worked to break down misconceptions about stereotypes.
Thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate it, all you guys. And the movie you start filming tomorrow, right? Let us know when it comes out. We'll get it on. Thank you, guys. We appreciate it.
Hey, we were going to talk -- where is Zoe? Zoe was around. Zoe, come on, step on up here. Hi, gorgeous.
ZOE SALDANA, ACTRESS: Hi. Oh, gosh.
LEMON: What are you doing tonight in tribute to Michael Jackson?
SALDANA: I'm just going to be here, absorb the music, absorb the love and be grateful that even though I do feel that we had him for a very short time, I'm so grateful that I knew his music enough to be inspired and want to make a change with it, you know.
LEMON: What do you think -- Zoe Saldana, when you look at all these people who are here -- I mean, big stars and big performers and entertainers, what do you think?
SALDANA: Pride. A lot of pride to have the opportunity to come out and celebrate ourselves and each other for what we do and how much we contribute, whether in arts or advocacies. I think it is so important.
LEMON: How did he influence you, if at all?
SALDANA: Oh, God. From fashion to his voice, to the fact that he was that one artist that -- I mean I'm an '80s kid. And I remember from "We are the World" to "Man in the Mirror." It was this -- you can be famous and you can also give back and lend your voice to great causes for children. I just knew that at a very young age that Michael was more than just the moonwalker, you know.
LEMON: Thank you, Zoe Saldana, we really appreciate. You look gorgeous. Go in there, celebrate Michael Jackson's life and legacy and we appreciate it. Thank you so much.
We're going to take a break. But I want you to pan down there right there because you might recognize this young lady who is saying hello to Zoe Saldana. Remember her from "Star Trek"? There is Lt. Uhura (ph). We're going to talk to her after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right, live here on the Red Carpet at the Shrine Auditorium.
There you see live pictures of Beyonce on the Red Carpet. She walked over just a little bit; we tried to throw some questions her way. Maybe she'll come over and talk to us in just a little bit. But everyone is clamoring to talk to Beyonce; Beyonce, of course doing a tribute to Michael Jackson tonight at the BET Awards.
Meantime, as Beyonce poses on the Red Carpet and takes pictures, there's a lot of news going on. We want to get that in for you.
My colleague Fredricka Whitfield is back at the CNN Center in Atlanta with the very latest -- hi, Fred.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Don. Here's what's happening.
It started as a silent protest but turned noisy. Thousands rallied today at a mosque in Tehran where the government allowed a demonstration for the first time in days. A witness says opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi made a brief appearance at the rally intended which to honor a hero of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Of course all this takes on new meaning following Iran's disputed presidential elections.
The protests in Iran rippling through the United States; people turned out in Los Angeles today protesting alleged human rights violations by the Iranian government. They chanted "Freedom for Iran."
Breaking news out of Central America today: all centered around the Honduran President, Jose Manuel Zelaya. Here he is in Costa Rica pledging to stay in office despite an apparent military civilian coup in his homeland. He says soldiers sent him into exile. The Honduran Congress has already named a new president.
You know his voice, his products and that famous beard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILLY MAYS, STAR PITCHMAN: You know the best way to get your stains out of the wash? Well, America's leading washer brand, Maytag...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Infomercial pitchman Billy Mays has died at the age of 50. His wife found him unresponsive at their Florida home this morning. No word on the cause of death. Mays was on this U.S. Airways flight that landed roughly yesterday in Tampa. Afterward he told a TV station something hit him on the head but still no clarification as to whether there's a relationship between that airline and his death.
A final farewell this week for Farrah Fawcett; her publicist says Fawcett's private funeral will be conducted Tuesday at a church in downtown Los Angeles. Fawcett died Thursday at the age of 62 after battling cancer for 3 years.
Back to you, Don.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Fredricka. Thank you very much for that. We're here on the red carpet. I want to bring in someone, you know, we were just talking about her, Michael Jackson being a trailblazer and breaking barriers. She did as well because you were you one of the first African-Americans I remember on television. You said it's a burden and an honor at the same time.
MICHELLE NICHOLS, ACTRESS: It's a burden and an honor and the person that brought it home to me so vividly after the first year I was going to leave the show, the second night of god or heaven or what intervened, I went to an NAACP meeting and met Dr. Martin Luther King who said he was my biggest fan. And that the images on the television were projecting into the future what they were marching to fight for and it was the middle of the civil rights movement.
LEMON: Yes and we're talking about "Star Trek" here.
NICHOLS: And we're talking about the Lieutenant Uhura, who is head of all communications on a star ship 300 years from today. And he said you cannot leave the show. And I did not leave. It was like an indictment from god.
LEMON: And you know, I think about you and I said every time I put on my blue tooth but I thought about you also when Michael and his sister Janet did the screen video and they were on this spaceship. I thought maybe they took a little bit of that from "Star Trek" and from you.
NICHOLS: Absolutely. When you see the possibilities and they're not done not in comedy or threatening, in actuality seeming, you can see yourself. People have written to me and said, what I love the most about you and the people on the show, I can turn on that show and see myself. And it meant that there was a future. And to be part of that was such an honor.
LEMON: What are you going to do? How are you celebrating the legacy of Michael Jackson tonight? Is it just by being here?
NICHOLS: Well, after I cried, just by being here. And I'm a presenter with Zoe Saldano for the best actress and the best new talent. I'm just delighted to be here and to, I think, all of the people that are here are to celebrate what he gave because it was a new vision of how to present yourself and your talent and to grow.
LEMON: Michelle Nichols. Thank you so much. And you don't mind when people call you Lieutenant Uhura, do you?
NICHOLS: I love it. It's an honor.
LEMON: Thank you very much. We really appreciate you coming over. Thank you so much. You know, we had this series here on CNN that's called "African-American Firsts: Up from a past" and you see Michelle Nichols who played Lieutenant Uhura from "Star Trek." She was an African-Americans firsts. One of the first African-Americans I remember on television. I want to bring in my panel now, David Wild who is with "Rolling Stone" magazine, Danielle Smith who is with "Vibe" magazine and then Ronda Racha-Penrice - I'm just going to say Ronda Penrice. Say it again.
RONDA RACHA PENRICE, AUTHOR, HIP HOP HISTORIAN: Ronda Racha Penrice.
LEMON: I'm just going to call you Penrice, just Ronda Penrice. Thank you very much. She is the author and also a hip-hop historian. Let's talk about these African-American firsts. Michelle is an African-American firsts. And certainly in many aspects - in art, in music, in performing Michael Jackson, there is no other African- American first like him. We'll start with you, Rhonda since I butchered your name there in the introduction.
PENRICE: Well, I wanted to also mention that the "Soul Train" awards was at the Shrine for many, many years. And we're also in black music month which is very significant. When we talk about Michael Jackson, we have to realize that this was a man who was born in 1958, which is like four years after Brown v. Board. When we talk about him being, you know, around the Motown trailblazers and this is the 50th anniversary of Motown Records actually. And so, I mean, for him to go and trail blaze on that legacy.
You know, when you talk about, you know, MTV not playing black videos or even when "Off the Wall" came out with the whole ghettorization of black music. That album going on to sell like seven million. I mean, you are just talking about something that is just so unprecedented that has gone along the continuum to keep the culture moving forward. And as the stars at BET will tell you tonight, many of them, even those who weren't even alive when Michael Jackson was making many of these in-roads cannot imagine being here, you know, without Michael Jackson to trail blaze the way.
LEMON: And Danyel, you know, I got to ask this of you at "Vibe" magazine. There are many people who may not even be aware of the BET awards, just this one event kind of shows really the power of artists especially African-American artists in America.
DANYEL SMITH, "VIBE" EDITOR IN CHIEF: Oh, my goodness, I can't imagine that anyone doesn't know about the BET awards. It's the BET Awards!
LEMON: There are people who don't know. I have to be honest. Not everybody watches BET, not everybody's interested in hip top. Not everybody's interested - I got to tell you, some people asked me, what are the BET Awards?
SMITH: Oh my goodness. I'm here to say that the BET Awards is one of the most important event that happens in American culture. It is where all these great stars, all these amazing African-Americans come together to celebrate each other and for BET to celebrate them. And to me, the fact that so many even - you guys have been saying it on CNN all night long that BET Awards is always major but this year it is even more major because it is a celebration of Michael Jackson's life, his legacy, and I'm just gearing up. I cannot wait to watch because I know there are going to be some fantabulous surprises.
LEMON: Well, you know, I can't wait either. I have to work but, boy, I'll be tuning in one ear on work and one ear on the BET awards. Yes, absolutely.
Hey, David, I want to say that Michael Jackson with all of these people you see here, a lot of them may not be here without Michael Jackson. Is that the sentiment of if you had to write an article for "Rolling Stone," is that true to say?
DAVID WILD, "ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE" CONTRIB. EDITOR: Absolutely. I worked on the Grammys. A couple of years ago, we had Kanye West on. He said that seeing Michael Jackson on the Grammys was sort of the moment where he realized that's what I want to do. And to me the greatness of Michael Jackson, if that's true of Kanye West, it's equally true of Justin Timberlake. You know, probably two of the greatest contemporary male artists we have, would not be doing what they have done without Michael Jackson. His influence is far and wide and his influences were far and wide. He was a guy influenced by Fred Astaire and Jackie Wilson. I think that black or white, like the song he said, it doesn't really matter. He was a great artist and he influenced great artists. LEMON: David Wild, Danielle Smyth and Ronda Racha Penrice - I got it right. You know, I wrote it down wrong on my paper. Thank you so much for joining us and talking about the African-American firsts. You guys aren't going away. We're going to keep you around to help guide us through these hours. And then we'll let you get to the BET Awards. Of course, to my special that's coming up after this, Michael Jackson, "The Man & the Music: The Man in the Mirror," 8:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.
When we talk about Michael Jackson's life, we talked about his legacy. Coming up right after this broadcast. You don't want to miss that. We're live at the BET Awards on the red carpet with the very latest on Michael Jackson, the celebration and on the investigation into his death.
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LEMON: All right, we're live here at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Tonight, where they are paying tribute inside - it will be soon to Michael Jackson, the entertainer who really broke barriers in all forms, not just in art but in culture as well and we have been talking about that with our artists. We're on the red carpet. And the stars had just been poring through and coming by. So many that we can't talk to all of them. But one person that our Abbie Boudreau did sit down with, and that is Kenny Ortega, Michael Jackson's long-time choreographer. As a matter of fact, he was working with Michael Jackson on this tour that he was to have, coming up that is going to start in London.
CNN's special investigation correspondent Abbie Boudreau sits down with Michael Jackson's choreographer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KENNY ORTEGA, MICHAEL JACKSON'S CHOREOGRAPHER: He was so excited about this project and so invested and no one wanted it more than Michael. And all you had to do was to look in his eyes and to know that that was the truth.
ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): : Kenny Ortega was Michael Jackson's choreographer for the upcoming 50-date "this is it" concert tour. He rehearsed with Jackson the day before he died.
ORTEGA: He was my great friend for many, many years. And the greatest creative collaborator that I've ever worked with. Times three. Every time. You know, it just went to the next level. And "this is it," my relationship and partnership with Michael was truly, you know, the finest that I've ever had in my life.
BOUDREAU: Ortega's relationship with Michael Jackson goes back 25 years. They were friends. He produced and choreographed both the "Dangerous" world tour and Jackson's "History" world tour, helping create some of the most memorable concerts and dance moves ever performed.
MICHAEL JACKSON: And see you in July.
BOUDREAU: But it was the upcoming tour with Jackson that Ortega says he was most excited for.
He was healthy enough and strong?
ORTEGA: It was awesome to watch him. You know? It was not like watching, you know, a 50-year-old man returning to the stage. In fact, you know, there were nights where you looked up there and it was like he was a timeless, ageless -- he was the Michael Jackson that we all remember. You know? With that same incredible electricity. And performance know-how. You know? An entertainer of entertainers.
BOUDREAU: The night before Jackson died Ortega was with him at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for a rehearsal. You were with him on Wednesday.
ORTEGA: I as with Michael on Wednesday, yes, as I was like about six days a week since April, you know, where he was 100 percent invested in every single dynamic of the entire production from helping, you know, line up the shots for the film sequences that we were shooting to overseeing the choreography, the costuming, the lighting, you know, the run-down, working with the band, working with the singers.
BOUDREAU: Ortega says the tour was full of new dance moves. There were even rumors swirling that Jackson invented a new moon walk. But Ortega is not saying a word.
ORTEGA: Michael always liked to keep everything secret. He was a pro, you know. And he recognized the value of an audience having a first-time experience with an idea. So I would say now, as I would have yesterday, and the day before, we're not finished yet. You know, Michael led us to this place. Now he's left us with the responsibility to carry on.
BOUDREAU: Abbie Boudreau, CNN Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Hey, we're standing by here at the awards. We have Alicia Keys here and we got Sean Combs coming over to talk to us. We see that Joe Jackson, the dad, is here on the red carpet. What does that mean to you, Alicia, and to the people here?
ALICIA KEYS: Well I think that means a lot and I think that - I'm sure that he wants to represent his son in a positive way. And I'm sure that he wants to make sure that we all remember him in a very respectful, positive way, as we should.
LEMON: How did he influence you?
KEYS: Oh, in every way. I mean, how could he not influence us to break the barriers, and to think bigger and to try new things? And to break, you know, just break the rules. That's what how he influenced me. His voice us a young Michael Jackson is a big influence on the way that I sing in a lot of ways. So we miss him and we love him and we just feel devastated.
LEMON: How are you going to tribute to him tonight?
KEYS: Tonight, I think that it's a true memorial for him tonight. I think it's really about honoring him this evening, and me personally I'm accepting a humanitarian award and I feel that he's inspired me in one of the biggest ways by a humanitarian himself. So I will honor him by that way and by continuing to do great work.
LEMON: I want to bring Sean up here to talk. Hey, Sean -
KEYS: Good to see you. Thank you.
LEMON: Thank you for coming up. It is a big night, man.
SEAN "DIDDY" COMBS, ENTERTAINER: Yes, my man is the greatest. I just want to say something to CNN. And I appreciate you saying it but the way you all reporting on this man's life, you know, we didn't do Elvis like that. We didn't do JFK like that. This man is like, you know, one of the greatest heroes for us. He's one of the reasons why Barack Obama's president.
KEYS: Absolutely.
COMBS: You know what I'm saying. He started the change in the world about how African-Americans are perceived. We all have our ups and down. Please give that man his respect and his genius.
LEMON: Well, I got to say, that's the reason that we're here tonight.
COMBS: No, no. I heard you say it. So I'm not even attacking CNN. I'm just saying everybody be conscious, he's a human being. You know.
LEMON: It is time to pay tribute to him and we're not talking about all the controversy.
COMBS: We're going to have months to get into that. But let's give him his just due. Know what I'm saying? He's one of our heroes. As African-Americans, we're not going to get everybody beat him up. He's my hero.
LEMON: How did he influence you?
COMBS: He changed my life. He made me believe that anything is possible. He made me believe in magic. It wasn't David Copperfield or nothing. When he moonwalk, I could swear when I saw moonwalk on the tape the other day, and he only did it four times, but in my mind, he moonwalked all across the stage. He just gave me joy and made me dance. And he did what an artist is supposed to do.
KEYS: Yes. LEMON: I asked Alicia how she's going to pay tribute to him. How are you going to do it tonight?
COMBS: I'm just going to dance. I danced to his music last night, I'm going to dance tonight. I'm going to keep on dancing. That's what he wants us to keep on doing.
LEMON: All right. Sean Combs and Alicia Keys, thank you so much We really appreciate it, brother. Thank you.
We're here, we want to do it right and we want to report what's going on. Thank you, Alicia Keys and Sean Combs here on the red carpet. They're going to be both tonight paying tribute to Michael Jackson. As we say Diddy, everybody's calling Diddy here, Diddy is a - he's a man of many words and he speaks the truth and we appreciate his message that he had to the people who are out in the audience and here tonight.
We're on the red carpet. We're at the Shrine Auditorium. We're going to be here at least until the top of the hour. And then at the top of the hour, Michael Jackson, "The Man in the Mirror," don't miss that. We're going to report on the life and times of Michael Jackson. We're live in Los Angeles tonight.
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LEMON: Hello, everyone. Don Lemon here, CNN live on the red carpet at the BET Awards. We want to show you this video.
Breaking news. Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson is here tonight. He is talking. He is going to come over and do some interviews. We're hoping to get Mr. Jackson to come over and to talk about how his family is doing, how everyone is holding up and what they want to get out a message to the world here.
Joe Jackson at the BET Awards. We're back in a moment.
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LEMON: CNN is live on the red carpet of the BET Awards and so is the father of Michael Jackson, Joe Jackson joins us here tonight. How are you doing, sir? How is the family holding up?
JOE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON'S FATHER: I'm great. My family is doing pretty good.
LEMON: Yes?
JACKSON: Yes, they are.
LEMON: You want to tell - the last couple days, I know it's been really tough for you guys.
JACKSON: And? Yes. It has. It has been really tough. Remember we just lost the biggest star, superstar in the world. So it has been tough.
LEMON: Why did you show up here tonight? It is to pay tribute to your son?
JACKSON: Yes. To pay tribute to my son, Michael. Yes, we did. I did.
LEMON: How is Mrs. Jackson?
JACKSON: She is fine. Thank you.
LEMON: Is there anything that you would like to share with the world about your son and about his legacy?
JACKSON: Yes, I want to make a statement here. Give me the statement here. He'll read the statement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. This is written on behalf of Mr. Jackson and the family. Our family sincerely thanks all of you around the world for your love and support during our time of grief. Our beloved son, Michael Jackson, loved you all. Michael's children are our first priority. We will have further announcements to discuss our plans going forward. Until such time, however, we have a personal and legal authority to act and solely Katherine and I have authority for our son and his children. We wish to handle his memory and legacy with dignity. And the attorney for the Jacksons is Londell McMillan and no one else has the authority to speak on behalf of the Jackson family at this time.
LEMON: Thank you very much.
Mr. Jackson, you know, I was talking to you about the legacy that Michael Jackson left. Do you think that the world even realizes how big your son's legacy is?
JACKSON: Now they seem to realize it now. But the only thing is, I wish the world had recognized him when he was living. Because, you know, but right now he is bigger than ever now. I wish he was here to see all this. To hear all this. Yes.
LEMON: We've been hearing from the Reverend Sharpton, the Reverend Jackson, that you had some concerns regarding some of the last moments of the people who were around him in his life. Do you care to share that?
JACKSON: Yes, yes. What was that?
LEMON: I said you had some concerns about the physicians and the people who were around him during the last moments of his life.
JACKSON: Yes, I am. I have a lot of concerns. I can't get into that but I don't like what happened.
LEMON: You don't like -
JACKSON: This is my attorney here. LEMON: Yes.
Sir, I was asking him and he said he would come in here. You're Londell, right? He said he had some concerns about the last moments of his son's life about, who may have been around him. Can you talk to us about that?
LONDELL MCMILLAN, JACKSON FAMILY LAWYER: We can't talk about that now. There is a second autopsy that is underway and we'll let that process take its course at this time. We'll have more detail at a later point.
LEMON: have you spoken at all to the doctor at all?
MCMILLAN: No, I have not.
LEMON: Do you guys have any - do you know anything, Mr. Jackson, about funeral arrangements? Have you had time -
JACKSON: We haven't been through that yet but we're working on that.
This is (inaudible)
LEMON: Thank you. How is - you said your wife -- what about Janet and the rest of the family, the daughters -
JACKSON: They're all doing fine. But I want to make this statement. This is a real good statement here. Marshall and I have, we own a record company called Ranch Records. He's talking about Blue Ray technology. That's the next step.
LEMON: That's the next step. There had been, talk to us about the, your 60th wedding anniversary. As I understand in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago. The entire family was there and Michael said that he had wanted the members of his family -- over.
JACKSON: My birthday?
LEMON: Your wedding anniversary. You and Katherine - in Las Vegas.
JACKSON: Oh, that was fantastic. Yes, it was. A lot of people were there. A lot of people I was glad to see. It was a fantastic job. The first one though. That was our first wedding anniversary we had. And they came out. Fantastic.
LEMON: What's next for you guys?
JACKSON: We got a lot of fixing to happen but I can't announce it right now. OK.
LEMON: All right. Thank you. Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson and also here with friends and his attorney and also joined us. And it's you know, kind of a surreal moment to talk to the father, everyone has been wanting to hear how the family is doing and you heard him say, he said they're doing all right. Katherine Jackson who is the mom is doing all right, and Joe Jackson still standing here as he leaves the stage.
And I asked him about the concerns, you know, about the last moments of his son's life. If he had concerns with the doctor and he said absolutely I have some concerns and then brought his attorney up to talk about the concerns there. The attorney said they can't discuss it right now. That they had to proceed legally before they make any sort of comments regarding the last moments of his life.
But you heard Joe Jackson, the patriarch of the Jackson family, saying there are concerns and also saying they're moving on as a family. It has been very tough for them. Obviously, very tough for the family the last couple of days. And you know, we have been - we asked him about coming to this event. Why he showed up. And he said he wanted to make sure that his son's legacy lived on and he wanted these people, these folks right now at this moment to pay tribute to his son. I'm Don Lemon reporting live from the red carpet.
