An hour before Michael Jackson's public memorial yesterday, a conservative local talk show host was on the local dial railing about how America's priorities were out of whack and how society was going to hell in a handbasket in light of this troubled entertainer being exalted as a hero in the wake of his death.

Knowing that sentiment is out there, that the haters are out there, was certainly creeping somewhere in the minds of everyone who took the stage yesterday afternoon at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to say goodbye to the King of Pop. And so they sang a little harder, preached a little louder, elevated him a little higher and packed a little more emotion into the star-studded two-hour tribute watched by billions around the world.

In the midst of their grief, the Jackson family and the organizers, in true MJ style, somehow created a beautiful and seamless television program on the stage that sat above a golden casket covered with red roses.

From Princess Diana's similarly watched funeral in September 1997, people remember Elton John's somber reading of "Candle in the Wind."

Jackson's memorial was filled with those poignant moments, none more heartbreaking than his 11-year-old daughter, Paris, addressing the world with, "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just want to say I love him -- so much."

Brothers Marlon and Jermaine didn't leave a dry eye in the house, either. Somehow, a teary-eyed Jermaine was able to compose himself enough to make it through a gorgeous version of "Smile," a partially penned Charlie Chaplin song Michael did for "HIStory." (How family members keep it together during those moments is beyond me.) Marlon, joining his brothers in wearing a black suit and white sequined glove, joked about watching the Three Stooges together, then spoke directly to Michael's pain, saying, "We will never understand what he endured ... being judged, ridiculed. How much pain can one take? Maybe, now, Michael, they will leave you alone."

Earlier, the fiery Rev. Al Sharpton not only eulogized him, he seemed to be making a case for Michael Jackson to St. Peter at the gates, the standout moment being the way he addressed the front row with, "I want his three children to know: Wasn't nuthin' strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with."

Other speakers, like Martin Luther King III and Magic Johnson, were there to tell us of his many charitable deeds and, in the case of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, even defend his honor against past charges.

Queen Latifah read a lovely poem from Maya Angelou, the highlight of which was, "We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes." It went on to note that "in Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England, we are missing Michael."

Alternating with the speakers were the musicians who touched and were touched by Michael's career, starting with a choked-up Mariah Carey, who teamed with Trey Lorenz to caress his greatest ballad, "I'll Be There." The impressive Jennifer Hudson, who's suffered her own losses in the past year, took Jackson's hit "Will You Be There" to church with the choir and dancers who would have performed with the star in his London concerts.

Guitarist John Mayer let the strings do the talking on "Human Nature," Jackson protege Usher broke into tears at the end of "Gone Too Soon" and little known British talent Shaheen Jafargholi surely got Google going when he stepped up to sing "Who's Loving You" -- a song that Smokey Robinson conceded yesterday that a young Michael sang better than he.

Second only to Jermaine's performance was one by the man who may be Motown's second greatest star -- Stevie Wonder. He reached back for the 1971 love ballad "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" -- a song he co-wrote with Pittsburgh native and onetime wife Syreeta Wright -- and, far from being polished, Wonder made it raw and emotional.

Saved for the big finish were group sing-alongs of two songs Michael wrote in a more innocent time -- the charitable "We are the World" and "Heal the World." In harsher times, they've been more likely to be parodied than anything else, which, in some ways, is pretty sad.

Michael Jackson, though, started out innocent and boyish, managed to sustain it for better or worse, and by many accounts of the day, exited that way, too.