Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris was seen in the audience resting her head on grandmother Katherine’s shoulder.

Her brothers Prince Michael and Blanket were sitting alongside her.

Music great Stevie Wonder introduced his performance by telling the audience: “This is a moment that I wished I didn’t live to see coming.”

Motown legend Berry Gordy, who discovered the Jackson 5, described Jackson as “like a son to me” and “the greatest entertainer who ever lived”.

He said: “He was driven by a hunger to learn, to constantly top himself, to be the best… He raised the bar and then broke the bar…

“The Motown family mourns the death of our friend and brother Michael Jackson, who was like a son to me.”

Gordy hailed Jackson as “the undisputed King of Pop”, but then added: “The more I think and talk about Michael Jackson, I feel the King of Pop is not big enough for him.

“I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.”

Recalling the first time Jackson revealed his famous moonwalk during his 1983 performance of Billie Jean at the 25th anniversary of Motown, he continued: “When he did his iconic moonwalk, I was shocked. It was magical.

“Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down,” he said.

“Though it ended too soon, Michael’s life was beautiful.

“Sure there were some sad, sad times and maybe some questionable decisions on his part.

“But Michael Jackson accomplished everything he dreamed of.”