Jackson dead

Celebrities and stars around the globe were overwhelmed by sorrow and shock as they learned of the sudden death of pop icon Michael Jackson.

Jackson died suddenly aged 50, apparently after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Beverly Hills home.

As crowds of people gathered at the hospital on Thursday where Jackson had been rushed for treatment, the biggest and greatest of the entertainment world were grappling with the news of his death.

Pop diva Madonna says she was left in tears at the news, because the music world had lost “one of the greats”.

“I can't stop crying over the sad news,” the veteran singing star told celebrity website People.com.

“I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever. My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless.”

“I'm absolutely devastated at this news,” bestselling record producer and musician Quincy Jones told the NBC network.

“I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together and allowed us to do what we could do through the '80s,” Jones said.

“To this day, that music is played in every corner of the world, and the reason is because he had it all - talent, grace and professionalism. I've lost my little brother today and part of my soul has gone with him.”

Actress Elizabeth Taylor, one of Jackson's closest and longstanding friends, was “too devastated” to issue a statement, her spokesperson said, according to People.

But California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger lamented the loss of “one of the most influential and iconic figures in the music industry”.

There were “serious questions” about Jackson's personal life, Schwarzenegger noted, adding however that he and his wife Maria Shriver joined “all Californians in expressing our shock and sadness over his death”.

Uri Geller, a close friend of the star, said: “I'm just devastated, very, very sad. I pray that his soul is up there now.”

Jackson was best man when the television physic renewed his wedding vows in 2001.

Geller told the BBC that he was “absolutely shocked,” as Jackson had been in good shape training for his comeback tour due to launch on July 13 in London.

Lisa Marie Presley, former wife of Michael Jackson and daughter of Elvis Presley, said: “I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family.

“This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me.”

US actor Jamie Foxx said he hoped Jackson would be remembered as a “brilliant musician” and not for “the circus sideshow” that his life became.

Many paid tribute to Jackson's influence on the world of music and dance. His album Thriller remains the bestselling album of all time with more than 41 million copies sold.

And his iconic moonwalk has passed into dance legend, endlessly copied by millions of dancers around the world.

“From a dancer's perspective, he was the epitome of the natural mover and popularised the 'moonwalk' from his Billy Jean video. Of course, the dance that he did for Thriller is still performed, used and emulated constantly,” said Ashley Roland, co-director of the Oregon-based modern dance company BodyVox.

Cycling champion Lance Armstrong took to micro-blogging website Twitter to express his sadness over the deaths on Thursday of both Jackson and 1970s icon Farrah Fawcett. “Terrible news about Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett. My best to their friends, fans and families,” wrote Armstrong.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also posted his thoughts on Jackson's death on Twitter.

“Never has one soared so high and yet dived so low. RIP Michael,” Miliband wrote.

Meanwhile, Jackson's former publicist Michael Levine told AFP he was not surprised by the death.

“I must confess I am not surprised by today's tragic news,” Levine said.

“Michael has been on an impossibly difficult and often self-destructive journey for years. His talent was unquestionable, but so too was his discomfort with the norms of the world. “A human simply cannot withstand this level of prolonged stress.”