Michael Jackson to Be Buried on August 31

According to recent reports, the body of Michael Jackson was finally going to be laid to rest on what would have been his 51^st birthday, August 29, 2009.

This morning, it was announced that Joe Jackson, Michael's father, claimed more time was needed before Michael Jackson can be placed in his final destination. At this time, unconfirmed reports have the new date as August 31, 2009.

Michael Jackson had a long and successful career than produced hundreds of great songs and scores of hit records. Beginning as a young child singing with his brothers in the Jackson 5 and culminating with his solo career, nearly everything Michael touched turned to gold or platinum.

During the later years of his life, a fickle public, changes in the music scene, and personal legal battles caused the King of Pop's star to shine less brightly, but it was never fully extinguished. Even Michael Jackson's albums which were deemed "failures" by critics sold millions of copies.

The greatest tragedy of Michael's life was that even great fame could not bring him peace. Despite his good works and charitable contributions, Michael Jackson was the recipient of harassment and false accusations. Michael was cleared of any wrongdoing by a court of law, but the damage to his life had already been done.

Michael Jackson felt forced to abandon his beloved Neverland Ranch to escape the memory of his accusers. He moved to Bahrain with his three children, Paris Michael Katherine, Prince Michael, and Blanket (Prince Michael II). Upon his return to the United States, Michael rented luxury accommodations for himself and his family, but he never returned to Neverland Ranch.

Michael Jackson was always a sensitive and emotional person. From alleged abuse at the hands of his father, the pressures of fame, legal woes, and pain associated with the Pepsi incident of 1984, Michael was a shell of his younger self. He turned to prescription pain medication and the anesthetic Diprovan to cope with life and insomnia.

On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson's turbulent life came to an abrupt end. TMZ was the first to issue confirmed reports that the King of Pop was dead at the age of 50. It has been reported that numerous doctors are being questioned regarding the death of Michael Jackson, most notably his personal physician Conrad Murray.

Michael Jackson's final resting place will be the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, CA.