Michael Jackson Dies at age 50.

[Pixe]

Michael Jackson, the record-breaking, sensationally gifted "King of Pop" who emerged from childhood superstardom to become the entertainment world's most influential singer and dancer, and the tabloid world's most disturbing celebrity, has died. He was 50.

A person with knowledge of the situation says Jackson died Thursday in a Los Angeles hospital. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

Capt. Steve Ruda said Thursday that Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson's rented home, was roped off Thursday with police tape.

News trucks were gathered, helicopters flew overhead, and orange cones were laid out to redirect traffic.

His death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

Jackson, 50, hasn't released a studio album since 2001, and his turns in the spotlight have mostly focused on his personal troubles.

Jackson was arrested in 2003 on child-molestation charges and acquitted in 2005 after a trial in California.

The pop singer was scheduled to kick off a series of shows in London.

Source: WLWT.com and TMZ.com

[Grimmykins]

he got way to much attention was good up till thriller then he went wayyyyyyyyyy downhill he should of got 1 minute of coverage but hopefully now peter pan can find peace in death ohh and im pretty sure i have a thriller album record sumwhere if someone wants it

[Jem]

Nothing is more tragic than the death of Billy Mays. That man saved our LAUNDRY people!