“Hold My Hand,” which Akon and Jackson recorded in 2007, will be launched online on Monday, November 15, a statement released on the official Michael Jackson site said. “Hold My Hand” is one of three collaborations that are featured in “Michael,” which would hit record stores on December 14. Rocker Lenny Kravitz and rapper 50 Cent are the other artists featured in the 10-track album. Kravitz collaborates with Jackson in “(I Can’t Make It) Another Day,” while 50 Cent is featured in the song “Monster.”

“Hold My Hand” was leaked online in 2008, when the song had not yet been finished. “The world was not ready to hear ‘Hold My Hand’ when it leaked a couple years ago. We were devastated about it. But its time has definitely come,” Akon said in the statement.

Earlier this week, another song from the album, “Breaking News,” was streamed from the official Jackson site and immediately generated controversy when some people doubted that it was really the King of Pop singing in the record.

New Michael Jackson Album Features Akon in 1st Single is a post from: Showbiz News

Jermaine Jackson was amazed by Chris Brown’s heart warming tribute to his brother Michael Jackson at the BET Awards on Sunday night, June 27.

As a result, he’s now calling on the R&B star’s critics to forgive him for beating up Rihanna.

Brown’s career has been like downhill ever since he pleaded guilty to lashing out at Rihanna during a fight in February 2009. Even radio stations turned down to play his records and the media has criticized his attempts at a comeback, despite countless public apologies online and on TV.

The “Kiss Kiss” singer could not help but break down during a rendition of Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” at the BET Awards and the touching cover prompted Jermaine Jackson to stand up for the young star backstage. Speaking to TV news show Extra, Jackson said, “He’s a human being like all others, we all make mistakes. What he did was wrong. I love Rihanna… I’m one of his biggest fans… We can’t condemn him because of what happened. We hope he learns from this.”

Jackson said he was greatly moved by Brown’s tribute to his late sibling, saying “It was very emotional for me… It was just a spectacular moment. He (Brown) deserves to perform because it’s healing for him. How can he learn from his mistakes if you don’t give him the chance? He needs that. I support him a thousand per cent; I’m not supporting what he did because it was wrong, but, at the same time, we have to give him a chance.”

Jermaine Jackson Asks Critics to Forgive Chris Brown is a post from: Showbiz News

Katherine Jackson supported her daughter La Toya Jackson’s allegations the King of Pop was murdered. She insisted her superstar son was convinced “people wanted him dead”.

In an unusual rare TV interview with NBC’s “Dateline” scheduled to air in the U.S. on the first anniversary of Jackson’s death on Friday, June 25, the family matriarch reveals the “Thriller” hitmaker expressed fears he would meet a tragic end. And the 80 year old is adamant greed played a part in the superstar’s demise.

She says, “I know Michael didn’t die of natural causes. Someone did this to him. Mean, evil, vicious people didn’t want him around for some reason. It just shows how vicious people are and greedy for money. He told me several times that he felt that people wanted him gone, wanted him dead. He would always say that. And for him to say that he must have known something.”

La Toya’s recent claims that Jackson was killed for money, saying, “Michael was murdered for his (music) catalogue – that’s the bottom line.”

Michael Jackson’s mom believes he Was Murdered is a post from: Showbiz News

Tape recordings claiming that late superstar Michael Jackson slurring his speech and talks about his financial problems have been released.

The said tapes were given to British newspaper The Sun by American journalist Daphne Barak together with answer machine messages which Jackson left with a friend in 2003, six years before his death in 2009 from an overdose of powerful anaesthetic Propofol.

Barak claims the audio, in which Jackson can reportedly be heard obviously distressed about his financial troubles and planning to leave his Neverland Ranch, shows the star was in grasp of a prescription drug addiction years before he died. She tells the publication:

“Some of Michael’s closest confidantes talked to me exclusively about his addictions – and provided audio tapes of Michael never heard before. These demonstrate different states of mind he was experiencing under the influence of pharmaceuticals.”

The recordings were created the year the star got involved in a public backlash following the Martin Bashir TV documentary in which he admitted sharing his bed with children, and appear to show Jackson in a troubled state of mind. On one of the tapes, he says, “It is Michael calling. It is very important, I want that 150 in that account for me, because… I am very concerned about my life. I am hearing a lot of stories that (name withheld) is still trying to sabotage… me… I want to be away for a while where they can’t find me.”

A second message adds, “It is Michael. It is 4.30 in the morning here that’s why I sound very sleepy and I’m really worn out… but please check the message I left a day or so ago. I am very concerned. I don’t trust that man. We think he’s bad, we think he is Italian mafia. Please… we must be smarter than him. So please, help me with this… I wanna be away… I don’t want to be in Neverland right now.”

Earlier, Jackson’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter after he was accused of administering the drug which killed the singer.

Michael Jackson Talking About Financial Woes in an Audio Tape Released is a post from: Showbiz News

The music attorney who had close ties to Michael Jackson, Peter Lopez,  left behind a suicide note that did not give any clue as to why he took his own life.

A one-page, handwritten note expressed his deep love for his wife and kids and asked for their forgiveness, but the letter did not even hit at why Peter came to such tragic decision.

Source said the Peter dropped his kids off at school at about 9:00 AM Friday, and  when he got home,  Peter went to the backyard and shot himself in the head.

People close to Peter thought he seemed “stressed out” in the past weeks leading up to his death, but he was quiet all the time.   He did not tell anyone including his family what was bothering him.

For 20 years,  Lopez was married to Catherine Bach from “The Dukes of Hazzard.”  They had two children together.

Before  working with Michael Jackson, Lopez also worked with Jackson on the 25th anniversary of “Thriller,” and was an attorney for The Eagles and served as a co-producer on the movie “Selena.”

Peter Lopez, Michael Jackson’s Lawyer Left a Mystery Suicide Note is a post from: Showbiz News

Elizabeth Taylor refused to attend Michael Jackson‘s public memorial when she was asked to speak at the Staples Center.

“I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event,” the star wrote in her Twitter account. “I said I wouldn’t go to the Staples Center and I certainly don’t want to become a part of it. I love him too much.”

The actress, who is a very close friend of the King of Pop, was devastated over the death of the late Michael Jackson.

Jackson died on June 25, Thursday, in his Holmby Hills mansion at the age of 50.

Elizabeth Taylor: “I wouldn’t go to the Staples Center” is a post from: Showbiz News

All of the major networks and cable channels will be offering live coverage of the Michael Jackson memorial service but for those without access to television, there are still options. A lot of radio stations will broadcast the event live and it will also be streamed online on numerous websites. But expect poor images and continuous buffering as there is a strong chance that many servers will become overloaded.

About 50 movie theaters across the country will also broadcast the event live. Nearly 17,000 people will be able to watch the service in cinemas equipped with digital projection systems and satellite dishes.

Jackson will be buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. It is home to some of Tinseltown’s brightest stars, who now rest in green pastures and giant marble mausoleums.

You can watch the memorial service here: Michael Jackson memorial service

Michael Jackson memorial service (live stream) is a post from: Showbiz News

According to a Michael Jackson‘s fan site owner, at least 12 people have committed suicide because of the King of Pop’s death.

Gary Taylor, president and owner of MJJcommunity.com told SkyNews that there are at least 12 (and possibly more) fans of Michael Jackson that ended their own lives after hearing the devastating news about his death.

“I know there has been an increase, I now believe the figure is 12,” said Taylor. “It is a serious situation that these people are going through but Michael Jackson would never want this. He would want them to live.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson together with Raffle van Exel (MJ’s friend) has released a video on YouTube to reach out the fans and urge them not to self destruct.

Here’s the Jesse Jackson video:

Grieving Michael Jackson fans commit suicide is a post from: Showbiz News

Janet Jackson appeared at the BET Awards last night and made a short but meaningful speech on behalf of her family, thanking all of Michael’s fans for their love and support.

“To you Michael is an icon, to us Michael is Family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts.”

“On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for of all your love. Thank you for all of your support.
We miss him so much! Thank you so much!”

Janet Jackson: “Michael will forever live in all of our hearts” is a post from: Showbiz News

Michael Jackson’s autopsy results turned up no signs of trauma and no foul play but still left his family asking and wondering what killed him.

Joe Jackson, MJ’s father want answers:
“That’s what we’re trying to find out right now,” Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, told PEOPLE when asked about reports his son’s death was tied to prescription drugs. “We’re trying to find out that information. When we find it out, we’ll know.”

Joe Jackson still hoping for the truth about his son’s death:
“There’s a lot to be told, though, I’ll tell you that right now. The truth!” he says. “The truth is still to be told.”

Joe Jackson asks “How Did My Son Die?” is a post from: Showbiz News