Stars pay tribute to Michael Jackson

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake have paid tribute to pop icon Michael Jackson, who died on Thursday after suffering a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles.

The Toxic hitmaker revealed that she was planning on catching one of his comeback concerts next month in London.

"I was so excited to see his show in London. We were going to be on tour in Europe at the same time and I was going to fly in to see him," Usmagazine.com quoted Spears as saying. "He has been an inspiration throughout my entire life and I'm devastated he's gone."

Timberlake also posted a tribute to Jackson on his official website.

"I can't find the words right now to express how deeply saddened I am by Michael's passing. We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only pop music but of all music," he wrote on his website.

"He has been an inspiration to multiple generations and I will always cherish the moments I shared with him on stage and all of the things I learned about music from him and the time we spent together. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones," he added.

Singer Lisa Marie Presley is heartbroken after learning about ex-husband Michael Jackson's death following an apparent heart attack. The 41-year-old songtress married the king of pop in August 1994 but split 20 months later.

"I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible," Usmagazine.com quoted Presley as saying in a statement.

"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," she added.

Jacko, 50, reportedly suffered a massive heart attack due to drug overdose. The Thriller hitmaker collapsed and stopped breathing after he took an injection of a powerful painkiller named Demerol. An emergency call made paramedics rush to his Los Angeles home where they found he had no pulse.

Michael Jackson's close friend Elizabeth Taylor is 'too devastated' to comment on his death. Her representatives have revealed that she is grieving her loss in private at this time.

"Dame Elizabeth Taylor is too devastated by the passing of her dear friend Michael Jackson to issue a statement at this time. We will direct her words to you once we receive them," E!online quoted her rep as saying.

Taylor first called Jackson the 'King of Pop' when she presented him with the Artist of the Decade award in 1989. She was also one of Jackson's most ardent defenders when he was being tried on child-molestation charges in 1995. Taylor was also a guest of honour when the Thriller star gave Liza Minelli away when the Cabaret star wed David Gest.

Madonna is struggling to cope with the death of Michael Jackson.

'I can't stop crying over the sad news,' People quoted Madonna, as saying. '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.'

Michael Jackson and Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti chat during the filming of a television show in Milan.