“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.” – Jackson’s ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley.
"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him." – Quincy Jones, who produced some of Jackson's best-known music.
"I can't stop crying over the sad news. I've always admired Michael Jackson – the world has lost one of its greats but his music will live on forever." – Madonna.
"It's so sad and shocking. I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones." – Paul McCartney.
"He had a great voice and millions of people yet to be born will sing his songs. If even a small portion of the praise that is bestowed on Michael Jackson now in death was given to him last year, in life, he might well still be with us." – Robin Gibb.
"I have very fond memories of Michael, with one dinner in particular where he renamed me Lady Goldfinger. For the rest of the time I knew him, that was my name. He was an icon and the King of Pop, quite simply magic." – Shirley Bassey.
"I think Michael Jackson lived under pressure all the time, since he was five years old – wanting to please his family and his fans and putting the bar so high that he needed to be suppressing his own self." – Celine Dion.
"What I saw was not some goofball with a hankie tied around his mouth, but a guy in jeans and a green T-shirt totally at ease with himself and all those around him, busy putting the kids through their paces of a complicated dance routine." – Chris Evans