This morning, pop icon Michael Jackson will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial in the Hollywood Hills. The funeral, expected to a be a private affair, will be diametrically opposed to the star-studded memorial to follow at the AEG-owned Staples Center. Here’s what you need to know:

What’s going on, exactly?

AEG Live, the concert-promotion arm of AEG, was originally scheduled to stage 50 concerts by Jackson before his untimely demise. The organization is now hosting a musical memorial extravaganza dedicated to the artist at approximately 10 a.m. PST.

Who’s performing?

Among others, Mariah Carey, Usher, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and Jennifer Hudson are all slated to participate. Beyoncé and Whitney Houston will reportedly make appearances as presenters, but not performers.

What family members will be in attendance?

People reports that “lots and lots of family” will be coming — “We’re talking about 300 cousins and 40 grandkids and great grandkids and some of the old acts the Jackson 5 used to perform with, like the Chi-Lites will be there.”

Who will not be there?

Jackson ex-wife Debbie Rowe will not be in attendance, after previously RSVP’ing yes. Jacko pal Elizabeth Taylor also declined to participate, Tweeting: “I cannot be part of the public whoopla. And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word. I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others.”

How can I get a ticket?

If you haven’t already picked up your winning lottery ticket and wristband, you’re out of luck. And don’t bother looking on eBay or Craigslist — the auction giants have said they will not tolerate resales and have been yanking listings as they go up.

What if I really, really want to watch it?

Well, in addition to the sure-to-be-endless network and cable tv coverage, Hulu and MySpace will be live-streaming the event online. Additionally, Cendigm, a digital events company, has arranged with the Jackson family and AEG to broadcast the high-def goings-on in 88 movie theaters — accommodating approximately 17,000 people.

Sounds like a big deal. Who’s paying for all this?

The added security and post-event cleaning are estimated to set the city of L.A. back up to $2.5 million. Perfect for the cash-strapped city!