The family of Michael Jackson has announced the performers who will participate in the public memorial service to be held at the Staples Center on Tuesday, July 7.

The family said Monday participants will include Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Usher, Lionel Richie, Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer and Martin Luther King III.

Jennifer Hudson is set to perform with the Andrae Crouch Choir, according to the Celebrity website ET.com.

The website also confirmed that Natalie Cole will also be attending Jackson's public memorial service.

Jackson's friend Elizabeth Taylor will be mourning in private. She said on her Twitter feed Monday that she would not attend the memorial service.

I just don't believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others, she tweeted. How I feel is between us. Not a public event, she said.

More than 1.6 million people registered for free tickets to the Memorial service at 10 a.m. tomorrow, which will be broadcast live worldwide. A total of 8,750 people have been chosen to receive two tickets each.

Meanwhile airlines have reported a surge in bookings to Los Angeles on the eve of the memorial service for Michael Jackson.

British Airways spokesman Philip Allport said: From the beginning of this week, flights are looking very busy. Anybody who is looking to travel out at the last minute should book as soon as possible.”

We operate three flights a day from Heathrow to Los Angeles and they are filling up - for most of the week. People are trying to get there, even if they don't get there in time. They want to catch the atmosphere, and to be part of it, said Philip Allport.

It's filled up from the end of last week, undoubtedly there are lots of people going out there, they hope they will get in to see some of the service,” said Paul Charles, spokesman of Virgin Atlantic airline.

I think this is America's version of Princess Diana, people want to be in the vicinity, people from the UK and elsewhere want to share their emotions together, he said.

Police and city officials in Los Angeles have warned fans without tickets to stay away from the Staples Centre and believe as many as 700,000 people may try to reach the arena.