Usher performs at the Michael Jackson public memorial in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009
Photo: Mario Anzuoni/ Getty Images

Two different, star-studded tributes to Michael Jackson have begun to take shape. The first, according to TMZ, is an all-star remake of the late pop singer's "Will You Be There" that will reportedly feature vocals from Usher, Wyclef Jean, Jermaine Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie and Dionne Warwick. (John Mayer was also said to be participating, but his spokesperson told MTV News that TMZ's report was false.)

That effort is reportedly being led by Shawn King, wife of TV talker Larry King, who will also lend her vocals to the song. King told TMZ she's not yet sure if Jennifer Hudson — who performed the song at last month's memorial service for Jackson — will participate in the tribute because she has just given birth to her first child. Proceeds from the song, the release date of which has not yet been announced, will be split 50/50 between the Larry King Cardiac Foundation and an unspecified charity close to Jackson.

In the meantime, the New York Post reported that Shawn King, Whitney Houston, Madonna and President Barack Obama will not be participating in Jermaine Jackson's global tribute to his brother, who died on June 25 at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest. The show is being planned for September 26 on a crown-shaped stage at the Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria, according to The Associated Press. The lineup for the three-hour show will reportedly be revealed in two weeks, but early reports are that it will feature around 10 major entertainers who will perform 15 to 20 of Jackson's hits. Jermaine Jackson said the site was chosen because his brother "loved castles."

• Michael Jackson: The Memorial

• Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos
• Michael Jackson's Public Memorial At Staples Center

• Michael Jackson
• Usher
• Wyclef Jean
• Whitney Houston
• Dionne Warwick

Coolio (last seen dueting with bear-like country journeyman Kenny Rogers) joined Kurupt, Big Daddy Kane, Bobby Brown, Flesh-N-Bone, and singer-turned-phone psychic spokesperson Dionne Warwick in a Los Angeles studio last weekend.

This mind-twist cast of characters were at work on a remake of "What The World Needs Now Is Love," one of the few hits by songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David that Warwick did not sing. Jackie DeShannon scored a hit with the original version, while the new version will turn up on a Dionne Warwick album due in August.

Spokespeople for Warwick say that the singer is now reaching out to the rap community, and is trying to show that rap can send a positive message. That stand marks a remarkable turnaround from her thoughts four years ago, when she testified against profane rap lyrics before the United States Senate. In particular, Warwick teed off on Snoop Doggy Dogg, who had received support from Los Angeles Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

"I think that when the honorable Maxine Waters," Warwick testified at the time, "took the time to read lyrics written by Snoop Doggy Doo Doo, Snoop Doggy Doggy, or whatever his name is, and glorified his position reading about tears and sky and gloominess, she should have gone further to continue to recite the words that came out of the same little boy's mouth, his mind, and his heart... calling women bitches, calling women ho's. The little boy can't even spell 'ho.' He can't spell 'gangster.' He should be in school." [715k QuickTime]

Amazingly, Warwick's people say Snoop was originally on their list of contributors, but did not make last weekend's recording session. Neither they, nor we have been able to get any comment from Snoop's new label, Master P's No Limit Records, but Warwick's camp denies reports that Snoop is expected to lay down vocals at a later date.

• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
• Bobby Brown
• Coolio
• Kurupt
• Dionne Warwick