Other Celebrities - KXLY Blog

I was pondering yesterday as I sporadically watched the gaudy spectacle that doubled as Michael Jackson’s memorial service. I was pondering on something I found interesting. (So interesting in fact that I am blogging about it).

My subject of pondering: What other public figure, in any genre, will generate this kind of worldwide attention (deserved or not) and/or this kind of media attention (deserved or not) when they pass?

Certainly when a former President dies the air waves are deluged with biographies and stories of the man’s life. That’s a big deal. But beyond current or former Presidents, what other celebrity’s passing would cause the world to stop for a few days.

It would have to be a ridiculously famous person. Someone everyone knows, and a fair number of people LOVE. Someone who is more famous than just the average celebrity.

My initial thought was Paul McCartney. When he dies, especially if its somewhat unexpected, that will be a big deal. He’s a Beatle for goodness sake. And he has stayed famous and relatively ”unweird.” (Could that help his cause in our little pondering game, or hurt it?)

What about athletes like Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods? They are certainly figures that transcend their specific profession.

My wife came up with, maybe the best answer I’ve heard, Oprah. She is the one of the richest and most influential women on the planet. She blazed numerous trails and is someone huge numbers of people look up to.

Or maybe this is the pinnacle–no other death, aftermath or memorial service will rise to this level of spectacle again. That’s what some people I’ve spoken to maintain–that no one’s death and life will get this kind of attention, from the media and the public again, ever. Perhaps they are right, but it seems like these things have a way of outdoing themselves over time.

Thoughts?