Ron Weisner, producer of the 2009 BET Awards says this Sunday’s ceremony is being overhauled to include an opening tribute to Michael Jackson that will include surprise guests. The King of Pop died on Thursday after suffering a heart attack at his California home. He was 50.


“Michael was the greatest entertainer of our generation,” says Weisner, manager of The Jacksons and Jackson’s solo career for eight years, through the making of Off the Wall and Thriller. “Those pieces of work changed the landscape. When we took the Billie Jean video to MTV, they declined to play it at first. They had never played a black artist. They started airing it after a lot of pressure from Columbia Records. That opened the door. It was the greatest move Michael made.”

“Words cannot capture the impact Michael Jackson has had on pop culture around the world. He changed the way we hear and feel and move to music; he epitomized what true musical talent and star power really mean. He is and always will be the King of Pop,” Debra L. Lee, chairman and CEO of BET said in a statement. “Michael’s influence is felt every day in so many ways at BET Networks, and it’s been that way throughout our network’s entire 29-year history. We watched him grow up, and he truly feels like he is a member of our family. He will be missed more than we can say… but his legend and memory live on in the artists, musicians, producers, dancers, fans, and everyone else who looks to him for inspiration.”

“Our annual BET Awards show, scheduled for this Sunday in Los Angeles, is dedicated to Michael Jackson and will pay tribute to his legacy,” she sad. “All of us at BET Networks send our thoughts and prayers to the Jackson family.”

Jamie Foxx will host the show.