His big moment to shine came in July when he captivated millions with a moving performance at Michael Jackson's memorial service. And Shaheen Jafargholi was once again in the spotlight while paying tribute to his hero this week at the MOBO awards.
The former Britain's Got Talent contestant was invited to sing Jackson 5 hit I'll Be There to open the event. After wowing the audience with a pitch-perfect performance, the 12-year-old, who was introduced by the king of pop's sister La Toya, was over the moon. "It's been so amazing," he said. "I was watching the MOBOs last year at home in Swansea and this year I'm on them singing a song."
Shaheen's performance wasn't the only Michael tribute at the ceremony, where JLS and Beyonce were among those taking home gongs. BGT winners Diversity did a routine in honour of the Thriller singer and Jermaine Jackson sang his brother's favourite song Smile after collecting a posthumous lifetime achievement award for Michael.
As the Jackson family soldier on in spite of their grief, La Toya has revealed that Michael's daughter Paris believes her father was worked into an early grave preparing for his comeback shows. Speaking to chat show host Paul O'Grady – in a recording to be shown on Thursday – the 53-year-old says Paris laid bare her suspicions in the hospital following Michael's June death. "She said, 'No, you don't understand. They kept working him and Daddy didn't want that, but they worked him constantly'. I felt so bad."
