Janet Jackson Declines Attending 'Michael Forever-The Tribute Concert'

Somewhat surprisingly, the sibling to whom Michael Jackson was arguably closest won't attend the coming tribute concert honoring her later brother.

It certainly isn't that Janet Jackson doesn't miss Michael just a little more than two years following his death on June 25, 2009.

But Janet wants no part of the Oct. 8 "Michael Forever-The Tribute Concert" in Cardiff, Wales because it coincides too closely with the legal battle over Michael's death, according to Billboard.com.

Michael's person physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, still faces a maximum four years in prison if a jury convicts him of manslaughter in Jackson's death.

Authorities claim that Murray, who has plead not-guilty, administered a lethal dosage of the anesthetic propofol, among other drugs, in Jackson's bedroom the morning of his death and that the cocktail eventually killed him. Opening arguments are currently set to begin Sept. 27.

"Because of the trial, the timing of this tribute to our brother would be too difficult for me," said a statement from Janet to the Associated Press on what would've been her brother's 53rd birthday, Aug. 29.

Jackson's mother, Katherine, and some other family are slated to attend but Randy and Jermaine Jackson haven't been quite as succinct as Janet with their disapproval.

"There will come a time and place for an amazing and deserving tribute to Michael," the brothers' own statement, issued the day the concert was announced, read.

"But we feel that the most important tribute we can give to our brother at this time is to seek justice in his name."

Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green and Smokey Robinson will head up the big acts performing, but one big-name artist wasn't treated quite so kindly: Kiss. Organizers initally offered the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers a prime slot, but quickly uninvited the group when it came to their attention that bassist and lead singer Gene Simmons had been one of Jackson's harsher critics over the years.

Additionally, a total of 35 recognized Michael Jackson fan clubs have banded together protesting the concert and requesting its cancellation, claiming that it's "doomed to fail" in a collective statement criticizing the timing in relation to Murray's trial, ticket prices, the acts performing (including Simmons and Kiss' original inclusion) and lack of clarity over charities the proceeds will benefit, among numerous factors.