MADONNA, Beyoncé Knowles and Mariah Carey are planning a Michael Jackson tribute album.

MADONNA, Beyoncé Knowles and Mariah Carey are planning a Michael Jackson tribute album.

A host of music stars in the world are keen to acknowledge the late Billie Jean singer's contribution to pop by recording versions of his tracks for a new charity album.

Robbie Williams, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross have also been linked to the album, as has British schoolboy Shaheen Jafargholi, who was hand-picked to appear at last month's memorial concert for Jackson, who died of a suspected cardiac arrest in June.

A source said: "The idea came from the memorial concert. Many fans asked if cover versions from it would be released, and it seemed a wonderful idea."

The stars will pick their favourite tracks by the "King of Pop" to cover. It is believed Carey will reprise her version of I'll Be There from the memorial, while Shaheen Jafargholi will sing his version of Who's Loving You.- Bang