In their first public appearance since their father’s memorial service, Michael Jackson’s two oldest kids accepted his posthumous lifetime achievement award at the Grammy Awards as friends and family looked on, choking back tears.

“We’re proud to be here to accept this award on behalf of our father, Michael Jackson,” said Prince, trying to hold it together.

“First of all, we’d like to thank God for watching over us over these past seven months, and our grandma and grandpa for their love and support. We would also like to thank the fans. Our father loved you so much because you were always there for him,” said “Prince” Michael Jackson as he and his sister Paris accepted their late father’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.

“Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity. Through all his hard work and dedication, he has helped many charities and donated to all of them. Through all his songs, his message was simple: Love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world. Thank you. We love you, daddy.”

Joined by their cousins onstage, Paris also spoke to the audience, saying, “Daddy was supposed to be here. Daddy was gonna perform but he couldn’t perform last year,” said a teary Paris. “Thank you, we love you Daddy.

Moments earlier, Lionel Richie introduced the segment, which began with a powerhouse collaboration, featuring Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and Smokey Robinson, who sang Jackson’s “Earth Song” backed by images of nature and featuring vocals recorded by Jackson.

The segment was also filmed in 3-D, with glasses available for viewers to pick up from Target before the show.

“Earth Song” was scheduled to be included in Jackson’s July 2009 comeback concerts in London, and part of the video clip was included in the recent documentary, This Is It.