( CNN ) -- U.S. fans of Michael Jackson are pouring out their grief through music and dance , impromptu shrines at symbolic locations and heartfelt remembrances online . Valerie Rojas Pruitt , 12 , lights a candle Friday at Michael Jackson 's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Jackson 's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was surrounded hours before dawn Friday by candles , flowers , posters and balloons . As the sun rose , a man crouched on the sidewalk and painted a portrait of the pop star , who died suddenly on Thursday . `` This is a very sad day here in Hollywood , California , '' sobbed Melissa Fazli , a CNN iReporter . `` This is very , very sad . I ca n't believe it . '' The star emblem had been covered until almost 3 a.m. by a red carpet for the premiere of the Sasha Baron Cohen film `` Bruno '' at Grauman 's Chinese Theater , but fans started leaving mementos as soon as the carpet was removed . The film 's producers reportedly cut a scene referencing Jackson , at least for the premiere . Watch the Walk of Fame shrine grow » . `` He was an innovator , '' a fan named Delores said outside the theater . `` He 's basically an icon in his own time -- legendary . It 's going to take years [ to sink in ] that he 's gone , because he 's always with me . ... I 'm just trying to assess it all right now . I 'm still mourning , and at the same time missing him . It 's a little bit much to bear . '' See what celebrities had to say » . Fans gathered near the gates of the Los Angeles home where the King of Pop collapsed Thursday , and hundreds more assembled outside the UCLA Medical Center , where Jackson was pronounced dead . The U.S. fans ' reaction was part of a worldwide outpouring of grief over Jackson 's death and celebration of his life and art . See how people reacted in other countries . People stopped in their tracks Thursday in New York 's Times Square , staring up at the giant TV screens bearing news of Jackson 's death . Some people set up lawn chairs in the evening . Watch the reaction on Times Square » . Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit , Michigan , a two-story house where the Jackson 5 's recording career began in 1969 , according to CNN affiliate WDIV-TV . Fans built a makeshift shrine to Jackson , whose hits could be heard booming from passing cars , the station reported . View a timeline of Jackson 's career » . Fans frequently broke into song and dance around Jackson 's childhood home on Jackson Street , renamed in honor of the family , in Gary , Indiana , CNN affiliate WRTV-TV reported . Watch fans gather at the home » . `` I knew Michael . I only lived three blocks from him myself , '' Gary resident John Moore told WRTV-TV . `` It 's a really sad day . I 'm very hurt and disappointed right now . He was a great guy . '' CNN iReporter Egberto Willies of Kingwood , Texas , summed up the conflicting feelings Jackson engendered among his admirers : . `` I grew up on Michael Jackson , '' Willies said in a video post on iReport.com . `` I loved Michael Jackson . I hated Michael Jackson . I admired Michael Jackson . I was ashamed of Michael Jackson . I was sorry for Michael Jackson . I was proud of Michael Jackson . iReport : Share your thoughts about Michael Jackson . `` Michael Jackson was a complicated human being who was [ denied ] a childhood in order to provide us with great musical and dancing entertainment , '' Willies went on . `` But with all his wealth and success he never seemed happy with himself . He never viewed himself as we viewed him : simply the best entertainer alive . May he rest in peace , his demons left behind . '' CNN 's Kara Finnstrom and Dan Simon contributed to this report .
Admirers gather at symbolic locations to salute the late `` King of Pop '' Candles , flowers , posters , balloons surround star on Hollywood Walk of Fame . Fans sing and dance outside Detroit house where Jackson 5 first recorded . A fan holds a sign that reads " I love you Michael Jackson" as he waits for his idol to be honored in front of Staples Center during an event honoring him's life and career.