R&B singer Ciara may not have been born when Michael Jackson did the moonwalk for the first time, but the King of Pop remains one of her biggest inspirations. The singer received a call from her idol a couple of years ago, but didn't answer the first time around.

"He was doing a song for Hurricane Katrina and he wanted me to be a part of it," she said. While waiting for Jackson's call, which she had been told of by her management, Ciara turned on some music to calm her nerves. The music was so loud that she didn't hear the phone ring.

The 23-year-old performed Jackson's 1991 hit 'Heal the World,' at this year's BET Awards. Moved by emotion, Ciara began to cry as she talked about Jackson's influence."I didn't grow up in music. For me, he was the reason why [I perform]. He means that much," she said.

Following the death of both Jackson and her godmother who recently lost her battle with cancer, the Grammy-winner understands how precious life is. "Moments like this is when you realize to live life to the fullest."

Fans Mourn Michael Jackson

    A Japanese woman weeps during a memorial vigil for Michael Jackson in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, June 27th.

    Koji Sasahara, AP

    Michael Jackson fans dance the 'Moon Walk' on the Trocadero place on June 28th in Paris, France.

    Julien Hekimian, WireImage

    Fans of the late pop icon Michael Jackson light candles to pay tribute to the singer in an orthodox church in Skopje on June 27th two days after the King of Pop's death.

    Robert Atanasovski, AFP / Getty Images

    Michael Jackson fans gather to mourn the death of the pop star at the Eiffel tower on June 28th in Paris, France.

    Julien Hekimian, WireImage

    Fans pay tribute to Michael Jackson during a candle-lit vigil on June 27, 2009 in Xian of Shaanxi Province, China.

    China Photos / Getty Images

    New Edition performs a tribute to Michael Jackson at the start of the 9th Annual BET Awards on Sunday, June 28th in Los Angeles.

    Chris Pizzello, AP

    Bernadette Gillies of Salt Lake City cries while browsing through Michael Jackson 45s at Randy's Records & CDs in Salt Lake City.

    Laura Seitz, Deseret News / AP

    Indian artist and Michael Jackson fan Gonay Vijay gives final touches to portraits of the recently deceased pop star at his gallery in Hyderabad on June 28th.

    Noah Seelam, AFP / Getty Images

    Tshaka Lafayette, of New York, left, takes a picture of the marquee at the Apollo theater as people gather to remember Michael Jackson in the Harlem neighborhood of New York.

    Tina Fineberg, AP

    Orock Orock holds a sign outside the UCLA Medical Center, where entertainer Michael Jackson was taken prior to his death, in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25th.

    Matt Sayles, AP

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