- Pop music mega-star, born in 1981 in Memphis Tennessee.
- As a child, Timberlake sang country and gospel music. At age 11, he appeared on the TV show Star Search, singing country songs under the name Justin Randall (his middle name).
- In 1993 and 1994, he was a cast member on The Mickey Mouse Club. Here, he met JC Chasez, and they began an all male singing group that eventually became NSYNC. The band formed in 1995, and their career began to tour in Europe the following year. By 1998, they released their first studio album, the self titled NSYNC. The album sold over 11 million copies, and included the hit single Tearin’ Up My Heart. Two more NSYNC albums followed, with wild success. By 2002, when the group went on hiatus, they had sold more than 55 million records worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling boy bands in history.
- Timberlake’s solo career began in 2002. His first solo single was Like I Love You. His debut album, Justified, was released that same year. The album had a strong R&B influence, unlike the music of NSYNC. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, and went on to sell over 3 million records in the U.S. and 7 million worldwide. Two singles hit the top 5 – Cry Me A River and Rock Your Body.
- He recorded the song I’m Lovin’ It, used by McDonald’s as their tag line, and it earned Timberlake an estimated $6 million.
- In 2004, the famous “wardrobe malfunction” incident occurred at the Superbowl. Timberlake was performing with Janet Jackson, and during a scene where he was to tear off a piece of Jackson’s costume, her breast was accidentally revealed. With 140 million viewers worldwide, the incident was controversial, and Timberlake and Jackson were threatened with exclusion from the Grammy awards that year, unless they publicly apologized. Good that he did – he won 2 Grammy awards that night.
- For several years, he postponed further recording and concentrated on his acting career. He has performed in 20 different films, including the 2016 concert film Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids, which documented the final concert of his 20/20 Tour in early 2015. The show is on Netflix – I highly recommend you watch it, as it showcases the incredible performance talent that Timberlake has.
- His second album, Future Sex/Love Sounds, was issued in 2006. The album debuted at #1, and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Three singles hit #1 – SexyBack, My Love, and What Goes Around…Comes Around.
- Timberlake released 2 studio albums in 2013 – The 20/20 Experience, and The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2. These albums were very successful and are considered “neo-soul” albums, using song structures from the 60s and 70s, merged with today’s technology. Singles on these albums include Suit & Tie, Mirrors and Take Back the Night.
- In 2016, he voiced the lead character in the animated feature film Trolls, and he contributed the single Can’t Stop the Feeling! to the soundtrack. The song debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is awesome, typical of what you expect from Timberlake now – hence his nickname, The President of Pop.
- In 2018, he released his most recent album, Man of the Woods. Two songs reached the top 10 of the Hot 100 – Filthy and Say Something (featuring Chris Stapleton). The album is a blend of traditional R&B with country and funk influences.
- His awards are numerous. He was won 10 Grammy awards, and 4 Emmy awards (twice for appearances on Saturday Night Live – he is hilarious on these shows, you must watch the skits Single Ladies/Beyonce and Dick In A Box on YouTube).
- Justin Timberlake is a force in the entertainment industry. And…he is a good guy, generous with charitable causes. I look forward to many more years of enjoyment of his brilliance. Here’s the video to Can’t Stop the Feeling! – you will snap your fingers, along with the 1.3 billion other viewers of this video on YouTube.