Justin Timberlake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Justin Timberlake
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Timberlake in 2016
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Justin Randall Timberlake
January 31, 1981 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Other names | JT |
| Education | University of Nebraska High School |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Agent | Johnny Wright |
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| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. People often call him the "Prince of Pop." He is one of the best-selling music artists ever, with over 117 million records sold worldwide.
As a child, Justin appeared on TV music shows like Star Search. In the 1990s, he was on the Disney Channel's The Mickey Mouse Club. There, he sang, acted in skits, and danced. He met JC Chasez on the show, and they later became lead singers for the famous boyband NSYNC in 1997. NSYNC sold over 70 million records, making them one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.
Justin became a successful solo artist with his albums Justified (2002) and FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006). Both albums sold over 10 million copies. FutureSex/LoveSounds was his first album to reach number one in the U.S. He had three more number-one albums: The 20/20 Experience, The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 (both 2013), and Man of the Woods (2018). The 20/20 Experience was the best-selling album of 2013.
Justin has many hit songs, including "Cry Me a River", "Rock Your Body", "My Love", "What Goes Around... Comes Around", "Suit & Tie", "Mirrors", and "Can't Stop the Feeling!". "Can't Stop the Feeling!" was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He has won many awards, including ten Grammy Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Justin also has a successful acting career. He has starred in movies like The Social Network (2010), Bad Teacher (2011), and Friends with Benefits (2011). He has also voiced characters in animated films, such as Artie in Shrek the Third (2007) and Branch in the Trolls movies (2016–2024).
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Justin Timberlake was born in Memphis, Tennessee. His parents, Randall Timberlake and Lynn Harless, divorced in 1985. He grew up in Millington, a small town near Memphis.
In 1993, Justin joined The Mickey Mouse Club, a popular Disney TV show. The show ended in 1994. In 1995, he was asked to join an all-male singing group. This group was put together by singer Chris Kirkpatrick and manager Lou Pearlman. It later became the famous boy band NSYNC.
Music Career Highlights
Becoming a Star with NSYNC (1995–2002)
The boy band NSYNC started in 1995 and became popular in Europe in 1996. Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez were the two main singers. In 1998, the group became very famous in the United States with their first album, NSYNC. This album sold 11 million copies and included the hit song "Tearin' Up My Heart".
Their second album, No Strings Attached (2000), sold 2.4 million copies in its first week. It featured the number-one song "It's Gonna Be Me". NSYNC's third album, Celebrity (2001), was also very successful. These albums had other popular songs like "Bye Bye Bye", "Girlfriend", and "This I Promise You".
After their "Celebrity Tour" in 2002, the group took a break. NSYNC performed at big events like the Academy Awards in 2000 and the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show. The band sold over 70 million records worldwide.
In 2000, Justin also acted in the Disney movie Model Behavior. He played a model who falls in love with a waitress. As Justin's own fame grew and boy bands became less popular, NSYNC eventually broke up. Justin then started working on his solo music. He teamed up with producers like Pharrell Williams and Timbaland.
Solo Success and Acting (2004–2007)
After NSYNC, Justin focused on his acting career for a bit. He appeared in films like Edison Force (2006), Alpha Dog (2006), and Black Snake Moan (2006). He also voiced Prince Artie in the animated movie Shrek the Third (2007).
Justin continued to make music with other artists. He worked with the Black Eyed Peas again on their song "My Style" in 2005. While recording "Signs" with Snoop Dogg in 2005, Justin found out he had a throat condition. He had surgery and was told not to sing or speak loudly for a few months. In 2005, he also started his own record company, JayTee Records.
Justin released his second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, on September 12, 2006. The album was a huge hit, selling 684,000 copies in its first week. It became the fastest-selling album on iTunes at the time. The album was produced by Timbaland, Danja, will.i.am, Rick Rubin, and Justin himself. It featured guest singers like Snoop Dogg and T.I.
The first song from the album, "...Back", became number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks. The next two songs, "My Love" (featuring T.I.) and "What Goes Around... Comes Around", also reached number one. In October 2006, Justin said he would focus more on music than movies. He was also a special guest performer at the 2006 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Justin hosted many music events, including the European MTV Music Awards in 2006. On December 16, 2006, he hosted Saturday Night Live (SNL) and was also the musical guest. During this show, he and Andy Samberg performed a funny song called "Dick in a Box". This song became a huge hit online and won an Emmy Award.
In January 2007, Justin started his FutureSex/LoveShow tour. Other songs from the album like "LoveStoned/I Think She Knows (Interlude)" and "Until the End of Time" were also popular. The song "Give It to Me", which Justin sang with Timbaland and Nelly Furtado, also reached number one. FutureSex/LoveSounds was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's music library.
Focusing on Acting (2008–2012)
After his tour ended in 2007, Justin spent more time acting. He starred in the comedy The Love Guru (2008) and the drama The Open Road (2009). He also worked with Madonna on her song "4 Minutes" in 2008. This song was a huge international hit, reaching number one in over 21 countries.
Justin also helped write and produce songs for other artists, like Duran Duran and 50 Cent. In 2008, he won two Grammy Awards for his songs "What Goes Around...Comes Around" and "LoveStoned/I Think She Knows".
In 2008, Justin worked with T.I. on the song "Dead and Gone". He also helped produce songs for Ciara's album Fantasy Ride in 2009, including the hit "Love ... Magic". Justin was also an executive producer for the MTV reality show The Phone.
From 2010, Justin took on more acting roles. He played Sean Parker, the founder of Napster, in the movie The Social Network (2010). He also voiced Boo-Boo Bear in Yogi Bear (2010). In 2011, he starred with Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher and with Mila Kunis in Friends with Benefits. He also played the main character in the science fiction film In Time (2011).
Justin continued to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, performing their popular "History of Rap" skits. In 2011, he attended the United States Marine Corps birthday ball after a Marine asked him in a viral video.
Return to Music and Trolls (2013–2017)
Justin started working on his third album, The 20/20 Experience, in June 2012. He announced his return to music in January 2013. The first song, "Suit & Tie" featuring Jay-Z, was released that month and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
After four years away from concerts, Justin performed before the 2013 Super Bowl. He also performed "Suit & Tie" with Jay-Z at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. On February 11, 2013, "Mirrors" was released as the second song from the album. It reached number two in the U.S. and number one in the UK.
The 20/20 Experience was released on March 19, 2013. It set a record for being the fastest-selling album on iTunes. It sold over 968,000 copies in its first week in the U.S., becoming the biggest sales week of 2013. It was the best-selling album of the year in the country.
Justin performed at a special concert at the White House hosted by President Barack Obama, celebrating Memphis soul music. He then announced The 20/20 Experience World Tour. He also joined Jay-Z on his album Magna Carta... Holy Grail.
On August 25, 2013, Justin received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. He also won three other awards, including Video of the Year for "Mirrors". During his performance, he briefly reunited with his former NSYNC bandmates.
Justin's fourth album, The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2, came out on September 30, 2013, and also reached number one. He won three more Grammy Awards in 2014. In 2014, Justin appeared on Michael Jackson's song "Love Never Felt So Good". He also performed with Jimmy Fallon for the "History of Rap" sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
In 2016, a concert film called Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids was released on Netflix. Justin dedicated the film to Prince. He also composed music for the 2017 film The Book of Love, which his wife Jessica Biel produced.
Justin voiced the main character, Branch, in DreamWorks Animation's movie Trolls (2016). He also produced the music for the film. The main song, "Can't Stop the Feeling!", was released on May 6, 2016. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one in 16 other countries. It was the best-selling song of the year in the U.S. with 2.4 million downloads. Justin performed the song at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 and the 89th Academy Awards.
Man of the Woods and Recent Work (2018–Present)
Justin's fifth album, Man of the Woods, was released on February 2, 2018. The album's name is inspired by his son, Silas, whose name means "from the forest." Two days later, he performed at the Super Bowl LII halftime show in Minneapolis. He sang a mix of his songs and even had a video of Prince join him for a duet.
The first song from the album, "Filthy", was released on January 5. Other songs like "Supplies", "Say Something" (featuring Chris Stapleton), and "Man of the Woods" were also released.
Man of the Woods debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It was Justin's fourth album in a row to reach number one. The album was one of the best-selling albums of 2018. The Man of the Woods Tour began in March 2018 and was also very successful.
In May 2019, Justin received an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music. He also worked on the soundtracks for Trolls World Tour (2020) and Trolls Band Together (2023). He released songs like "The Other Side" with SZA and "Don't Slack" with Anderson .Paak for the Trolls movies.
In 2020, Justin and Ant Clemons released the song "Better Days". In January 2021, Justin performed this song as part of the celebration for the inauguration of Joe Biden.
In May 2023, his producer Timbaland said that Justin's sixth album was finished. On September 1, 2023, Timbaland released the song "Keep Going Up" with Justin and Nelly Furtado. Justin also reunited with NSYNC later that month for the song "Better Place" for the Trolls Band Together movie.
On January 19, 2024, Justin performed a free concert in Memphis and sang his new song "Selfish" for the first time. He announced that his sixth album, Everything I Thought It Was, would be released in March 2024. "Selfish" debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Justin appeared on Saturday Night Live and The Kelly Clarkson Show to promote his new music. He also performed a concert in New York City on his 43rd birthday. Another song, "Drown", was released on February 23, 2024.
On March 13, 2024, Justin performed a concert in Los Angeles. He surprised fans by reuniting with his NSYNC bandmates on stage. Justin also announced a documentary about making his new album. The second song from the album, "No Angels", was released on March 15, 2024, the same day as the album. Everything I Thought It Was debuted at number four in the U.S.
In April 2024, Justin opened the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards. He also started his the Forget Tomorrow World Tour on April 29, 2024. This tour is Justin's fastest-selling tour ever, with over 1 million tickets sold.
Personal Life
Family and Relationships
In early 1999, Justin started dating singer Britney Spears. Their relationship ended in March 2002. He briefly dated British singer Emma Bunton in 2003. In April 2003, he began a relationship with actress Cameron Diaz. They broke up in December 2006.
In January 2007, Justin started dating actress Jessica Biel. They got engaged in December 2011 and married on October 19, 2012, in Italy. Their first son was born in April 2015, and their second son was born in July 2020.
Homes
Justin has owned several homes. In 2002, he bought a large mansion in Hollywood Hills. In 2010, he bought an apartment in SoHo, New York, which he later sold. In 2015, he bought a house in the Yellowstone Club in Montana. In 2017, Justin and Jessica Biel bought a penthouse apartment in Tribeca, Manhattan.
Earnings
Justin Timberlake is one of the wealthiest musicians. In 2008, Forbes magazine reported he earned $44 million from his music, tours, and commercials. In 2013, Billboard said he was the third highest-paid musician, earning $31 million. In 2019, he earned $57.5 million.
In May 2022, Justin sold the rights to all his songs he wrote or co-wrote for $100 million. His net worth is now estimated to be over $350 million.
Music Style and Influences
Justin Timberlake has a lyric tenor singing voice. He often uses beatboxing in his songs. Many of his songs are inspired by his own life and relationships. Critics describe him as a "consummate showman" because of his great performances. He often plays guitar, piano, and keyboard in his shows.
His first album, Justified (2002), was mainly R&B but also had elements of dance-pop, funk, and soul music. Justin said he was influenced by Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder for this album.
His second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006), explored a wider range of sounds. It included elements of rap, rock, funk, soul, gospel, new wave, and world music. Justin said this album was inspired by David Bowie and Prince.
Justin's album The 20/20 Experience (2013) is a neo-soul album. It was partly inspired by the long song structures of 1960s and 1970s rock music. He supported this album with two tours: Legends of the Summer (with Jay-Z) and The 20/20 Experience World Tour. These tours featured his backing band, the Tennessee Kids, which is a 15-piece group.
Legacy and Impact
Justin Timberlake is often called the "President of Pop" and "Prince of Pop." Many people see him as one of the greatest all-around entertainers in history.
In 2003, Rolling Stone named him the biggest pop star of the year. They said he gained "credibility," which most pop stars don't achieve. His album FutureSex/LoveSounds was praised for changing pop music. Vibe magazine called it the greatest album of the decade. The song "...Back" helped bring electronic dance music (EDM) sounds to pop radio.
Justin is considered a pop icon. His music has influenced many artists, including Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Lorde, Ed Sheeran, and Jungkook. Many music publications say his first solo album, Justified, set the standard for teen pop stars who wanted to be taken seriously as solo artists.
Achievements and Awards
Justin Timberlake has sold over 32 million albums and 56 million singles worldwide as a solo artist. With NSYNC, he sold another 70 million records. This makes him one of the world's best-selling music artists.
He has won many awards, including:
- Ten Grammy Awards
- Four Emmy Awards
- Seven American Music Awards
- Three Brit Awards
- Nine Billboard Music Awards
- Eleven MTV Video Music Awards
He received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in 2013 and the Innovator Award in 2015. In 2013, he won Video of the Year for "Mirrors". In 2014, he was named Billboard Top Male Artist.
In October 2015, Justin was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. He was the youngest person to join. On April 30, 2018, he reunited with NSYNC to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2019, he received a Contemporary Icon Award and an honorary Doctor of Music degree.
All five of Justin's studio albums have sold millions of copies and won many awards. His tours have also been very successful. FutureSex/LoveShow was the third highest-grossing tour of 2007. The 20/20 Experience World Tour was his most successful tour ever.
Five of Justin's songs have reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "...Back", "My Love", "What Goes Around... Comes Around", "Give It to Me", and "Can't Stop the Feeling!".
Other Ventures
Businesses and Endorsements
Justin Timberlake has been involved in several businesses. He has co-owned restaurants like "Chi," "Destino," and "Southern Hospitality." In 2005, he launched his clothing line, William Rast, with his childhood friend Juan Ayala. They were inspired by Elvis Presley.
Justin is also a big fan of golf. In 2007, he bought a golf course in his hometown and turned it into the eco-friendly Mirimichi Golf Course. He later sold it in 2014. In 2018, Justin and Levi's launched a clothing collection called "Fresh Leaves." In 2022, he invested in a golf course in South Carolina.
Justin has endorsed many products, including Sony electronics, Givenchy perfume, Audi, and Callaway Golf Company. In 2011, he teamed up with Myspace. In 2014, he partnered with Sauza Tequila to create his own version of the drink. He also invested in the beverage company Bai Brands in 2016.
Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel are part-owners of the Memphis Grizzlies, a basketball team. He is also an ambassador for the Air Jordan brand. He has designed his own versions of Air Jordan shoes, which he debuted at his Super Bowl halftime show in 2018.
Charity Work
Justin is very active in charity work. He started the "Justin Timberlake Foundation" in 2001, which supports music education programs and other causes. In 2005, he received an award for his humanitarian efforts in Tennessee.
In 2007, he donated $100,000 from his Australian tour to Wildlife Warriors, a charity founded by Steve Irwin. In 2008, he donated $100,000 each to the Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Foundation.
From 2008 to 2011, Justin hosted the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open golf tournament in Las Vegas. He played in the pro-am and hosted a charity concert. His involvement helped raise a lot of money for Shriners Hospitals for Children, which helps sick children.
Justin often plays in other charity golf tournaments like the American Century Championship. In 2010, he performed "Hallelujah" for the Hope for Haiti Now telethon, raising money for Haiti after an earthquake. In 2016, he was part of a new version of "Where Is the Love?" to support educational programs. In 2017, he helped raise over $2 million for victims of the Manchester Arena bombing.
Book
Justin Timberlake's autobiography, Hindsight & All the Things I Can't See In Front Of Me, was released on October 30, 2018. The book shares stories from his life and career, including photos and his thoughts on his songs.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Justified (2002)
- FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)
- The 20/20 Experience (2013)
- The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 (2013)
- Man of the Woods (2018)
- Everything I Thought It Was (2024)
Filmography
Films Starred In
- Model Behavior (2000)
- Edison (2005)
- Alpha Dog (2006)
- Black Snake Moan (2006)
- Southland Tales (2007)
- Shrek the Third (2007)
- The Love Guru (2008)
- The Open Road (2009)
- The Social Network (2010)
- Yogi Bear (2010)
- Bad Teacher (2011)
- Friends with Benefits (2011)
- In Time (2011)
- Trouble with the Curve (2012)
- Runner Runner (2013)
- Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
- Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids (2016)
- Trolls (2016)
- Wonder Wheel (2017)
- Trolls World Tour (2020)
- Palmer (2021)
- Trolls Band Together (2023)
- Reptile (2023)
- Piece By Piece (2024)
Tours
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Main Tours
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Co-Headlining Tours
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Images for kids
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Justin Timberlake in 2016
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Justin Timberlake's signature
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Justin Timberlake performing in St. Paul, Minnesota in January 2007 during his FutureSex/LoveShow tour.
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Justin Timberlake (left) with Andrew Garfield (right) at an event for The Social Network in Madrid, October 2010.
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Justin Timberlake performing during The 20/20 Experience World Tour, February 2014.
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Justin Timberlake and President Obama, 2013.
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Justin Timberlake at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
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Justin Timberlake performing on The Man of the Woods Tour in Miami on May 18, 2018.
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Justin Timberlake Performing on the Forget Tomorrow World Tour in Seattle on May 2, 2024.
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Michael Jackson performing.
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David Bowie performing.
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Justin Timberlake performing on his 20/20 Experience Tour in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Justin Timberlake (center) and Steve Cropper performing at the White House, 2013, with President Barack Obama on the left.
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Justin Timberlake at the 2017 Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival.
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Justin Timberlake in 2006.
See Also
- List of best-selling music artists – Artists with sales of over 88 million records worldwide
- Honorific nicknames in popular music
- List of Billboard Social 50 number-one artists
