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 a famous American singer, songwriter, actor, and dancer. He is sometimes called the "Prince of Pop" and is known as one of the most successful musicians of the 21st century. Timberlake has sold over 117 million records around the world.
He has won many awards, including ten Grammy Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards. He often works with music producers like The Neptunes and Timbaland to create his unique sound.
Timberlake first became famous as a child on TV shows like Star Search and The Mickey Mouse Club. In the 1990s, he was one of the lead singers of the popular boy band NSYNC. The group sold over 70 million albums and became one of the best-selling boy bands ever.
After NSYNC, Timberlake started a successful solo career. His first two albums, Justified (2002) and Future.../LoveSounds (2006), each sold over 10 million copies. .....
Besides music, Timberlake is also a successful actor. He has starred in movies like The Social Network (2010), Friends with Benefits (2011), and the Trolls movie series, where he voices the character Branch.
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.
Career
1995–2002: Rise to Fame with NSYNC
The boy band NSYNC was formed in 1995. Timberlake and JC Chasez were the two lead singers. The group became very popular in the United States in 1998 with their first album, NSYNC, which sold 11 million copies.
Their next album, No Strings Attached (2000), was a massive success. It sold 2.4 million copies in its first week, a record at the time. The album included the number-one hit song "It's Gonna Be Me". Their final album, Celebrity (2001), was also very successful. After a tour in 2002, the group decided to take a break. NSYNC sold more than 70 million records worldwide.
2002–2004: Going Solo with Justified
In 2002, Timberlake launched his solo career. He performed his first solo single, "Like I Love You", at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards. His first album, Justified, was released in November 2002. It had a strong R&B sound, influenced by producers The Neptunes and Timbaland.
The album was a huge hit, selling over 10 million copies worldwide. It included the popular songs "Cry Me a River" and "Rock Your Body". In 2003, he went on tour with Christina Aguilera.
In February 2004, Timberlake performed with Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. During the performance, there was an unexpected costume problem that caused a lot of discussion. Timberlake later apologized for the incident.
2004–2007: Acting and Future.../LoveSounds
After the Super Bowl, Timberlake focused on acting for a while. He appeared in films like Alpha Dog and voiced Prince Artie in the animated movie Shrek the Third (2007).
He returned to music in 2006 with his second album, Future.../LoveSounds. The album went straight to number one on the charts. ..... Other hit songs from the album included "My Love" and "What Goes Around... Comes Around".
In December 2006, he hosted Saturday Night Live and performed in a famous comedy sketch that created a viral song called "... in a Box". The song even won an Emmy Award.
2008–2012: Focus on Acting
From 2008 to 2012, Timberlake took a break from his solo music to focus more on his acting career. He collaborated with other artists, including Madonna on her hit song "4 Minutes".
He starred in several movies during this time. He played Sean Parker, the founder of Napster, in the award-winning film The Social Network (2010). He also starred in the comedies Bad Teacher (2011) and Friends with Benefits (2011).
2013–2017: The 20/20 Experience and Trolls
Timberlake returned to music in 2013 with his third album, The 20/20 Experience. The album's first single, "Suit & Tie" featuring Jay-Z, was a big hit. The second single, "Mirrors", reached number one in the United Kingdom. The album was the best-selling album of 2013 in the U.S.
Later that year, he released a second part, The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2. He also received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, where he briefly reunited with NSYNC for a performance.
In 2016, Timberlake voiced the character Branch in the animated movie Trolls. He also wrote and performed the movie's hit song, "Can't Stop the Feeling!". The song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the best-selling song of the year in the U.S. It also earned him an Academy Award nomination.
2018–2022: Man of the Woods and Super Bowl Return
In 2018, Timberlake released his fifth album, Man of the Woods. He said the album was inspired by his Southern American roots. The album included the singles "Filthy" and "Say Something" featuring country star Chris Stapleton.
On February 4, 2018, he performed at the Super Bowl LII halftime show in Minneapolis. He performed a mix of his greatest hits and even did a special tribute to the singer Prince, who was from Minnesota. His Man of the Woods Tour was one of the highest-grossing tours of 2018.
2023–Present: Reunions and New Music
In 2023, Timberlake reunited with his NSYNC bandmates to release a new song, "Better Place", for the movie Trolls Band Together. He also collaborated with other artists, including Timbaland and Nelly Furtado on the song "Keep Going Up".
In January 2024, he announced his sixth studio album, Everything I Thought It Was, which was released in March 2024. The first single from the album was "Selfish". To support the album, he began The Forget Tomorrow World Tour in April 2024. The tour quickly became his fastest-selling tour ever, with over a million tickets sold.
Personal Life
In the late 1990s, Timberlake was in a well-known relationship with singer Britney Spears. They broke up in 2002.
In 2007, he began dating actress Jessica Biel. The couple got married in Italy on October 19, 2012. They have two sons, one born in April 2015 and the other in July 2020.
Artistry and Influence
Timberlake is known for his high tenor voice and his skills as a performer. He often plays guitar and piano during his shows. His music blends different styles, including pop, R&B, funk, and soul. He has said that his biggest musical influences are Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.
Many artists, such as Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, and Ed Sheeran, have said that Timberlake has influenced their own music. He is considered a pop icon who has successfully moved from a boy band to a long-lasting solo career as a musician and actor.
Other Work
Besides music and acting, Timberlake is also involved in business and charity work. He co-founded the William Rast clothing line and has invested in restaurants and a golf course.
He is also active in helping others. His Justin Timberlake Foundation supports music education in schools. He has participated in many charity events, such as the Hope for Haiti Now concert, and has donated money to various causes, including wildlife conservation and disaster relief.
Discography
Studio albums
- Justified (2002)
- Future.../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
Selected Films
- Model Behavior (2000)
- Alpha Dog (2006)
- Shrek the Third (2007) (voice)
- The Social Network (2010)
- Yogi Bear (2010) (voice)
- Bad Teacher (2011)
- Friends with Benefits (2011)
- In Time (2011)
- Trolls (2016) (voice)
- Wonder Wheel (2017)
- Trolls World Tour (2020) (voice)
- Palmer (2021)
- Trolls Band Together (2023) (voice)
Tours
- The Justified World Tour (2003–2004)
- Future.../LoveShow (2007)
- The 20/20 Experience World Tour (2013–2015)
- The Man of the Woods Tour (2018–2019)
- The Forget Tomorrow World Tour (2024–2025)
Images for kids
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Timberlake in London on his Justified World Tour, December 2003
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Timberlake and President Obama, 2013
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Timberlake at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival
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Timberlake performing on his 20/20 Experience Tour in Charlotte, North Carolina
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Timberlake (center) and Steve Cropper performing at the White House, 2013, with President Barack Obama on the left
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Timberlake at the 2017 Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
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Timberlake in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Justin Timberlake para niños
