Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor renowned for his musical achievements and acting prowess. With record sales exceeding 88 million, Timberlake ranks among the world’s top-selling music artists.
His talent has earned him a remarkable collection of awards, including ten Grammy Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, three Brit Awards, and nine Billboard Music Awards. Notably, he was honored with the Contemporary Icon Award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Billboard recognizes Timberlake as the most accomplished male soloist in the history of the Mainstream Top 40.
Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, Timberlake’s journey to fame began with appearances on TV shows during his childhood. By the late 1990s, he rose to prominence as one of the lead vocalists and the youngest member of NSYNC, a legendary boy band that achieved extraordinary commercial success. In 2002, Timberlake launched his solo career with the debut album “Justified,” featuring hit singles “Cry Me a River” and “Rock Your Body.”
His follow-up album, “FutureSex/LoveSounds” (2006), was met with critical acclaim, debuting at the top of the US Billboard 200 and spawning three consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles – “SexyBack” (featuring Timbaland), “My Love” (featuring T.I.), and “What Goes Around… Comes Around.” Both his initial albums surpassed sales of 10 million copies each, cementing his status as a global solo artist.
While excelling in music, Timberlake also embarked on an acting hiatus from 2008 to 2012, taking on lead roles in several successful films. Notably, he appeared in “The Love Guru” (2008), “The Social Network” (2010), “Bad Teacher” (2011), “Friends with Benefits” (2011), and “In Time” (2011). However, he returned to the music scene in 2013, releasing the well-received albums “The 20/20 Experience” and “The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2.”
Both albums topped the Billboard 200, with the former earning the title of the best-selling album of the year and producing chart-topping hits “Suit & Tie” and “Mirrors.” Timberlake also showcased his vocal talents as Branch in DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls” franchise (2016–2023), contributing to the first film’s soundtrack with the US number-one single “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,”
which earned him an Academy Award nomination. His fifth studio album, “Man of the Woods” (2018), continued his chart success, becoming his fourth number-one album in the US. Notable singles from this album included “Filthy” and “Say Something” (featuring Chris Stapleton), contributing to its recognition as the sixth best-selling album of 2018.