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Justin Timberlake has been keeping a low profile since announcing he had Lyme disease six months ago.
But the SexyBack singer was in fine form as he hit the stage for a surprise performance at the Black Music Collective’s pre-Grammy event in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Timberlake, 44, paid tribute to his good friend and frequent collaborator Pharrell Williams, 52, presenting him with the Dr. Dre Impact Award.
His appearance marks the first time he’s performed on stage since sharing the news of his devastating illness in July 2025 after the end of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
Timberlake — who famously dated the now-troubled Britney Spears from 1999 to 2002 — performed for 15 minutes, belting out several of his collaborations with the hip hop whiz kid, including Señorita, Rock Your Body and Like I Love You, according to People.
Also in the musical mix was The Neptunes–Jay-Z tune I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me), plus Williams’s 2003 track Beautiful with Snoop Dogg and his 2013 hit Happy.
Justin Timberlake has been keeping a low profile since announcing he had Lyme disease six months ago, but he was in fine form as he made a surprise appearance at the Black Music Collective's pre-Grammy event in Los Angeles on Thursday
The SexyBack singer, 44, was there to pay tribute to his good friend and frequent collaborator Pharrell Williams, 52, who he presented with the Dr. Dre Impact Award
The crooner won the admiration of Williams, who said to Justin at the event, 'You showed your a** tonight. You reminded this community of how you love us so much and what we mean to you.'
Earlier in the evening, while presenting Williams with his trophy, Timberlake quipped: 'I was thinking about what I was going to say, and Tyler (The Creator) took all that s***. No, no, no, you're good. You're good. Anybody that's come in contact or been in the same frequency with Pharrell Williams is changed forever.'
On a more serious note, Timberlake said: ‘He came into my life at a time where I was entering my own, and funny enough, you made me feel like I belonged. Your creativity is unparalleled. Your energy is infectious.'
He referred to Williams as his 'big brother' and couldn’t resist joking that he was 'already taller' than him when they were introduced.
'You changed my life. You changed my life. And I will forever, forever be grateful. And I know so many people in this room, and you can make some noise if you are inspired by this man,' Timberlake said.
The former NSYNC boy bander continued: 'You believed in me and you taught me so much, and you continue to teach me so much from music to just conversations.
'You are one of my favorite humans, bro. You are one of one and I'm so honored to be here.
'I'm so privileged to know you. You changed my life. Thank you, brother,' he added.
Timberlake performed for 15 minutes, belting out several of his collaborations with the hip hop whiz kid, including Señorita, Rock Your Body and Like I Love You
The crooner won the admiration of Williams, who said to him, 'You showed your a** tonight'
Timberlake gushed about his pal, 'Anybody that's come in contact or been in the same frequency with Pharrell Williams is changed forever'
The former boy bander's musical set comes in the wake of his wife Jessica Biel gushing she's among his 'number one fans'
Timberlake’s starry presence comes in the wake of his wife Jessica Biel gushing that she’s among his 'number one fans.'
The Better Sister actress, 43, was a regular fixture in the audience at her husband's Forget Tomorrow World Tour concerts and she didn't feel the need to hold back her excitement because she is so proud of the Mirrors hitmaker - with whom she has sons Silas, 10, and five-year-old Phineas - and his career.
She told E! News: ‘I feel like I'm up there with his number one fans. He's so amazing live. There's just no one like him – who can perform like him, who sings like him. He just brings so much joy.
'I don't care if I look like a crazy person. I'm gonna dance my butt off for two and a half hours. I love his music, and I don't care – I'm just gonna say it – I adore him, and I love him as an artist and a performer.'
When Timberlake was diagnosed with Lyme disease last year, it was previously revealed how his wife had pushed him to look for answers.
He initially thought the exhaustion and pain he had been experiencing were part of getting older and the demands of his two-year Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
A source told People magazine: ‘He's not 20 anymore. But when his symptoms worsened, he realized something deeper was going on.
'He pushed through for months before finally getting answers. The Lyme disease diagnosis brought clarity to a series of unexplained issues that he's been quietly dealing with.'
Timberlake revealed his Lyme disease diagnosis the day after his final performance on his Forget Tomorrow World Tour
It was Biel who 'felt like something was off' with Justin's health and 'encouraged him to get checked out.'
The source added: 'She could tell that he wasn't himself. She's incredibly supportive.'
The actress recently hailed Timberlake as her ‘best friend’ and admitted she is grateful for the understanding they share over their respective careers.
‘I think having a partner who understands this industry and adjacent industries, like the music industry, has been really deeply important and profound for my life and for our partnership because he just understands when I'm working crazy long hours,’ she told People.
‘We are able to support each other throughout strange schedules and time apart because we know that's just what it takes to make this kind of art.’
English (US) ·