Justin Timberlake takes the stage to honor pal Pharrell Williams at pre-Grammys event after Lyme disease shock

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Justin Timberlake hasn’t been seen much publicly since revealing his Lyme disease diagnosis half a year ago.

Justin Timberlake gave an energetic surprise performance at a pre-Grammy event in Los Angeles on Thursday, showing he was in top form.

Justin Timberlake, 44, honored his longtime friend and collaborator Pharrell Williams, 52, by giving him the Dr. Dre Impact Award.

This performance is his first since he announced his serious illness in July 2025, following the conclusion of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour.

Justin Timberlake performed a 15-minute set, including popular collaborations with a well-known hip-hop artist, such as “Señorita,” “Rock Your Body,” and “Like I Love You,” as reported by People magazine. Timberlake is known for his past relationship with Britney Spears, which lasted from 1999 to 2002.

The playlist also included several songs by Pharrell Williams and his collaborators, including Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love U,” his 2003 hit “Beautiful” featuring Snoop Dogg, and his 2013 song “Happy.”

I was absolutely thrilled watching him perform! Williams was clearly moved too, and actually told Justin afterward, ‘You really gave it your all tonight! You showed everyone how much you care about your fans and this community – it meant so much to see.’ It was a truly special moment.

While giving Pharrell Williams his award, Justin Timberlake joked that he’d lost his speech after being around Tyler, the Creator. He then added that anyone who meets or connects with Pharrell is forever impacted.

Timberlake shared a heartfelt message, saying that the recipient arrived in his life as he was finding his own way, and surprisingly, made him feel accepted. He praised their incredible creativity and the positive energy they bring.

He described Williams as a mentor and playfully pointed out that he’d already surpassed him in height when they first met.

You’ve completely changed my life, and I’ll always be thankful for that. Looking around this room, I see so many people who are also inspired by him – feel free to show it!

He went on to say, ‘You always believed in me and have taught me so much, not just about music, but about life in general, and you still do today.’

‘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.

Justin Timberlake’s appearance is happening shortly after his wife, Jessica Biel, publicly shared how much she admires him, calling herself one of his biggest supporters.

The 43-year-old actress, known for her role in ‘The Better Sister,’ often attended her husband’s ‘Forget Tomorrow’ tour concerts, openly showing her support and pride. She’s incredibly proud of his success as a musician – they have two sons together, 10-year-old Silas and 5-year-old Phineas – and happily cheered him on during his performances.

She shared with E! News how thrilled she was to see him perform, calling herself one of his biggest fans. She described his live shows as incredible, emphasizing that no other artist can match his energy and talent, and that he truly brings happiness to everyone.

I’m not worried about what anyone thinks – I’m going to dance non-stop for two and a half hours! I absolutely love his music, and I’m happy to admit it. I’m a huge fan of him as both an artist and a performer.

Last year, after Justin Timberlake was diagnosed with Lyme disease, it came out that his wife had encouraged him to seek a diagnosis.

At first, he assumed his tiredness and discomfort were simply due to aging and the rigors of his two-year Forget Tomorrow World Tour.

I’ve been following his story, and a source close to him recently shared with People that he’s definitely maturing, but when his health issues got worse, he knew it was more than just getting older. It really signaled something serious was happening.

After months of uncertainty, he finally received a diagnosis of Lyme disease. This explained the various health problems he’d been experiencing in silence.

Biel noticed Justin wasn’t feeling well and urged him to see a doctor.

The source added: ‘She could tell that he wasn’t himself. She’s incredibly supportive.’

The actress recently called Timberlake her ‘best friend’ and shared that she appreciates his understanding of the challenges both of them face in their careers.

She told People that having a partner who understands her work and related fields, such as music, has been incredibly valuable, both personally and in their relationship. He simply understands the demands of her long hours.

We manage to support each other despite our hectic and often separate schedules, because we understand that’s simply part of creating work like this.

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2026-01-31 03:39