Lasting Legacy of Justin Timberlake: A Look at the Influence on History
A closer look at the lasting mark left by Justin Timberlake—a timeline of influence.
Justin Timberlake is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and dancer, often called the "Prince of Pop." Billboard recognized him as a top-performing solo act and a leading pop star of the 21st century. He is among the best-selling music artists ever, with over 117 million records sold globally. Timberlake's accolades include ten Grammy Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, three Brit Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, the Contemporary Icon Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and MTV's Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
1979: Off the Wall Pop Album
In 1979, Michael Jackson released Off the Wall.
1997: Loss of Half-Sister Laura Katherine
In 1997, Justin Timberlake's half-sister, Laura Katherine, passed away shortly after birth. She is mentioned in his acknowledgments in the album NSYNC.
2003: Biggest Pop Star of the Year
In 2003, Rolling Stone named Justin Timberlake the biggest pop star of the year.
December 16, 2006: Saturday Night Live Hosting and "Dick in a Box"
On December 16, 2006, Justin Timberlake hosted Saturday Night Live, acting as both host and musical guest. He and Andy Samberg performed the "Dick in a Box" skit, which became a viral hit and earned him an Emmy Award.
2007: Time 100 List Appearance
In 2007, Justin Timberlake appeared for the first time on the Time 100 list of most influential people.
2007: Recognition as a Sex Symbol
In 2007, The New York Times noted that Justin Timberlake had learned how to project sex-symbol edge since his last tour.
August 25, 2013: Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
On August 25, 2013, Justin Timberlake received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. He also reunited with NSYNC for a brief performance.
2013: Second Appearance on Time 100 List
In 2013, Justin Timberlake made his second appearance on the Time 100 list, with Stevie Wonder praising his accomplishments and spirit.
May 14, 2014: "Love Never Felt So Good" Music Video Release
On May 14, 2014, a music video was released for Michael Jackson's "Love Never Felt So Good," which was produced by Timbaland and Timberlake. The video featured clips of Jackson and performances by Timberlake.
October 2015: Induction into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame
In October 2015, Justin Timberlake was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, becoming its youngest member.
2015: Adele Surpasses NSYNC's Album Sales Record
In 2015, Adele surpassed NSYNC's record for the fastest-selling album with her album 25.
2015: Led Top Musicians Among Millennials List
In 2015, Justin Timberlake led Nielsen Music's U.S. report for "Top 10 Musicians Among Millennials".
2016: Timberlake Recognized as a Great Entertainer
In a 2016 article in The Hollywood Reporter, Justin Timberlake was recognized as one of the greatest all-around entertainers in show business history.
2017: Ranked Number 5 on "Greatest of All Time Pop Songs Artists"
According to Billboard, in 2017, Justin Timberlake ranked at number 5 on their "Greatest of All Time Pop Songs Artists", being the top male soloist.
April 30, 2018: NSYNC Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
On April 30, 2018, Justin Timberlake reunited with his NSYNC bandmates to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2018: Billboard Discussion on Timberlake's Status
In 2018, Billboard critics debated whether Justin Timberlake is the Best Male Pop Star of the 21st century.
2018: Ranked 25 on Billboard's "The Top 60 Male Artists of All-Time"
In 2018, Billboard ranked Justin Timberlake 25th on their "The Top 60 Male Artists of All-Time" list.
2019: Ranked on Billboard's Decade-End Chart
In 2019, Billboard ranked Justin Timberlake 20th on their decade-end chart for "Top Artists" of the 2010s and 74th on "Top 125 Greatest of All Time Artists Chart".
2020: Billboard retrospective on Celebrity
In 2020, Billboard published a retrospective article considering NSYNC's Celebrity as "the group's swan song, setting the stage for Timberlake's equally massive solo career".
