Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Justin Timberlake Makes First Post-Diagnosis Performance at Recording Academy Honors Tribute to Pharrell

The appearance honored Pharrell Williams as he received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.

Overview

  • Timberlake returned to the stage on January 29 at the Recording Academy Honors presented by the Black Music Collective in Los Angeles.
  • Between songs he praised Williams, saying, “Anybody who’s come in contact with or been in the same frequency with Pharrell Williams is changed forever,” as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
  • Footage shows a Pharrell-focused medley that included his own hits like “Senorita,” “Rock Your Body,” and “Like I Love You,” plus “Get Lucky,” “Happy,” and “Beautiful.”
  • The performance marked his first public set since his July 2025 Instagram disclosure of a Lyme disease diagnosis that he described as “relentlessly debilitating,” citing nerve pain and fatigue.
  • He has said he kept performing because the joy of the stage outweighed the physical strain, and outlets have reported continued support from his wife, Jessica Biel.