Justin Timberlake Has Time for Super Bowl 52

Justin Timberlake performs

Justin Timberlake performs at the 2013 American Music Awards. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for DCP)

Justin Timberlake announced via Twitter today that he will perform at the Super Bowl VII Pepsi Halftime Show on NBC, live from the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota on Feb. 4. Timberlake shared the news that he does “have the time” for the NFL halftime in a humorous video with his friend and frequent skit collaborators Jimmy Fallon.

Timberlake’s Super redux takes place 14 years after the notorious 204 duet in which a “wardrobe malfunction” resulted in  Janet Jackson’s “breast moment on television” during the song “Rock Your Body,” when Timberlake — in a choreographed ripping off of Jackson’s bodice lefter her momentarily overexposed. The incident, which all parties claimed as an accident,  resulted in a $550,000 fine against CBS, later waived, and launched Timberlake’s garment jargon into the lexicon.

The “Can’t Stop the Feeling” singer also performed at the NFL Super Bowl during halftime in 2001, appearing as part of ‘N Sync on a bill that included Aerosmith and Britney Spears. 

For 2018, Variety is speculating Jackson may make a “surprise appearance.” The trade also underscored the network “synergy” between NBC Tonight Show host Fallon and the NBC Super Bowl telecast, predicting more cross promotional flexing. Meanwhile, Billboard had fans praying for an ‘N Sync reunion, or the possibility of Jay Z showing up. The buddies recorded with each other in 2013, with Jay Z featured on Timberlake’s Grammy-winning “Suit and Tie” and him returning the favor for “Holy Grail.”

For now, Timberlake is celebrating a series of fifths — his fifth anniversary with wife Jessica Biel, as he works on recording his fifth studio album, which he told radio host Carson Daly will take him back to his Memphis roots. “Where I grew up in America has a lot of influence,” he told Daly on the 97.1 AMP Radio Morning Show. “Growing up in Tennessee — very central of the country — Memphis is known as the birthplace of rock & roll, but also the home of the blues, but Nashville’s right down the street so there’s a lot of country music.”

He will next be seen in the NBC Trolls holiday special, airing Nov. 24.

Comments are closed.