Justin Timberlake has disclosed that he has been managing health challenges, including a diagnosis of Lyme disease. Teh singer shared this information not for sympathy, but to offer insight into his behind-the-scenes experiences.
Timberlake described living with Lyme disease as perhaps “relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.” He recounted his initial shock at the diagnosis, which helped him understand the severe nerve pain, profound fatigue, and general sickness he had been experiencing, sometiems even while performing. Faced with the choice to halt his touring or continue and adapt, Timberlake opted to persevere, stating that the “joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by certain ticks. Humans typically contract the illness through a tick bite, frequently enough in wooded environments. Common symptoms include rashes, body aches and stiffness, muscle weakness, and compromised immune function.
timberlake joins a list of notable musicians who have publicly shared their Lyme disease diagnoses, including Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, and Justin Bieber, all of whom have spoken about their personal struggles with the condition.
This revelation comes as timberlake concludes a significant portion of his “forget Tomorrow” tour, which commenced in April 2024, shortly after the release of his album “Everything I Thought It Was.” As of late May, the tour had grossed $73.2 million across 41 shows, positioning Timberlake as the 10th highest-grossing touring artist in Billboard’s midyear Boxscore report.
