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World-famous American singer Justin Timberlake has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, the former NSYNC star announced on Thursday.
Timberlake shared the news in a post on Instagram commemorating his Forget Tomorrow tour, which wrapped in Türkiye on Wednesday, adding that the disease “can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.”
The Grammy and Emmy award-winning singer, who described himself as a private person, wrote he considered ending the tour when diagnosed. But he “decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling.”
“I’m so glad I kept going,” he wrote.
Greeting the audience in Istanbul on Wednesday, Timberlake said: “My tour this year has been long – it’s been incredible. When I was a little kid, I used to dream of this. Sometimes, this job isn’t the easiest in the world, but when I see all of your faces, it makes everything worth it.”
Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks. It can cause flu-like conditions, neurological problems, joint pain and other symptoms. In the vast majority of cases, Lyme disease is successfully treated with antibiotics.
“I honestly don’t know what my future is onstage, but I’ll always cherish this run! And all of them before! It’s been the stuff of legend for me,” Timberlake wrote.
Timberlake canceled and postponed multiple shows throughout the tour’s run, citing health issues including bronchitis and laryngitis. Six of his U.S. shows were postponed from October and November to February.
Timberlake ultimately canceled the last show of the U.S. leg of the tour in Ohio due to the flu in February.
Timberlake pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in New York’s Hamptons in 2024. As part of his plea deal, the singer gave a public safety announcement in September, urging drivers not to get behind the wheel after drinking.
The 10-time Grammy winner ended the post thanking his wife, Jessica Biel, and their two sons, Silas and Phin, saying “nothing is more powerful than your unconditional love. You are my heart and my home. I’m on my way.”
Exactly how often Lyme disease strikes isn’t clear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites insurance records suggesting 476,000 people are treated for Lyme disease in the U.S. each year.
Black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks, carry Lyme-causing bacteria.
The infection initially causes fatigue, fever and joint pain. Often – but not always – the first sign is a red, round bull’s-eye rash.
Early antibiotic treatment is crucial, but it can be hard for people to tell if they were bitten by ticks, some as small as a pin. Untreated Lyme can cause severe arthritis and damage the heart and nervous system. Some people have lingering symptoms even after treatment.
Timberlake’s career began in 1995 as the youngest member of the group NSYNC. He launched his solo career in 2002 with the album Justified. In addition to his 10 Grammy and 4 Emmy awards, Timberlake has also received numerous accolades from Billboard, the Brit Awards and the MTV Music Awards.
He has sold over 54 million albums, over 63 million singles and more than 70 million records as the lead vocalist of NSYNC.
In March last year, Timberlake released his sixth studio album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” which includes 18 new tracks. Standout songs from the album include “Selfish” and “No Angels.”
