Justin Timberlake has stated that his childhood was “messed up” due to his fame, but he will forever be thankful to his mother for helping him achieve his goal.
The musician’s mother has been there for him throughout his career, attending all his shows and ensuring he keeps his dignity.
At this point in Justin’s life, he thinks of his mother as his “best friend,” He lives close to her so he can help take care of his sick stepfather.
He acknowledged that becoming a parent was a challenging experience for him, but today he is happy with his role and does everything he can to make sure his children are joyful.
Justin Timberlake is a big deal in Hollywood, and many people know how he has changed the entertainment business. However, in spite of all of his successes as a singer and actor, the thing that brings him the most happiness is being a devoted family guy.
Justin knew from a young age that he wanted to work in the entertainment industry. His mother, Lynn Harless, his biological father, Randall Timberlake, and his stepfather, Paul Harless, encouraged him to do so.
Justin Timberlake arrives at the ‘Trolls’ Australian Premiere on November 20, 2016, in Sydney, Australia. | Source: Getty Images
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 31, 1981, Timberlake is a multi-talented artist who rose to fame as the youngest member of the legendary boy band *NSYNC, which dominated the charts in the 1990s. Timberlake’s hometown is Memphis.
Before that, he started in the entertainment industry as a juvenile actor on “The New Mickey Mouse Club” on the Disney Channel in the late 1980s. He was in the limelight alongside pop superstars Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears during the decade of the 1990s, both of whom went on to have significant careers.
Justin Timberlake at the 1998 Billboard Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 6, 1998, in Las Vegas, Nevada | Source: Getty Images
In addition to his creative endeavors, Justin has also launched multiple businesses. In 2011, he made a modest investment in Specific Media, the company that would later purchase Myspace. As a creative consultant for the company, he was key to helping Myspace transform.
Today, Justin is a devoted son, a responsible adult, and a man deeply concerned about his ailing stepfather’s health. The star himself tells the inside narrative of the star’s life, from growing up to adulthood.
A ‘Messed Up’ Childhood
Justin spent his childhood in Shelby Forest, a small community near Memphis. His father, Randall, was the choir director at the local Baptist church when Justin was growing up. His mother, Lynn, is a caring and encouraging parent; for him to realize his ambition, she took him to every audition.
Justin has wanted to work in the entertainment industry since childhood. Even though his parents had split up in 1985, they helped him throughout his creative career.
Justin’s mother promised to go with him to every audition and be there for him no matter what. She did warn him, though, that she would stop helping him if he ever stopped being excited about performing on stage.
Through his rise to prominence, Justin ultimately nurtured a fiery desire to achieve the highest possible level. After becoming a member of *NSYNC, he improved his performance even further.
Due to his experience in athletics, he was aware of the significance of being well-prepared despite being the group’s youngest member. The band would perform “quick outs,” in which they would rapidly exit a concert venue and travel to the next city to guarantee that they gave their best performance possible.
While moving, Justin would review an audio or video recording of their performance and make detailed notes about how they could progress. After that, he would discuss his observations with the lighting crew as well as the other members of the band.
Justin has said that when he thinks back to those times, he was a perfectionist who took his work very seriously. He also took great pride in his work. He does not let his present level of fame affect his humility.
In contrast to many other well-known people, the acclaimed performer does not like to talk about his financial situation. On the other hand, he attributed his achievement to having “good parenting” when questioned about it.
Justin Timberlake poses for a portrait for the television show “The Mickey Mouse Club” on September 9, 1993, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Paul, Justin’s stepfather, worked in the banking industry, which is where Justin gained his understanding of smart financial practices. Even though he was already famous when he was a teenager, his mother’s words continued to influence him substantially.
According to Justin, Lynn instilled in him the importance of maintaining humility and respect for others regardless of his level of achievement. This advice has stayed with him, and he tries to practice it every day.
Even though Justin has made it a daily habit to be responsible with his money and keep his humility, he has said that being a child star has its downsides:
“We can all agree that I did not have a normal childhood.”
He had already achieved stardom by the time he was 14 years old, which kept him from having a typical childhood. His parents did everything they could to help him achieve his goal of becoming one, and his mother followed him to each interview she could find for him.
Justin Timberlake performed on stage with his band *NSYNC in 1997 in Munich, Germany. | Source: Getty Images
He remembered being on a tour bus in Germany after a festival concert when he was around 15 or 16 years old and seeing a group of excited girls following the bus outside the window. He believed they were in Germany. It shifted his view of what it meant to be a teen idol.
Because he is now the father of his two sons, Silas and Phineas, so he is aware of his exceptional upbringing. Even though he claimed to have had a difficult childhood, he has grown thankful for all his positive and negative experiences, including the “childhood traumas” he endured.
Justin knows that he has a lot to be thankful for because of how hard his parents worked despite the problems they faced. Even though he is renowned and is married to the actress Jessica Biel, he is adamant about keeping their sons out of the limelight.
Justin Timberlake and his mother, Lynn Harless, attend the 19th Annual MTV Video Music Awards after-party hosted by Guy Oseary at Cipriani’s on August 29, 2002, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Back in 2017, he stated that he would be the “good guy” and would be willing to be a sounding board and offer advice on how to avoid common pitfalls if Silas decided to pursue a profession in the entertainment sector. He said that if Silas decided to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, he would be the “good guy.”
Although Justin defines himself as a singer, actor, and father and depends entirely on his instincts when making decisions about his future, he is well aware that these are the only skills he possesses and takes pride in the fact that he has been able to nurture them. He added
“I’m mostly glad this is all working out because I can’t do anything else. I’m not gifted at anything else.”
Justin: A Loving and Loyal Son
Justin keeps a very strong connection with his mother, even though he now has a family. He is fully aware of the significant role that his mother has played in helping him reach this point of achievement in his life.
In an interview with Rolling Stone from 2003, Justin discussed his strong relationship with his mother. According to what he shared with the media source, “We have a very special relationship” “She’s been my best friend since I figured out who I wanted to be. “She’s great and such a fun woman.”
Justin Timberlake and his mother Lynn Harless attend the 46th Annual Grammy Awards on February 8, 2004, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
He also acknowledged that the presence of his mother made it difficult for him to find a girlfriend because he believed that no one could live up to the standard she set. To his good fortune, he was introduced to Jessica, to whom he has been married since 2010.
In 2015, to honor Lynn on her birthday, Justin posted an old picture to Instagram of the two of them having fun at the beach when they were young. He paid her a touching tribute in which he referred to her as his “first companion in crime” and the “queen of the house.”
In addition, Justin expressed his respect and gratitude to the couple while stating that they had overcome many obstacles. He emphasized that his mother is the reason for his past, present, and future achievements and that his affection for her is beyond words.
The close bond shared by the mother and son is also reflected in where they have chosen to live; Justin chose to settle down close to where his mother resides. In Tennessee’s Williamson County, the settlement of Leiper’s Fork was the location of the 126.63-acre property he bought for $4 million.
Justin was the buyer of the property previously owned by Aubrey Preston, who is well-known for his charitable and preservationist efforts. The music superstar only purchased a small portion of Preston’s 244-acre lot in the same general region when he purchased his land.
The expansive property is close to Lynn and her husband’s current home. The mother and stepfather of Justin both currently reside in Brentwood, where they have a home valued at $2.83 million and 10,000 square feet of living space.
When Justin isn’t at his dad’s house, he takes his mom to dinner. After receiving an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music in 2019, he and Lynn went to a celebratory supper in New York City to celebrate the occasion.
Justin Timberlake and his mother, Lynn Harless, arrive at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the fact that Jessica and Silas, their only child at the time, were not present for the holiday dinner, the family came together on Mother’s Day that year to honor Jessica. On social media, Jessica expressed her appreciation to both her mother and her husband’s mother.
In addition to showering his mother with loving acts, Justin held her in high regard for the remarkable fortitude she displayed in her role as a partner to his stepfather, who in 2016 was diagnosed with dementia.
Paul’s diagnosis significantly affected Justin because he felt he was losing his partner. Lynn revealed that the pop singer had been keeping a close eye on the condition of his stepfather, and he added:
Lynn Harless, Justin Timberlake, and Jessica Biel attend the ceremony honoring *NSYNC with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 30, 2018, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
“It was so difficult for Justin to watch. It’s been heartbreaking.”
In 2022, Lynn disclosed that she had been going through a difficult time after her husband’s death and missed the intimacy she had shared with him through conversation and physical contact. As a result of Paul’s condition, most people are at a loss for how to engage with him, which makes the situation even more lonely.
Justin Timberlake and his mother, Lynn Harless, attended the Rex Cinema & Bar Launch Party in Central London, England, in 2003. | Source: Getty Images
Lynn said that, despite their situation, she takes advantage of every chance to care for her husband, who doesn’t talk much but is aware of his surroundings.
Before Paul’s diagnosis, Lynn knew there was a history of brain disease in Paul’s family. She was aware of some of the earlier symptoms of his condition, such as forgetfulness and a sensation of being disoriented.
She remembered an incident while they were on a cruise when Paul woke her up in the middle of the night and asked her when they would return to the boat. As a result, they visited a physician, who confirmed that Paul was indeed suffering from a medical condition.
Lynn endured cryotherapy, modified his diet, and used liquid crystal amethyst therapy in an effort to be of assistance to Paul. The assistance of an “energy healer” was also sought out by her family, which was met with favorable outcomes.
Lynn asserted that Paul had returned to his normal and loving state when he awoke the following day, making sweet gestures toward her. Paul’s doctor had observed improvements in his memory and communication since the previous day.
Even though Paul experiences recurrent bouts of sickness, his loved ones continue to adopt a “cautiously optimistic” perspective, and he remains under his doctor’s supervision as he undergoes medical treatment.
Finding a Balance Between Popularity & Safety
After welcoming their first child, Silas Timberlake, in 2015, Justin and Jessica welcomed their second child, Phineas Timberlake, in 2020, when they secretly gave birth to their son during the pandemic. Justin became a father for the second time.
The celebrated performer acknowledges that being a parent has presented him with some challenges, but he also takes great joy in his role as a parent. Silas had to endure the exhaustion of sleepless nights and the not-so-fun chore of changing diapers when he was born. He also had to deal with caring for his newborn son.
Jessica revealed that her husband takes a very active role in fostering their child and makes every effort to provide for his needs. Justin pointed out that both parents must work together to be good parents, even though she appreciates his efforts.
In the middle of the pandemic, it seemed like the birth of Phineas would be a blessing for the couple because they could enjoy their second pregnancy without any trouble while living quietly in their Montana home.
In an interview for the podcast “Armchair Expert” in 2021 with host, actor, and comedian Dax Shepard, Justin discussed his emotions regarding his two children and the significance of protecting their privacy and keeping them safe.
In his interview, Justin opened up about how he and Jessica handled the challenging circumstance of trying to give their children a normal childhood while protecting them from the public’s judgment. He said:
“I try to be conscious of making sure we can live a life where we’re not weirdly private, but we’re conscious of making sure they can be kids for as long as possible…”
Justin Timberlake and his wife, actress Jessica Biel, attend the premiere of Electric Entertainment’s “The Book of Love” at The Grove on January 10, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
In addition, Justin was concerned that his kids might have difficulty making real friendships with other children their age and that they might be treated differently than other children merely because their parents had different jobs.
One of the lessons that Justin hopes to instill in his kids is that the value of who they are as people is independent of how interesting and enjoyable their jobs are. He is of the opinion that the significance of this message will only increase as they get older.
The journey that Justin took from his childhood to fame and eventually becoming a father illustrates the significance of having strong support from one’s family, persevering through hard work, and staying true to one’s own unique identity.
Justin, a man dedicated to his family and a successful entertainer, places a high value on the lessons he learned from his mother, including the importance of remaining respectful and humble. He wishes to instill these two values in his children.
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