Top moments from the Justin Timberlake Forget Tomorrow tour in Knoxville

On By Littum

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Justin Timberlake made fans remember the past and enjoy the present during his “Forget Tomorrow” world tour stop in Knoxville on Nov. 19. The concert turned into a two-hour party celebrating his longtime fans and the state that raised the superstar.

“It’s so good to be back in Tennessee!” the Memphis native told the Thompson-Boling Arena in the Food City Center crowd while wearing a Tennessee orange shirt. “You know what we call ourselves? We’re JT and the Tennessee Kids,” he said, introducing his band.

In their 1990s and 00s era Justin Timberlake and NSYNC T-shirts, fans sang and danced to “Rock Your Body,” “My Love” and “Mirrors,” as well as songs from Timberlake’s 2024 album “Everything I Thought” It was .”

In case you missed the show, here were some of our favorite moments.

Justin Timberlake proves he’s still got it

“Oh my God! This is incredible,” said one excited fan a few hours before Timberlake even took the stage. “I think he’s one of the greatest artists of our time,” she continued.

Her fandom was probably only confirmed when the singer said “Thank you Knoxville! I love you so much!” as he floated backstage in mid-air on top of a large LED screen to end the show.

Timberlake accompanied his dancers step by step while maintaining flawless vocals, including the high falsettos he’s known for, as he sang 30 songs. The 43-year-old took no breaks offstage, only sipping water during the two-hour show and kept the audience hyped the entire time. He also played keyboards and guitar on a few songs.

The gospel-funk number “Sanctified” and the recurring “SexyBack” were standout moments. And stripped-down performances of “Say Something,” “Pusher Love Girl” and “Until the End of Time” on the B stage featured some of Timberlake’s best vocals of the night.

Several fans noted as they left the Food City Center how the pop star is still as fresh as he was during his boy band days.

Tennessee Kids shine

Timberlake’s band, The Tennessee Kids, along with his backup dancers and background singers were also highlights of the night. Each had their spotlight moments. The backup singers especially stole the show during “My Love” when they shared solo moments with Timberlake.

A Tennessee boy’s dreams come true

Timberlake was full of pride as he was returned to Knoxville and his home state. And he wore a Tennessee orange shirt throughout the concert.

“Sometimes I can’t find words other than to say it’s because of this condition and the support I felt I got and because of all of you who just keep coming back every time I coming back,” he said of the B. -Stage, acknowledging where his journey to superstardom first began.

“You are such a special part of my life and there is no other way to say it than you made a Tennessee boy’s dreams come true,” he continued.

Also in the Knoxville audience were his mother and cousin, who provided happy University of Tennessee at Knoxville memories for the singer.

“Well, we’re at the greatest university in the world! I spent some time here, you know? A long, long, long time ago. My cousin is here tonight. She used to sneak me into the college dorm room,” he half joked.

JT and the Tennessee Kids Perform ‘Rocky Top’

Timberlake voiced support for the Vols football team, whose ranking has dropped to No. 11 after losing to Georgia last week.

“It’s not over. It’s not over, honey. In fact, I’m calling Heupel tomorrow. ‘Put me in coach!’ Timberlake joked He went on to perform a hip-hop and R&B infused version of “Rocky Top.”

Later in the show, the singer paid tribute to the late legendary Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt. “Are we in the house that Pat Summitt built tonight or what?” he asked the crowd, which responded by filling Thompson-Boling Arena with cheers.

Justin Timberlake helps a fan (and a man)

One of the funniest moments of the night came when Timberlake read a fan sign asking for a selfie that would also make her husband very happy.

“I have so many jokes I want to make right now,” Timberlake said. “You’re going to be a part of this selfie, but hopefully not a part of what happens after this selfie,” he told the crowd.

“I have to give you points for originality. It was incredible,” he told the pair after taking the selfie.

A millennium party

There are no opening acts on the “Forget Tomorrow” tour. Instead, DJ Andrew Hypes serves as tour DJ and hype man. His hour-long set turned the Food City Center into a millennials-only club with songs from NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, TLC, Tupac and other popular artists from the 1970s to the early 2000s.

This nostalgia is a theme of the tour. “Something keeps washing over me on this tour, and it’s that there are so many of us in this room that I feel like we’ve all grown up together,” Timberlake said during the concert.

From the moment Hypes played their first song until Timberlake left the stage, the party never stopped.

The grand way to end a party

The tour stage was small and simple at first glance, but it came alive during the show due to the energetic dancing, moving horn section and the large LED screen along the back of the stage that displayed various scenes and colorful designs.

Part of the LED screen was a large rectangle that moved up, down, tilted, and could switch from vertical and horizontal positions.

Timberlake’s encore, “Mirrors”, was performed with him standing atop the floating screen high above the stage. It was an epic end to a night of partying and celebrating one of pop music’s greatest artists.

What songs did Justin Timberlake perform in Knoxville?

  1. No angels
  2. Love Stoned
  3. Like I love you
  4. My Love
  5. Rocky Top (Osborne Brothers cover)
  6. Technicolor
  7. Sanctified
  8. Infinity Sex
  9. FutureSex/LoveSound
  10. Fantasy
  11. Drown
  12. Cry Me a River
  13. Let the groove come in
  14. My favorite remedy
  15. Señorita
  16. Summer love
  17. F**kin’ Up The Disco
  18. Game
  19. Suit & tie
  20. Flame
  21. Say something
  22. Pusher Love Girl
  23. Until the end of time
  24. Selfish
  25. What goes around…comes around
  26. Can’t stop the feeling
  27. Good Times (Chic cover)
  28. Rock your body
  29. SexyBack
  30. Mirrors

Devarrick Turner is a trendy news reporter. E-mail [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.

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