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Justin Timberlake Pays Tribute To Prince At Super Bowl Halftime Show

No N'Sync, No Janet Jackson... but Prince did get a shout out.
Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images

Fourteen years after his infamous halftime performance, Justin Timberlake delivered a much tamershow at Super Bowl LII on Sunday night in Minnesota.

With the Eagles leading the Patriots 22-12 going into the second half, Timberlake's friend, Jimmy Fallon, introduced the singer.

The 37-year-old kicked off the performance by singing his new single "Filthy," which was accompanied with a trippy light show. He then sang a classic hit, "Rock Your Body," which was the same song he sang with Janet Jackson at the 2004 Super Bowl. Timberlake didn't bring Jackson out to sing.

Justin Timberlake paid tribute to Prince at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Mike Ehrmann via Getty Images
Justin Timberlake paid tribute to Prince at the Super Bowl halftime show.

Timberlake then got the crowd riled up as he began singing and dancing to "SexyBack." He later played "Cry Me A River" before the singer and his dancers broke it down in a dance number on the field. The 37-year-old sang "Suit and Tie" while accompanied by a band, before playing "Until the End of Time" on the piano.

Timberlake then dedicated a song to Minneapolis, playing "I Would Die 4 U" while a projection of Prince played ― not quite the rumored hologram that caused trouble prior to the show.

After the Prince tribute, Timberlake singing "Mirrors" while fans and background singers flashed mirrors around the stage, before eventually ending on "Can't Stop The Feeling."

Timberlake, who is the only person to perform at the halftime show a record three times, is best remembered for his infamous 2004 Super Bowl performance. The singer, who was a few years into his solo career, brought Janet Jackson onstage to perform "Rock Your Body."

After singing the lyrics "I bet I'll have you naked by the end of this song," he ripped off Jackson's corset and her bra as well, exposing Jackson's bare breast to over 90 million people in a moment later remembered as "nipplegate."

Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake perform at Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004.
JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake perform at Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004.

Jackson and Timberlake both reportedly agreed on the final costume reveal, though removing her bra was accidental. However, Timberlake escaped the episode unscathed and went on to have a successful solo career. Jackson's career suffered after MTV said the star "engineered" the event and she was reportedly blackballed from major TV networks and the Grammys.

Many hoped Timberlake would bring Jackson back to the stage on Sunday, especially since even he admits he only got a small percentage of the blame for Nipplegate. Jackson denied they were reuniting via messages on her social media accounts posted the day before the Super Bowl.

"To put to rest any speculation or rumors as to whether I will be performing at the Super Bowl tomorrow; I will not," she said. "Thank you for your support and I do look forward to seeing you all very soon."

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