Justin Timberlake is having the best weekend ever. Why the best? Well, he was just inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. And, as his speech from Saturday night (below) will explain, he loves a good excuse to visit his hometown, especially if it involves being lauded as one of the most influential musical artists in the world (let alone Memphis).
Jimmy Fallon introduced his BFF Timberlake, a.k.a Memphis’s youngest inductee yet, naturally working in some Trump impersonations along the way. The singer was ultimately praised for his multifaceted and leggy career, which has already taken him to the arenas of music, dance, drama, and comedy. “This is the fucking coolest thing that has ever happened to me,” Timberlake said of the honor, noting that he hopes he “can continue to return the favor [to Memphis and his peers] for as long as I live and breathe.”
Here’s the full induction and speech, which includes lots of home pride, as well as nods to his family and fellow Hall of Famers (he tears up — not river status, but he’s definitely semi-emotional — near the end):
He also did perform a little, covering Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” and giving a brief whistling masterclass, with Sam Moore, of Sam & Dave:
Alberta Hunter, Al Jackson, Jr., Memphis Slim, Scotty Moore, Charlie Rich, and Sam & Dave received Hall of Fame honors alongside Timberlake at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. For more on the HOF, head here.
