Justin Timberlake has returned to the stage for the first time since announcing his Lyme disease diagnosis.
The “SexyBack” artist performed alongside the rest of the performer list Thursday night at the Recording Academy Honors, hosted by Black Music Collective, in a special tribute to Pharrell Williams.
“Anyone who comes in contact with or is on the same frequency as Pharrell Williams is forever changed,” Timberlake, 45, said between songs, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“He came into my life when I was starting to enter my life, and the funny thing is, he made me feel like I belonged. Your creativity is unparalleled, your energy is contagious… You changed my life, and I will be forever grateful,” Timberlake continued.
Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at Thursday’s event.
Timberlake took a break from live performances after finishing his Forget Tomorrow tour last July. Shortly after, he revealed that his doctor had diagnosed him with Lyme disease.
“I have been battling some health issues and have been diagnosed with Lyme disease. I won’t say that because you’ll feel sorry for me, but just to shed some light on what I’ve been battling behind the scenes,” he said in a statement shared to Instagram.
The former NSYNC member added that Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by ticks, “can be brutally debilitating, both mentally and physically.”
The diagnosis helped the “shocked” Grammy winner understand “why[he]would be on stage suffering from severe nerve pain or just feeling unusually tired and sick.”
As a result, the “Mirrors” hitmaker was left with a “personal decision” to “quit touring” or “keep touring and work things out.”
He ultimately decided to pursue acting, saying the “joy” his job brought him “far outweighed the momentary stress my body was feeling.”
In the end, he said, “I’m so glad[he]kept going” to prove his “mental tenacity” and share “special moments” with his fans.
