Justin Timberlake posts heartfelt throwback video with Justin Bieber after Coachella set

The video captured a brief exchange between Justin Timberlake and Justin Bieber before they posed together for a photo
During his Coachella headlining set on April 18, Justin Bieber played a pre-fame clip of himself covering Justin Timberlake’s 'Cry Me a River' (Screengrab/@justintimberlake/Instagram, Getty Images)
During his Coachella headlining set on April 18, Justin Bieber played a pre-fame clip of himself covering Justin Timberlake’s 'Cry Me a River' (Screengrab/@justintimberlake/Instagram, Getty Images)

INDIO, CALIFORNIA: Singer and actor Justin Timberlake recently shared a heartfelt moment on Monday, April 20, involving Justin Bieber, revisiting their long-standing connection after his performance at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

The gesture came in response to a nostalgic tribute Bieber included during his set. Through a throwback video and message, he reflected on Bieber’s journey in the music industry, offering a glimpse into their shared history and mutual respect.

Justin Timberlake reflects on Justin Bieber’s journey following his Coachella performance

Following his performance on Weekend 2, Timberlake took to Instagram to share a throwback video featuring a younger Bieber. In the video, the person behind the camera captures a brief interaction between them before the two pose together for a photo.

Bieber’s former longtime manager, Scooter Braun and Timberlake’s wife, Jessica Biel, are also present in the room. The post was paired with footage from his recent performance, where he covered Timberlake’s song 'Cry Me a River.'

In response, Timberlake acknowledged Bieber’s journey, captioning the post, "I know this has been a long road. And I know it’s not always a smooth ride. I’m proud of you - and you should be proud of you too."

Justin Beiber
Justin Bieber performs at the Coachella Stage during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 11, 2026 in Indio, California (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)

During his set, Bieber played a nostalgic video of himself from before he became famous, singing the same track. He then said, "I grew up listening to Justin Timberlake and so many other beautiful talents but I remember this like it was yesterday," as the crowd cheered.

Then, he noted that the guitar was "out of tune", but he sang along with his younger self, creating a full-circle moment linking his early career to his present-day performance. The two artists have maintained a public association over time, though they have never officially released a collaboration.

In 2021, DJ Khaled revealed that he had missed a FaceTime call from Timberlake and Bieber, sharing screenshots of it on social media. He later said he was in the process of mixing their vocals, but the song was never released. 

Justin Bieber performs at the Coachella Stage during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 18, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
Justin Bieber performs at the Coachella Stage during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 18, 2026 in Indio, California (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)

Justin Bieber’s notable moments from Coachella set

Bieber’s Coachella performance featured several memorable elements, including surprise appearances by multiple artists. Among those who joined him on stage were Billie Eilish, SZA, Sexyy Red, and Big Sean, contributing to a dynamic and widely discussed set.

One of the standout moments included him serenading Eilish during a performance of his song 'One Less Lonely Girl,' a long-standing tradition in which a fan is brought on stage during his performance of the 2009 hit. Eilish also shared her emotional reaction on Instagram Stories.

Posting a bleary-eyed selfie taken while lying down and showing only the upper half of her face, she wrote, “Can’t stop crying.”

(Screengrab/MaggieBaird/Instagram)
Justin Bieber invited Billie Eilish on stage to join him for the song 'One Less Lonely Girl' during his performance (Screengrab/maggiebaird/Instagram)

He also performed a duet with SZA on her track 'Snooze,' a song they had previously performed together last year at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium during her co-headlining tour with Kendrick Lamar. He closed out Coachella weekend 2 with a retrospective of his pair of 'Swag' albums, which made up most of the set.

Though Bieber capped off two Coachella headlining performances, rumors have been circulating that he may be preparing for a tour, with fans noting that his website was recently updated with a message stating that any new concert dates will be emailed to subscribers.

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