‘My Dream Was To Have My Own Record'

As multiple Grammy award winner Justin Timberlake turns 40 and gets to grips with being a father-of-two ok! Looks back at the superstar’s career and how he was destined to go solo

- Anna Matheson

From chart-topping albums to blockbuster films, Justin Timberlake has come a long way since his Mickey Mouse Club days. But it was on the children’s variety show that the Tennessee-born singer cut his teeth.

Born on 31 January 1981, Justin’s family was musical, with the star crediting his grandfather for introducing him to the likes of Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. His father was a baptist church choir director and Justin took an interest in gospel before appearing as a contestant on the US television contest Star Search. Then, in 1993, he joined the cast of The All New Mickey Mouse Club as a Mouseketeer.

Justin met future girlfriend Britney Spears on the show, along with other now-famous faces including Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling. JC Chasez was also a regular and the pair went on to be part of boyband NSYNC. As one of the group’s lead singers, Justin’s lyric tenor vocals became as recognisable as his curly blond locks. They had No1 singles around the world including It’s Gonna Be Me and Bye, Bye, Bye.