Justin Timberlake Pays Tribute to Late Backup Singer Nicole Hurst Through Heartfelt Move
ustin Timberlake has a special way to honor his late backup singer, Nicole Hurst.
Timberlake lost his backup singer, who he considered his sister, in 2021 at the age of 39. He and the late singer notably worked together in several shows and performances, at the Super Bowl 52 halftime show in 2018.
They also notably played together in Timberlake's Tennessee Kids band.
Nearly two years after Hurst's death, the pop star launched a heartfelt move to honor her and continue her legacy.
Justin Timberlake Honors Nicole Hurst Over a Year After Her Death
On Wednesday, the former *NSYNC member formally announced the Nicole Hurst Scholarship.
He shared the news through an Instagram post, telling his followers that the program would select two music students to study at the 1500 Sound Academy in Inglewood, California, and Taipei, Taiwan.
Timberlake made it more special by naming the scholarship after Hurst.
"In honor of one of our Tennessee Kids, a woman who LIVED and LOVED music, and one of the greatest voices and smiles the world has ever heard and seen - we're so excited to announce the NICOLE HURST SCHOLARSHIP, which will be supporting young creatives with 2 scholarships," he wrote in the caption.
Interested applicants may join through the link on Timberlake's Instagram bio. He also confirmed that the application would start on April 26. The selected students will be named on May 13.
In the video announcement, Timberlake appeared alongside Larrance "Rance" Dopson and James Fauntleroy. The musicians lead the 1500 Sound Academy with True Family Enterprises co-founder, Twila True.
Justin Timberlake Hurt After Losing Nicole Hurst
Timberlake has been open about his love for his "sister" Nicole Hurst even after her death.
Following the announcement of her passing, Timberlake took his time to recall the memories he shared with her and posted videos of them together.
Aside from being Timberlake's backup singer, Hurst also notably sang with Kelly Clarkson.
She told ABC 13 Houston in 2015 that she was diagnosed with Stage 2 triple-positive breast cancer in July 2013 ahead of her Legends of the Summer Stadium Tour with Timberlake and JAY-Z.
It immediately escalated to stage 3 but went on remission in 2015.
Hurst revealed that her breast cancer came back in 2019 and that it had since spread to her brain.
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