Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” surged from No. 31 to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 twenty years ago, marking his first solo chart‑topper. (Photo by Kevin Mazur for Live Nation)
When Justin Timberlake began promoting his second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, he had already proven he could succeed on his own. After departing from *NSYNC—the boy band that launched his career—Timberlake released his debut solo effort, Justified, in 2002. The album spawned several major hits, including “Cry Me a River” (peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100), “Rock Your Body” (No. 5), and “Like I Love You,” which nearly reached the top 10 at No. 11.
Despite those successes, Justified lacked a No. 1 single, a milestone Timberlake was determined to achieve. Twenty years ago, “SexyBack”—the lead single from FutureSex/LoveSounds—exploded onto the chart, soaring to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and propelling Timberlake’s solo career to new heights.
“SexyBack” Rocketed to No. 1
“SexyBack” entered the Hot 100 at No. 90 in July 2006. Within weeks it climbed rapidly, and on the chart dated September 9, 2006, it surged from No. 31 to No. 1, selling 250,000 downloads in a single tracking period. Billboard announced the achievement on September 1, 2006, and the track held the top spot for seven consecutive weeks.
The single’s dominance coincided with the release of FutureSex/LoveSounds, which earned critical acclaim and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album’s impact on the Hot 100 was profound, establishing Timberlake as a leading solo force.
*NSYNC Had Already Reached No. 1
Before “SexyBack,” Timberlake had already topped the Hot 100, though under the group name *NSYNC. The boy band’s “It’s Gonna Be Me” became their sole No. 1 in 2000. Other notable singles such as “Music of My Heart” (a collaboration with Gloria Estefan) peaked at No. 2, while “Bye Bye Bye” reached No. 4. Additional hits, including “This I Promise You,” “Girlfriend” (with Nelly), and “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You,” reached Nos. 5, 5, and 8, respectively.
FutureSex/LoveSounds Produced Three No. 1s
“SexyBack” was only the beginning of an impressive streak on the Hot 100. The first three singles from FutureSex/LoveSounds all claimed the top position: “My Love” (featuring T.I.) followed “SexyBack” later in 2006, and “What Goes Around… Comes Around” completed the trifecta in early 2007. Shortly thereafter, Timberlake earned a fourth solo No. 1 with Timbaland’s “Give It to Me,” which also featured Nelly Furtado, bringing his tally of chart‑toppers to four within roughly a year.
Justin Timberlake’s Most Recent No. 1 Arrived in 2016
Nearly a decade passed before Timberlake returned to No. 1. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” recorded for the animated film Trolls, debuted at the summit in May 2016, marking his fifth solo Hot 100 leader. It remains his most recent chart‑topper, and its debut extended his streak of No. 1 debuts to a full decade. In the years since, his chart performance has waned: the album Man of the Woods produced two brief top‑10 entries, while his latest release, Everything I Thought It Was, failed to generate any top‑10 hits. Twenty years after his breakthrough with “SexyBack,” Timberlake’s chart dominance remains a defining chapter of his career.
