Justin Timberlake On Leaving N'Sync: I Felt Like I Cared More About The Music Than The Others

It comes as a national progression for boy bands to disband or go their separate ways. In the case of Justin Timberlake's departure from N'Sync, it just became a given that the former Mouseketeer would want to chart a path for himself in the entertainment industry.

Only recently has Timberlake revealed the real reason for leaving the group at the height of the boy band's success. Many have attributed his departure to his potential as a solo star given the youngest N'Sync member's popularity at the time.

In an earlier interview with ET, Timberlake said that it was Michael Jackson who inspired him to go solo when the King of Pop reached out to him after hearing the song "Gone" and invited him to record a duet version. Timberlake said that this gave him confidence in his ability as a singer and as a songwriter to venture out on his own.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Timberlake admitted that when he decided to leave N'Sync in 2002, he felt like he was on a different page with the other band members in terms of future plans.

"I felt like I cared more about the music than some of the other people in the group. I felt like I had other music I wanted to make and that I needed to follow my heart," he said.

Since starting his solo career, Timberlake has continued to prove himself to be a force to be reckoned with in terms of music and acting. He has released successful solo albums, gone on tour, set the charts on fire and even made a name for himself by starring in movies like "The Social Network", "Runner Runner", "In Time" and most recently a yet untitled Woody Allen movie with a 2017 release date.

For the first time, Timberlake has also found himself nominated for an Oscar for the upbeat single "Can't Stop the Feeling," which was used in the animated movie "Trolls". He admitted that the song is special not just because it got him an Oscar nod but because it was a song he wrote for his two-year-old son Silas.

One thing's for sure, though. Justin Timberlake is still continuing to reinvent himself and expanding his horizons 15 years after he left N'Sync, taking in stride being a family man along with being a recording artist, producer, performer, songwriter, and actor.