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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Justin Timberlake performs onstage during the 2026 Recording Academy Honors presented by The Black Music Collective during the 68th GRAMMY Awards on January 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Music NewsThis article was first published by Billboard U.S.
Justin Timberlake Reacts to Justin Bieber Covering ‘Cry Me a River’ at Coachella: ‘I’m Proud of You — And You Should Be Proud of You Too’
Bieber first posted a cover of the song to YouTube in 2008.
18h
It’s a Justin thing.
Justin Timberlake reacted to Justin Bieber covering “Cry Me a River” during his Saturday weekend 2 Coachella headlining set. In a new post to Instagram on Monday (April 20), Timberlake shared an old video of himself meeting a young Bieber.
“I know this has been a long road,” Timberlake writes in his Instagram caption. “And I know it’s not always a smooth ride. I’m proud of you — and you should be proud of you too. Sending love @lilbieber.”
Alongside the vintage clip of the duo meeting, Timberlake also posted a snippet of Bieber’s Saturday performance. In the video, Bieber speaks to the crowd about the song he is about to sing, saying, “You know, I grew up listening to Justin Timberlake and so many other beautiful talents, but I remember this like it was yesterday.”
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Behind the singer, a large screen plays a video of his younger self on guitar singing “Cry Me a River.” The original cover, which is still up online, was posted to Bieber’s YouTube in February 2008 under the title “Cry me a River – Justin Timberlake cover – Justin singing (Justin Bieber).” Bieber debuted with his first single, Billboard Hot 100 hit “One Time,” the next year.
“Guitar was out of tune,” Bieber says before singing a duet with his younger self. The clip Timberlake posted ends with Bieber turning around to face the screen to continue the song before cutting off right before the pre-chorus.
“Cry Me a River” was the second single from Justin Timberlake’s debut solo album Justified. The track peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 and spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart.
There’s a lot of history between the Justins, as Timberlake famously tried to sign a pre-fame Bieber, but the Canadian tween pop star and his manager Scooter Braun ultimately chose to partner with Usher instead.
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Watch Justin Bieber’s full original 2008 cover of “Cry Me a River” below.
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