Justin Timberlake Reveals Michael Jackson Wanted To Duet On N Sync Song

8 May 2014, 12:15

The singer reveals he almost collaborated with Jackson on 'N Sync's 'Gone'.

Justin Timberlake has revealed that he almost collaborated with Michael Jackson on 'N Sync's 'Gone'.

The 'SexyBack' star revealed Jackson approached him over a decade ago about duetting on the song, which Timberlake had originally penned for him.

"We were having an A&R meeting for the third 'N Sync album at that time," he told Oprah Winfrey's OWN. "And I said, 'Well, I have this other song, but I originally wrote it for Michael.' 

"I originally wrote that song ['Gone'] for Michael Jackson," he explained. "He called me on the phone and said that he wanted to cut the record, but he wanted it to be a duet between himself and I.

"I'm on the phone, I'm literally punching myself in the face, because I said, 'I can't do that. Could we do an 'N Sync featuring Michael Jackson? Or Michael Jackson featuring 'N Sync?'

"And he was very absolute about the fact that he wanted it to be a duet between himself and I."

The star went on to explain that the offer made him consider embarking on his own solo career, saying: "I think it's the first idea I ever got about doing something on my own, because it was the first time I have ever really felt the confidence to do it." 

Timberlake currently features on Jackson's 'Love Never Felt So Good' from his new posthumous album 'Xscape', which is released on May 12.