How Justin Timberlake Saved the Grammys

Forget four minutes to save the world, last night, as Grammy producers scrambled to salvage their lineup when Rihanna and Chris Brown both suddenly pulled a no show (thanks to Chris pulling an Ike Turner), it was Justin Timberlake who stepped in and rescued them with just an hour to save the Grammys.

According to the show’s producer, Jack Sussman, during the final dress rehearsal before the show went live, word came in that both acts would be missing, leaving a two-performance void.

JT came over to him and said, “What can I do to help you?”

How freakin’ cool is that?

They asked who he wanted to work with and he choose Al Green (who was in the bathtub in his hotel room getting ready for the show when the call came in that they needed his assistance), they then saw Boyz II Men who offered to sing backup (love it) and Keith Urban walked by and was asked to jump in on guitar. With an hour and fifteen minutes to go, they threw the performance together and rehearsed it only one and a half times.

Now that is true talent at work.

When in dire straits, leave it to Justin Timberlake to put up a W.

 —Sasha Perl-Raver