"This is a fantastic opportunity, we are very happy and excited that Justin Timberlake will perform his new song together with his band in our show. It makes it extra special that the Swedish songwriters Max Martin and Shellback have co-written and co-produced the song together with Justin Timberlake", Show Producer of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, Sven Stojanovic said.
"We are proud to welcome one of the world’s greatest artists! It is an honour and an inspiration to all of us", says Martin Österdahl, Executive Producer for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.
The Grammy and Emmy winning singer and actor Justin Timberlake is best known for hits like Cry Me a River, SexyBack and Mirrors and he has starred in movies like The Social Network, Bad Teacher and Friends with Benefits.
Now he will perform his single 'Can't Stop the Feeling' as an interval act in the Grand Final, airing live on SBS at 5am Sunday May 15th and again at 730pm Sunday night.
It's not the first time a non-contestant has performed at the song contest- Australia's own Jessica Mauboy helped pave the way in 2014, performing her song 'Sea of Flags' at half time, before Australia was then invited back to compete in 2015 and again this year.
Timberlake's performance also coincides with the first time that the contest will be live broadcast to the United States, no doubt extending the reach of the contest further and further.
SBS has also secured an exclusive option to develop the Song Contest concept in the Asia Pacific, so could this be the start of Eurovision going global? We'll have to wait and see!
