Justin Timberlake mourns the loss of his longtime backing vocalist and Tennessee Kids member Nicole Hurst, who died on August 4 in Houston, Texas.
On Friday August 6, the “Man of the Woods” singer shared a heartbreaking Instagram post dedicated to the Houston native, 39.
Timberlake has shared photos and videos of their time together over the years, revealing how they have often called each other ‘brother’ and ‘sister’. A clip shows Timberlake serenading Hurst with “Happy Birthday” to celebrate his special day.
“My heart is so heavy. We lost a beautiful soul this week. Nicole lit up every room she entered. On and off the stage, she was a constant source of joy and positivity,” Timberlake wrote. .
He noted that he was “blessed” to spend time with her and to experience her “infectious smile and love for a life filled with music”.
“Nicole, it’s not enough to say that I will miss you very much. Thank you for your light. I will do my best to take it with me. I love you, my sister. A family forever and forever a TN Kid. ”He concluded.
Hurst has played at the Super Bowl, White House, Grammys, Saturday Night Live, and the Academy Awards before. She has worked with artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys and Janet Jackson, among many other stars.
In 2013, Hurst was diagnosed with breast cancer while rehearsing for the Timberlake tour with Jay-Z.
“I think one of my first thoughts was, am I going to die? She told ABC 13 in 2015. “I had four months of chemo followed by my surgery which put me through a mastectomy.”
The cancer initially doubled in size, but Hurst was in remission two years later. Her friend and ABC reporter Samica Knight said Hurst suffered from cancer for a total of eight years.
“She would fly to Houston, go to the @mdandersoncancercenter for chemo and literally fly away to sing on the biggest stages in the world,” Knight said in an Instagram post dedicated to her late friend.
