Back in February, I bought Justin Timberlake tickets for my mom, Cynthia, and me as a Valentine’s gift. Since she “endures” my heavy metal shows, I figured I’d thank her by taking her to see JT, who she’s always said, “If he comes here, I want to see him.”
Fast forward to December 10, 2024—concert day. We arrived at Simmons Bank Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas, one of our favorite venues. We got there about 45 minutes before the doors opened, so we waited in “the tunnel,” an accessible entrance leading to the arena’s floor seating. It’s a long hallway that opens into a lobby with various corridors and access to the floor. While we waited, we had an unexpectedly wholesome conversation with a paralyzed woman in a motorized wheelchair like mine and her able-bodied friend.
She was newly paralyzed (less than three years) and still adjusting to life in a wheelchair. We chatted about features on our chairs, different vendors, and swapped funny-but-not-funny wheelchair “accident” stories. It might not sound exciting to others, but it was oddly comforting to talk to someone who gets it. I rarely meet people in similar situations, so this was special.
When the doors opened, we said our goodbyes and “have a great time” before heading to our seats. Or so I thought. When we got to the floor and showed security our tickets, I realized I’d read the seating map wrong. I’d pictured us in the front row on the left side of the stage, but we were actually in the back right-hand side, near the smaller stage. Worse, the row of seats was a connected bench of folding chairs, which didn’t work since I needed space for my wheelchair (the width of two chairs).
Thankfully, the venue’s local security knows us well, and they went above and beyond. After a quick huddle with event security, they decided to move us behind the last row of seats in the right-hand column, giving me a clear view of the main stage. Considering my map-reading fail, these were great seats, and I’m super grateful for how the security team always takes care of us.
As we waited for the show to start, the arena felt more like a movie theater than a concert. The main stage had a huge screen playing ads—for shoes, candy, and other random stuff. I’m not sure if this is standard at mainstream shows, but it threw me off. I get that advertisers want all those eyes and ears, but it felt out of place.
After an hour, the opener came out. As a metalhead, I’m used to small bands playing for 30-45 minutes, but this was...different. A DJ named Andrew Hypes entered the smaller stage with the flair of a WWE Superstar, accompanied by a “ring girl” holding a championship belt above her head. Odd? Yes. But it worked for him—and the crowd apparently. He started playing a mix of hip-hop tracks, many of which I didn’t know, but it was fun watching everyone dance. He eventually mixed in some widely known songs like Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, Shots by LMFAO, and Bye Bye Bye (yes, by the Backstreet Boys, not N*SYNC).
Watching this crowd was a trip. As a rocker, I’m used to tattooed guys trying too hard to look tough. Here, women were unapologetically singing and dancing to Miley, fully owning their joy. It reminded me of my first rock concert in 2014—discovering a new culture of people and watching them live their best lives. By the end of Hypes’ hour-long set, I was ready for more action than a guy at a DJ table hyping the crowd, but it was still fun.
Then it was time for the man of the night: Justin Timberlake. The lights dimmed, the music started, and JT rose from beneath the stage. The crowd erupted—most of them his age or older, knowing every word to every song. I’m not super familiar with his music, but I was blown away by his performance. The guy can dance. His choreography with the backup dancers was like a well-oiled machine, combining Dancing with the Stars-level moves and live singing.
Backing him up was his band, the Tennessee Kids, who were phenomenal. Alongside the usual guitars and drums, they had a brass section with a saxophone, trumpet, and tuba. The sax player stole the show for me, but every musician and backup singer was incredible. One female vocalist had a voice like Aretha Franklin meets Jennifer Hudson—just wow.
Throughout the show, JT interacted with the crowd in ways that felt genuine and heartfelt. Early on, he noticed a little girl and her mom holding up two signs—one asking him to sign a tiny shoe and the other asking for a selfie. He paused the show, asked the girl her name and age (she was seven), and fulfilled both requests. The mom, who was clearly a longtime fan, looked even more excited than her daughter. It was such a wholesome moment.
Later, he spotted another fan dressed as him from the infamous D*ck in a Box SNL skit—complete with a Santa hat and a gift box attached to their pants. If you haven’t seen the skit, it’s a hilarious and irreverent Christmas song where Justin and Andy Samberg sing about the “perfect gift” for their ladies: the “package” between their legs. It’s a classic—look it up on YouTube if you haven’t seen it. JT noticed this fan, laughed, and asked for a selfie with them. I’m pretty sure that made their day, if not their entire year.
As the night went on, the energy stayed electric. The visuals, lights, music, and choreography were next-level. Justin eventually moved to the smaller stage, where VIP ticket holders got the chance to stand right next to him, reaching out their hands and phones in hopes of a selfie or high-five. Watching their reactions as he interacted with them was pure joy—you could feel how much this meant to his fans.
Toward the end, Justin gave a heartfelt speech about growing up alongside his fans. He talked about seeing familiar faces at his shows over the years and even pointed out a couple who had gotten engaged at one of his concerts five years ago. With him being in NSYNC, I can see how fans back then grew up, started their families, and who are now see him as a successful solo artist with their kids. It’s sweet, and that’s the magic I love about music—the way it brings people together and stays with them through life’s stages.
After the show, we headed to the car, passing a group of girls. One squealed, “He touched my hand!!” I’m sure that’s now a core memory for her. She might never wash that hand again.
All in all, it was a unique and fun concert. It wasn’t a metal show, but it was unforgettable in its own way. If you get the chance, I’d recommend seeing Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids.
Wow! Ashley- felt like I was at the show with you. Love your insight and synopsis. Great job!