Justin Goes to Bat for ESPN

Pop star will serve as host of 16th Annual ESPY Awards July 20

By Sarah Hall Mar 26, 2008 8:33 PMTags

Justin Timberlake is bringing sporty back.

The pop star has been tapped to host the 2008 ESPY Awards, slated to take place July 20 at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.  

The annual awards, presented by ESPN, celebrate the best and brightest sporting moments of the year as decided by fans, who can vote for their favorites online at espys.tv beginning July 1.

"I'm very excited to be hosting the 16th edition of the ESPYs. I can't wait for the day of the show as I'm truly a sports junkie," Timberlake said in a statement.

"Since the last ESPYs, there have been amazing moments in sports, and I'm looking forward to recapping all of them with ESPN's diehard fans."

The hosting gig won't be Timberlake's first. Last year, he presided over the 20th annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, where he was named Favorite Male Singer (and subsequently doused with a healthy dose of slime). The singer is up for the same honor at this year's Kids' Choice Awards, taking place Saturday.

Up ahead, Timberlake stars opposite Mike Myers and Jessica Alba in The Love Guru, opening June 20.