Laura Katherine Timberlake is a name that occasionally appears in searches about Justin Timberlake and his family. Unlike her famous half-brother, however, Laura never had a public career or life in the entertainment industry. Her story is connected to Justin Timberlake because she was his younger paternal half-sister and died shortly after her birth in 1997.
Although very little is publicly known about Laura Katherine Timberlake, her name has remained part of the Timberlake family history. Justin later acknowledged her in the thank-you section of *NSYNC’s debut album, referring to her as his sister and remembering her as an angel in heaven.
Because information about Laura is limited, it is important to separate documented facts from claims that have been repeated across entertainment and genealogy websites. Her story is brief, but it is also a private family story that deserves to be presented with care and accuracy.
Who Was Laura Katherine Timberlake?
Laura Katherine Timberlake was the daughter of Charles Randall “Randy” Timberlake and Lisa Perry. She was born in Tennessee in 1997 and died shortly after birth. Family-history records identify her as one of the children of Randy Timberlake and Lisa Perry, alongside Jonathan and Stephen Timberlake. The same records separately identify Justin Timberlake as a child of Randy Timberlake and Janet Lynn Bomar.
That family structure makes Laura Justin Timberlake’s paternal half-sister. They shared the same father but had different mothers.
Justin Timberlake was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 31, 1981. His parents were Charles Randall Timberlake and Janet Lynn Bomar, later known as Lynn Harless. His father’s later marriage to Lisa Perry resulted in additional children, including Laura Katherine.
Laura’s life was extremely short. Sources generally place her birth in May 1997 and her death shortly afterward. A genealogy account gives May 12, 1997, as her birth date, while other online records give slightly different details. Because these records are not equally authoritative, it is better to describe the date as May 1997 unless an original public record can be independently verified.
Laura Katherine Timberlake Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Laura Katherine Timberlake |
| Known for | Being Justin Timberlake’s paternal half-sister |
| Father | Charles Randall “Randy” Timberlake |
| Mother | Lisa Perry |
| Birth year | 1997 |
| Birthplace | Tennessee |
| Relationship to Justin Timberlake | Younger paternal half-sister |
| Life span | Shortly after birth |
| Public career | None |
The available family-history information identifies Laura as a child of Randy Timberlake and Lisa Perry and records her life as 1997–1997.
Laura Katherine Timberlake’s Family Background
To understand Laura’s connection to Justin Timberlake, it helps to look at the Timberlake family structure.
Justin Timberlake was born into a Tennessee family with strong connections to music and church life. His father, Charles Randall Timberlake, was a Baptist church choir director, while Justin’s early musical experiences eventually led him toward television, The All New Mickey Mouse Club, and later NSYNC.
Justin’s parents separated when he was young. His father later married Lisa Perry. Their family included Jonathan Timberlake, Laura Katherine Timberlake, and Stephen Timberlake, according to family-history records.
This means Laura belonged to the same paternal branch of the family as Justin. However, because she died as an infant, there is understandably very little information available about her personality, interests, or everyday life.
Her Father, Randy Timberlake
Charles Randall Timberlake, commonly referred to as Randy Timberlake, was Justin Timberlake’s father. Genealogical records connect him to two family groups: his marriage to Janet Lynn Bomar, with whom he had Justin, and his later family with Lisa Perry, which included Laura.
This relationship is the key to understanding why Laura and Justin are half-siblings rather than full siblings.
Her Mother, Lisa Perry
Laura’s mother was Lisa Perry. Available family-history records identify Lisa Perry as the mother of Laura, Jonathan, and Stephen with Randy Timberlake.
Unlike Justin’s immediate family, Laura’s mother’s side has not received much public attention. There is no substantial public biography of Lisa that would provide a detailed account of Laura’s early life.
For that reason, it is better not to fill gaps in the record with assumptions.
Laura’s Siblings and Half-Siblings
Laura’s family connection is most often discussed because of Justin Timberlake.
She was the younger paternal half-sister of Justin, while Jonathan and Stephen were also children of Randy Timberlake and Lisa Perry. IMDb’s family information for Justin Timberlake lists Laura Katherine, Jonathan Perry Timberlake, and Stephen Robert Timberlake among his half-siblings.
Justin was born in 1981, meaning he was a teenager when Laura was born in 1997.
How Was Laura Katherine Timberlake Related to Justin Timberlake?
Laura Katherine Timberlake was Justin Timberlake’s paternal half-sister.
The relationship is straightforward. Justin and Laura had the same father, Charles Randall “Randy” Timberlake, but different mothers. Justin’s mother was Janet Lynn Bomar, while Laura’s mother was Lisa Perry.
This point is worth explaining because some websites have incorrectly or loosely described Laura as Justin’s sister without specifying that they were half-siblings. Others have repeated an inaccurate idea that Laura was Justin’s twin.
She was not his twin.
Justin Timberlake was born in January 1981, while Laura was born in 1997. The difference between their birth years alone makes the twin claim impossible. Genealogy sources and biographical references consistently place Laura in the younger generation of Justin’s father’s family.
What Happened to Laura Katherine Timberlake?
Laura Katherine Timberlake died shortly after she was born in 1997.
Available sources generally report that she lived for only a very short period. Some sources give May 12, 1997, as her birth date and May 14, 1997, as her death date. Other genealogy records contain different date combinations, which is why exact dates should be treated carefully when they cannot be checked against an original birth or death certificate.
Several secondary sources describe complications following birth as the reason for her death. However, because the strongest publicly accessible evidence is limited, it is better not to add medical details that cannot be independently confirmed.
What can be stated with reasonable confidence is that Laura was born in 1997 and died shortly afterward.
She was an infant, not a public figure, and there is no evidence of a career, public activities, or independent public identity.
How Did Justin Timberlake Remember Laura Katherine?
One of the most important publicly documented references to Laura appears in Justin Timberlake’s acknowledgments for NSYNC‘s self-titled debut album.
The American edition of NSYNC was released in 1998. In Justin’s personal thank-you section, he included a dedication to Laura Katherine. A surviving online transcription of the album’s acknowledgments records him referring to her as his “angel in heaven” and his sister, Laura Katherine.
This brief acknowledgment is significant because it provides a direct connection between Laura and Justin rather than relying only on genealogy websites.
It also explains why Laura’s name became known to fans.
Justin was already a member of NSYNC by the time the album was released. The group had formed in the mid-1990s and began performing in Europe before becoming a major pop act in the United States. The group’s American debut arrived in 1998, about a year after Laura’s death.
For people discovering Justin’s biography years later, the dedication offers a small glimpse into his family life during his teenage years.
Laura Katherine Timberlake and the Early Years of Justin Timberlake’s Career
The timing of Laura’s birth is particularly notable because Justin Timberlake was already pursuing music professionally.
Justin had appeared on Star Search as a child and later became a cast member of The All New Mickey Mouse Club. He eventually worked with JC Chasez and became one of the lead singers of NSYNC.
By 1997, Justin was 16 years old and involved in the early stages of NSYNC’s rise.
Laura was born during this period and died shortly afterward.
It would be inappropriate to make broad claims about how her death changed Justin’s career without direct evidence. There are online articles that describe the loss as a major influence on his life, but the publicly available record does not provide enough detailed statements from Justin to establish exactly how the event affected his music, career decisions, or personal development.
What is documented is simpler: Justin remembered Laura publicly in the acknowledgments of NSYNC‘s debut album.
Sometimes a short dedication can tell us more than a long speculative story.
Where Does Laura Katherine Timberlake Appear in Public Records?
Because Laura was not a public figure, information about her comes primarily from family-history records and references connected to Justin Timberlake.
One genealogy record identifies Charles Randall Timberlake’s children with Lisa Perry as Jonathan, Stephen, and Laura Katherine, with Laura listed as born and deceased in 1997. The same record identifies Justin as a child from Randy’s earlier relationship with Janet Lynn Bomar.
Geneanet, a genealogy-focused website, also identifies Laura as Justin Timberlake’s half-sister and places her death shortly after birth in 1997.
IMDb independently lists Laura Katherine Timberlake among Justin Timberlake’s relatives and identifies her as a half-sibling.
These sources are useful because they agree on the central point: Laura was part of Justin Timberlake’s paternal family and died as an infant.
At the same time, the records do not provide enough information to create a conventional biography. There are no reliable public interviews with Laura, no career history, and no firsthand accounts from her because she died as a newborn.
Common Confusion About Laura Katherine Timberlake
There are several points about Laura Katherine Timberlake that can easily become confused when information is copied from one website to another.
Was Laura Justin Timberlake’s Twin?
No.
Laura was born in 1997, while Justin was born in 1981. She was his much younger paternal half-sister, not his twin. Multiple biographical and genealogy sources identify her as a half-sibling who died shortly after birth in 1997.
Why Do Some Websites Give Different Dates?
Online genealogy records are not always identical. Some sources list May 12, 1997, as Laura’s birth date and May 14 as her death date, while others contain different entries.
This is a good example of why biographical articles should not treat every online database as an equally authoritative source.
When information conflicts, responsible writing should acknowledge the discrepancy instead of choosing a date simply because it appears on the largest number of websites.
Was Laura a Public Figure?
No.
Laura Katherine Timberlake did not have a public career. Her name became part of the public record largely because of her relationship to Justin Timberlake and his later acknowledgment of her in NSYNC‘s album credits.
Did Justin Publicly Remember Her?
Yes.
The clearest documented example is the dedication in the acknowledgments of the American edition of NSYNC, where Justin referred to Laura as his sister and remembered her as an angel in heaven.
What Is Known and What Remains Private?
The available information about Laura Katherine Timberlake is limited.
We know that she was born in 1997, that she was the daughter of Randy Timberlake and Lisa Perry, that she was Justin Timberlake’s paternal half-sister, and that she died shortly after birth. Family-history records support the basic family relationship, while Justin’s NSYNC acknowledgment provides a direct public remembrance.
Beyond those facts, there is little reliable information.
That distinction matters. It can be tempting to create a detailed story around a person whose life has become connected to a famous celebrity. But doing so can turn uncertainty into supposed fact.
Laura did not live long enough to establish a career, public interests, or personal identity that could be documented in the same way as her famous brother. Her story therefore belongs primarily to family history.
Laura Katherine Timberlake’s Place in Justin Timberlake’s Family History
Laura Katherine Timberlake occupies a small but documented place in Justin Timberlake’s family history.
She was born more than 16 years after Justin and was part of his father’s later family with Lisa Perry. Her life ended shortly after birth, long before she could experience the public attention that eventually surrounded her half-brother.
Her name nevertheless remained meaningful enough for Justin to include her in the acknowledgments of NSYNC‘s debut album.
That reference is perhaps the most important part of Laura’s publicly documented story. It shows that, even while Justin was a teenager beginning what would become a highly successful entertainment career, Laura remained part of his family and was remembered in his own words.
There is no need to exaggerate the story or attach unsupported claims to it. The available facts already tell a meaningful story about family, loss, and remembrance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laura Katherine Timberlake
Who was Laura Katherine Timberlake?
Laura Katherine Timberlake was Justin Timberlake’s paternal half-sister. She was the daughter of Charles Randall “Randy” Timberlake and Lisa Perry and was born in 1997. She died shortly after birth.
Was Laura Katherine Timberlake Justin Timberlake’s sister?
Yes. More specifically, she was his paternal half-sister. They shared their father, Charles Randall Timberlake, but had different mothers.
Who were Laura Katherine Timberlake’s parents?
Her parents were Charles Randall “Randy” Timberlake and Lisa Perry. Genealogy records identify Laura among the children of Randy and Lisa.
When was Laura Katherine Timberlake born?
Available sources place Laura’s birth in May 1997. Some sources give May 12, 1997, but online records contain discrepancies, so the exact date should be treated cautiously unless supported by an original record.
When did Laura Katherine Timberlake die?
She died shortly after her birth in May 1997. Some sources give May 14, 1997, as her date of death.
How old was Laura Katherine Timberlake when she died?
She was a newborn and lived only a very short time after her birth. Sources commonly describe her as having died within days of being born.
Was Laura Katherine Timberlake Justin Timberlake’s twin?
No. Justin was born in 1981, while Laura was born in 1997. She was his much younger paternal half-sister, not his twin.
Did Justin Timberlake mention Laura Katherine?
Yes. Justin mentioned Laura in the acknowledgments of NSYNC‘s debut album. The surviving transcription of the American album’s thank-you section includes a dedication to his sister Laura Katherine.
Was Laura Katherine Timberlake a celebrity?
No. Laura was not a celebrity or public figure. Her name is known today primarily because of her relationship to Justin Timberlake and his public acknowledgment of her.
Are there many photographs or personal records of Laura Katherine Timberlake?
No substantial public collection of photographs, interviews, or personal records is available. Given that Laura died as a newborn, the public information about her is understandably limited.
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Conclusion
Laura Katherine Timberlake was a member of Justin Timberlake’s family whose life was extremely brief but whose name has remained part of his publicly documented family history. She was the daughter of Randy Timberlake and Lisa Perry and Justin’s younger paternal half-sister. She was born in 1997 and died shortly after birth.
Her connection to Justin became particularly visible through the acknowledgments of NSYNC‘s debut album, where Justin remembered her as his sister and dedicated a few personal words to her.
There is still much that cannot responsibly be said about Laura because she was not a public figure and lived for such a short time. The most accurate approach is therefore a simple one: rely on documented family records, distinguish confirmed information from conflicting online claims, and avoid turning a private family loss into speculation.
Laura Katherine Timberlake may not have had a public life of her own, but her name remains a small and genuine part of Justin Timberlake’s family story.
