MTV Video Music Awards: 'N Sync reunites

MTV Video Music Awards: ‘N Sync reunites

1/23

Katy Perry performs as the closing act during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in Empire-Fulton Ferry Park in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. (Mike Coppola / Getty Images for MTV)

2/23

Katy Perry performs “Roar” to close the awards show. (Mike Coppola / Getty Images for MTV)

3/23

Macklemore performs. (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for MTV)

4/23

Bruno Mars performs his new song “Gorilla.” (Charles Sykes / Invision/Associated Press)

5/23

Musical group One Direction accepts the award for song of the summer. (Charles Sykes / Invision/Associated Press)

6/23

Drake performs. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images for MTV)

7/23

Drake walks backstage at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. (Larry Busacca / Getty Images for MTV)

8/23

Lance Bass, left, JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick of ‘NSync perform. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images for MTV)

9/23

Justin Timberlake accepts the Video Vanguard Award. (Charles Sykes / Invision/Associated Press)

10/23

Justin Timberlake performs for his adoring fans. (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for MTV)

11/23

Selena Gomez accepts an award onstage with One Direction. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images for MTV)

12/23

Taylor Swift accepts an award presented to her by Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images for MTV)

13/23

Taylor Swift, center left, and Selena Gomez sit together at the MTV Video Music Awards. (Scott Gries / Invision/Associated Press)

14/23

Kevin Hart kept reminding the audience that he wasn’t the host. (Scott Gries / Invision/Associated Press)

15/23

Kanye West performs. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images for MTV)

16/23

Zayn Malik, from left, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles of One Direction. (Charles Sykes / Invision/Associated Press)

17/23

Lady Gaga started out the night’s onstage activities with a costume-swapping performance. (Charles Sykes / Invision/Associated Press)

18/23

Lady Gaga during one of her many costume changes. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images for MTV)

19/23

Lady Gaga finishes her performance in a clamshell bikini. (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for MTV)

20/23

Miley Cyrus dances with giant teddy bears. (Charles Sykes / Invision/AP)

21/23

Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus perform Thicke’s hit song “Blurred Lines.” (Rick Diamond / Getty Images for MTV)

22/23

Iggy Azalea and Brooklyn’s own Lil’ Kim present an award onstage. (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for MTV)

23/23

Ryan Lewis, left, Macklemore, center, and Ray Dalton accept the award for best hip hop video for “Can’t Hold Us” as presenters Iggy Azalea, right, and Lil’ Kim look on. (Charles Sykes / Invision/Associated Press)

By Gerrick D. Kennedy

Aug. 25, 2013 9:09 PM PT

It was the worst-kept secret of Sunday’s 2013 Video Music Awards: Justin Timberlake reunited with his boy band brethren ‘N Sync.

Ahead of the annual spectacle that celebrates irreverence and the occasional music video, it was reported that Timberlake would rejoin the band that launched him into superstardom.

And on Sunday he did.

PHOTOS: MTV Video Music Awards | Show Highlights | Best & Worst

As part of his career-spanning performance to mark his Michael Jackson Vanguard Award win, Timberlake was joined by Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez.

First, Timberlake moved through a breadth of his solo hits, including “SexyBack,” “Senorita,” “Cry Me a River” and “Like I Love You,” and new tunes from his smash comeback album, “The 20/20 Experience.”

But it was the reunion of ‘N Sync during the 15-minute retrospective that fans were anticipating. However, the moment was brief. Rising from the stage amid a foggy silhouette, the group -- some of its members looking fuller in the waistlines than others -- took us back to the glory days when its pop smashes such as “Girlfriend” and “Bye Bye Bye,” both of which got a quick run-through, allowed ‘NSync to win the race of the late ‘90s pop boy band craze that carried into the millennium.

PHOTOS: MTV Video Music Awards | Arrivals

“I don’t deserve the award, but I’m not going to give it back,” Timberlake said during his acceptance speech before thanking his former bandmates.

“Half of the Moonmen I’ve ever won, I won with those four guys. So above all else, I’m going to share this -- we can keep it at my house -- but I’m going to share this award with them.”

Because MTV isn’t cool enough to have uploaded video of the performance yet, relieve some of ‘NSync’s glory days on the VMA stage below: