From Justin Timberlake to Shania Twain: What Lyme Disease Really Looks Like

It starts with a tick bite, and for some celebrities, it took years to figure out what came next. Justin Timberlake, Shania Twain, and others have opened up about their long, often confusing roads to a Lyme disease diagnosis.

In the past, celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Bella Hadid, and Shania Twain have spoken about their experiences with Lyme disease, a bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. For some, the symptoms lasted for decades, and for others, the side effects lasted years.

A black-legged tick, known as the Ixodes tick, which can spread Lyme disease | Source: Pexels

The disease borne from the tick, most common in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper-Midwest can manifest through symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, and a distinctive skin rash. When left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system, though most cases can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

For some celebrities, the disease takes years to be diagnosed, as well as a lot of agony. Justin Timberlake, who revealed his diagnosis after his 2024-2025 tour, only discovered he had Lyme disease after experiencing unexplained nerve pain and fatigue while performing.

Shania Twain was touring in 2000 when she said she would experience dizziness and regular “millisecond blackouts.” Years later, she discovered it was due to a tick bite she got while horseback riding, which damaged her vocal cords too.

Bella Hadid opened up about experiencing symptoms for a decade, including bone pains and exhaustion. In 2023, she declared she was "finally healthy."

Avril Lavigne was bedridden for months, unaware of what was causing it. She was finally diagnosed after two years, and she later shared that the toll it took on her taught her patience and to be present. She has since been advocating for awareness of the disease through her Avril Lavigne Foundation.

In 2020, Justin Bieber admitted he was battling Lyme disease to put a stop to people who had been questioning his sickly appearance. He described having a “rough couple of years” but that he was getting treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way to avoid the disease is to prevent tick bites and to quickly remove any attached ticks, if bitten. Anyone experiencing symptoms like fever or a rash after a tick bite should consult a doctor.