Timberlake Scores Book Deal, Motown Gig

By Alison M. Rosen

01/22/2004 at 11:59 AM EST

His ex, Britney Spears, may be hogging all the oxygen with her matrimonial antics, but Justin Timberlake's keeping himself pretty busy, too. The pop star is preparing to write his memoirs and host a TV special celebrating the history of Motown, MTV reports.

The performer has signed on for the ABC special, tentatively titled "Motown 45," which will be co-hosted by Lionel Richie. The lineup for the show, which will tape April 4 in Los Angeles and air in May, is still being determined. Proceeds will go to the United Negro College Fund.

Meanwhile, MTV notes, Timberlake has been looking to find a home for his memoirs since October when, at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, he considered offers from international publishers. Bidding reportedly reached seven figures but about this Timberlake was quoted as saying, "I have no idea. I have no clue."

The U.K. rights to the as-yet-untitled book, which will be designed by the group responsible for Madonna's "Sex," were sold to London's Transworld Publishers, a division of Random House. Timberlake's still selecting a stateside publisher.