Usher was born on the 14th of October 1978. During his early days, Usher used to perform in his church choir that existed in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In order to facilitate Usher’s growing interest in music, his family decided to move to Atlanta, Georgia. He became famous for his performance at the age of 13 at the TV program, Star Search.

Songs and Albums

From the late 1990s up to the present, Usher has continued to be a major figure in the world of music. Over the years, Usher has explored various types of music, including R&B, blues, and pop through his eight studio albums.

After Usher (1994), he recorded his second album, My Way, in 1997. The hits “Nice & Slow,” which turned out to be Usher’s first chart-topping single, and “You Make Me Wanna…” propelled him to stardom as his second album sold over 7 million copies. In addition, Usher became renowned not only for his silky-smooth voice but also for the inclusion of sensual lyrics in his songs, live performances, and music videos.

In 2001, he recorded 8701, which turned out to be another huge success because it contained the number one hit “U Got It Bad” as well as two Grammy Award-winning singles, “U Remind Me” and “U Don’t Have to Call.” The album sold over 4 million copies in the United States alone.

Movies and TV Roles

Other than making music, Usher has also been involved in acting. Some of his earliest appearances include acting in The Faculty (1998), a teen horror film. Over the years, he appeared as a guest in several other TV series, such as his appearance as Marvin Gaye in the show American Dreams (2002). In 2005, he played a disc jockey in the movie In the Mix, while in 2006, he acted as the main character Billy Flynn in the Broadway play Chicago.

On March 25, 2013, Usher returned to reality TV but this time as a judge and a coach. Usher and Latin American artist Shakira were the new additions to the famous singing competition show The Voice by NBC for Season 4. Usher replaced Cee Lo Green, while Shakira took up Christina Aguilera’s position. Adam Levine and Blake Shelton returned for their fourth consecutive seasons on the show. With his unconventional coaching, Usher quickly became a favorite among TV viewers. However, he did not participate in the next season, coming back only for Season 6, which was eventually won by his protégé Josh Kaufman.

Philanthropy and Business Ventures

In addition to all the aforementioned projects, Usher dedicates much time to his charitable organization, New Look Foundation, established back in 1999. The New Look Foundation donates money for fostered children and services, organizes youth conferences and camps and encourages leadership qualities among children who live in poverty. Usher has been recognized by various organizations for his contributions to the development of the New Look Foundation, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Trumpet Foundation, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Furthermore, Usher has become involved in several businesses. Usher runs his own record label, US Records, and sells men’s colognes under the Usher name. Usher is also a minority owner of Tidal and the basketball team Cleveland Cavaliers.

Children and Girlfriend

In the early 2000s, Usher dated Chili, who is known to be one of the members of the girl group TLC. In 2007, he tied the knot with Tameka Foster, who gave birth to their firstborn, Usher Raymond V in 2007. Another child followed soon after in 2008: Naviyd, who is the second-born of the couple. Usher Raymond parted ways with Foster in 2009.

Usher experienced more sorrow for his loved ones in 2012. His wife’s eleven-year-old son from another marriage (who was now Usher’s stepson), Kyle Glover, sustained a severe head trauma while playing on Lake Lanier. According to some news outlets, Glover was traveling on an inflatable tube that day in Atlanta when hit on the head by a jet ski, which rendered him unconscious. He was pronounced dead shortly after he was rushed to the nearest hospital.

The following month was also a difficult one for the family of the artist. His four-year-old child, Usher Raymond V, became trapped in a swimming pool’s drain at Usher’s residence in Atlanta. While his aunt attempted to free him from the drain, the child was hospitalized, where he survived.