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Usher Cleans House, Drops Mom

Tue., May. 8, 2007 10:00 AM PDT by Gina Serpe

Usher is making room in his life for a special lady—by dropping two other very special ones.

The newly engaged R&B superstar has confirmed that he's committed managerial matricide, parting ways with both his longtime manager—and mother—and his publicist, but refuted reports that the cause of either split stemmed from his recent betrothal.

While rumors have been circulating that the "Yeah!" singer severed professional ties with momager Jonnetta Patton after his fiancée, stylist Tameka Foster, expressed interest in repping her would-be hubby, Usher denied that was the case.

"She has no aspirations of becoming my manager or any other artist's manager," he told the Associated Press.

As for his relationship with mama Patton, Usher said they parted ways on "great terms."

"We are both very happy but are now working in different areas of the business. This is great for me because it means I now get to have my mother strictly as my mother with no added pressure.

"At this time in my life, I am simply more interested in building the strength of my family. And in order to do that, I feel it's best to separate my business life from my personal life."

And, in some cases, his business life from his business life.

Hot on the heels of announcing the mother-son split, Usher's publicist of nine years, Simone Smalls, confirms that she, too, has split with her famous client.

"Change is good!" she declared in a statement. "I'm just moving in a direction professionally that will not allow me to dedicate the same undivided attention I gave him for nearly a decade. I pass the baton to whomever works with him next, because the foundation that I lad out for him should assure them continued success.

"Usher and I still remain friends."

While the 28-year-old artist has yet to fill the rapidly emptying slots on his payroll, he'll no doubt do it soon. The Grammy winner is set to release the as yet untitled follow-up to 2004's multiplatinum Confessions by November of this year.

Meanwhile, Usher has yet to set a wedding date with the 37-year-old Foster, though he told MTV News last month that he could be walking down the aisle by as early as the end of the year.