usher (31 posts)

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Usher Raymond VI, anyone?

Usher (Raymond IV) is expecting his second child with wife Tameka Foster, according to several reports.

The couple are also the proud parents of 9-month-old Usher Raymond V.

The little tyke's namesake swapped vows with Foster twice last year, the first time Aug. 3, 2007, in a private civil ceremony in Atlanta, and again the following month as part of a more elaborate affair at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, also in Atlanta.

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Looks like Usher's the last man standing.

The R&B megastar might not have duplicated the seven-figure sales debut of Confessions, but the follow-up Here I Stand dominated the album charts, selling 443,000 copies for the week that ended Sunday, per Nielsen SoundScan numbers.

Here I Stand easily finished at No. 1 despite a strong debut by the Fergie- and Jennifer Hudson-powered Sex and the City soundtrack. Usher's album also topped the charts in Canada, Australia and the U.K.

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A minor-league blog might be saying "yeah," but Usher's people are saying "absolutely not."

The R&B star's manager calls an anonymously sourced breakup report on the website theybf.com "100 percent not true."

"Usher and Tameka are currently traveling in Europe together as a family on his promotional tour," Benny Medina told E! News. "This rumor is completely false."

Not to mention, Tameka—who's also the mother of 6-month-old Usher Raymond V—was spotted with her hubby of nearly nine months at an MTV taping on Sunday.

But, if nothing else, with Usher's marital life squared away, that leaves his fans free to talk about that upcoming album release on Tuesday, eh?

The "Yeah" singer is saying hell no when it comes to selling pictures of his baby son.

"In no way would I ever pimp out my child for money," Usher tells the New York Post about rumors he was trying to go the fast-cash route à la Brangelina, J.Lo, Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie.

And just to prove the little tyke isn't helping line his wallet, the R&B star posed for free with his offspring for an Essence magazine Father's Day cover.

"I am livid that people talk about my child," adds the proud papa. "What makes you a man more than being a father to your child?"

You tell 'em, Usher.

Of course, we'll just overlook all the free publicity the magazine shoot will generate to promote your upcoming album. That makes your outrage sound sooo much better.

Here stands the revised release date for Usher's next album.  

The R&B star's record label announced Wednesday that the Grammy winner's fifth studio album, Here I Stand, will drop May 27—a mere four years after the release of his megaselling, Grammy-grabbing Confessions, yet earlier than its previously scheduled June debut.

According to a release from Jive subsidiary Zomba Label Group, the date was pushed up to "satiate" those demanding fans. 

Usher, who since saying "Yeah!" to massive fame and success in 2004 has taken a wife and fathered a son, already has a No. 1 single, "Love in This Club," to show for his latest effort. The music video is set to debut April 7 on MTV.

The 29-year-old artist cowrote the tune, which also features rapper Young Jeezy. Other confirmed guest vocalists on Here I Stand include Ludacris (on the track "Dat Girl Right There"), Jermaine Dupri and T-Pain. 

While Dupri and producing team Dre & Vidal have offered some commentary as to what to expect from Usher's latest effort, the man himself has been pretty tight-lipped.

"I don't know how the whole album is coming," Dupri told MTVNews.com in February. "I'm not there at Arista or [Jive] now. I can't see the album as a whole. I heard a lot of the other songs. As far as I'm concerned, it started feeling good. It's still growing. [Usher's] in the process of making more songs."

Usher's Confessions came out on March 23, 2004, and went on to sell nearly 14 million copies and win three Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary R&B Album.

Usher has ushered in a new stage in his life: Fatherhood.

The one-name wonder and his wife, Tameka Foster, welcomed a baby boy on Monday night, his agent confirmed to E! News.

The Grammy-winning entertainer previously told E! News that he planned to have his firstborn share the family moniker and be named Usher Raymond V.

"We are so happy and proud of our beautiful son," the couple said in a statement. "What a blessing!"

Usher V was born in Atlanta at 9:55 p.m., and weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces.

He is the first child for Usher, 29, and fourth for Foster, 37.

The couple announced the pregnancy in June. They wed in a private civil ceremony on Aug. 3 and renewed their vows Sept. 1 in a blowout party in Atlanta.

They were originally scheduled to swap vows in July, but called off the event at the last minute, after Foster had an unspecified "pregnancy scare."

Close to a month after they were pronounced husband and wife, Usher and Tameka Foster have sealed the deal once again.

The twosome, who wed in a private civil ceremony Aug. 3, renewed their vows Saturday at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Atlanta, with some 200 guests looking on, People reports.

At the reception, guests dined on a sit-down dinner inside the resort's ballroom and enjoyed a five-tier white chocolate wedding cake for dessert.  Among the attendees were Oprah Winfrey's BFF, Gayle King, and music manager Benny Medina.

Usher's mother, Jonetta Patton, who reportedly disapproves of Foster, was not present, though she was by her son's side for the civil ceremony.

The couple, who are expecting their first child later this year, were originally scheduled to wed July 28 at the Hamptons home of music mogul L.A. Reid, but called off the event at the last minute.

Several days later, Foster confirmed she'd had a "pregnancy scare," for which she needed to be hospitalized, necessitating the postponement of her nuptials.

Usher insisted that they still planned to marry and just days later proved himself to be a man of his word.

"I exchanged vows with Tameka Foster in Atlanta on Friday and we are happily married," Usher said in a statement shortly after the civil ceremony.

With two weddings now behind them, the newlyweds can finally get down to the business of honeymooning.

It was only a matter of time.

A week after he left everyone wondering what the heck happened in the Hamptons, Usher tied the knot Friday with his pregnant girlfriend, Tameka Foster.

"I exchanged vows with Tameka Foster in Atlanta on Friday and we are happily married," Usher said in a statement.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the R&B star and Foster swapped vows in the office of Usher's Atlanta lawyer, a decidedly more low-key affair than the lavish, star-studded shindig they had planned for July 28 at the New York home of music mogul L.A. Reid.

The sudden cancellation led to widespread speculation that the betrothed duo, or at least one of them, were having second thoughts, but several days later Foster confirmed that she had had a "pregnancy scare" for which she had to be hospitalized briefly, and her fiancé assured inquiring minds that their intentions had not changed.

"As of right now we don't have a date but we will let you know when we do," the Confessions singer told Us Weekly earlier this week.

Those in the know Friday included Usher's mom and ex-manager, Jonetta Patton, who had reportedly disapproved of the engagement and was trying to ensure that the couple entered into an iron-clad prenup.

All differences were put aside for at least one day, however, because Patton was by her son's side for the "I do's," per the Sun-Times.

Usher, 28, and Foster, 37, who announced their engagement in February after about a year and a half of dating, are expecting their first child together this fall.

Usher and Tameka Foster's wedding plans may have gone down, but they're certainly not out.

While the couple put the kibosh on their Saturday nuptials just hours before they were scheduled to take place in the Hamptons, Usher is claiming that the scrapped ceremony has not been canceled, simply postponed.

"As of right now we don't have a date but we will let you know when we do," the Grammy winner, whose full name is Usher Raymond, told Us Weekly.

Foster, for her part, spoke to People to debunk speculation as to why it was called off.

"No one [in the media] knows why we canceled the wedding, but I can tell you that all of the reasons that everyone is speculating and writing about are completely untrue," Foster said.

The pregnant 37-year-old did, however, confirm that she checked into a local hospital Saturday afternoon.

"We had a scare," she said. "But, I am fine and the baby is fine."

Usher offered a similar prognosis, telling Us Weekly that "everybody's fine. Tameka and the baby are fine."

"We're all doing great now," Foster said.

"Now" being the operative word. Foster and the 28-year-old superstar were due to tie the knot in front of upwards of 100 people in a ceremony Saturday at record producer L.A. Reid's estate.

The morning of the big day, Usher's publicist revealed that the wedding had been scuttled, offering no reason for sudden change of plan but also requesting that "the privacy of this matter will be respected."

Rumors immediately began swirling that the abrupt cancellation had to do with his mother Jonetta Patton's purported disapproval of the union, Foster's reported criminal past or her alleged aversion to signing a prenup. Patton, who was not planning to attend the ceremony,  has not spoken publicly about the wedding or its postponement.

Usher and Foster announced their engagement in February of this year after nearly a year and a half of dating. Foster had previously served as Usher's personal stylist. They broke news of their pregnancy last month. The baby, Usher's first and Foster's fourth, is due this fall.

Usher's latest confession: The wedding's off.

While word leaked earlier this week that the Grammy winner and his pregnant fiancée, stylist Tameka Foster, were due to tie the knot in a Hamptons ceremony Saturday, on the morning of the big day, Usher's publicist confirmed that wedding bells would not be ringing.

"It was announced today that the wedding ceremony for Usher Raymond, IV and Tameka Foster was canceled," publicist Patti Webster. "No additional information will be given regarding the circumstances of the cancellation, but we hope the privacy of this matter will be respected."

The union was due to take place at the home of record executive L.A. Reid and between 70 and 100 guests were expected to attend. According to Life & Style, fellow R&B crooner Robin Thicke was scheduled to perform at the reception.

While no official reason was given for the sudden cancellation, E! News has learned that Usher's mother, Jonnetta Patton, was less than keen on the match and was not invited. There were reports that Usher's godfather, actor Ben Vereen, was also taken off the guest list because of his protestation to the marriage.

In May, Usher cut professional ties with Patton, who had served as his manager for the length of the 28-year-old's mega-successful career. He denied whispers that the termination was prompted by 36-year-old Foster after she expressed interest in becoming his manager. The same month he also amicably split with his publicist of nine years, Simon Smalls.

But two weeks ago, the mutliplatinum entertainer addressed the speculation swirling around his relationship with Foster. In an open letter to People, he denied that the older woman was controlling his life.

"I am happy, excited, completely clear and independent on my direction, feelings, decisions and I am NOT BEING LED," he wrote. "Some media and bloggers have been totally intrusive, they have misconstrued aspects of my personal life and, because of this, my 'true' fans are not sure about what is fact and what is fiction.

"There is a difference between stating an opinion versus drawing a conclusion that is incorrect."

Whatever the reason for the wedding cancellation, while Usher may not be a husband any time soon, he still has another major title coming his way: father.

In June, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child together this fall.

"We are extremely excited at this point in our lives planning our wedding and the joy that comes with expecting our first child together," the couple said in a statement at the time.

News of their engagement came out in February, as the "Yeah!" singer was collecting the Spirit Award at the NAACP Image Awards. Foster was among the names on his thank-you list, and he referred to her during his speech as his fiancée.

The couple had dated for nearly a year and a half before the betrothal but knew each other for much longer. Foster had worked as Usher's personal stylist for five years.

The wedding was set to be Usher's first trip down the aisle. It would have been the second for Foster, who was previously married and has three children with Noontime Music cofounder Ryan Glover.

It is unclear whether Usher and Foster remain a couple.

Yeah! Usher's going to be a dad.

The R&B star and fiancée Tameka Foster confirmed Wednesday that they're expecting a baby this fall, about a week after Foster played coy about just when she planned to have her future hubby's children.

"Yes, I do plan to have children with Usher," the 36-year-old stylist told Essence.com recently. "This is the man I love and plan to spend the rest of my life with, so why wouldn't I want to share that bond of bringing another life into this world with him?"

Mission accomplished, then.

"We are extremely excited at this point in our lives planning our wedding and the joy that comes with expecting our first child," the couple said in a statement. "We hope people will be happy for us and respect our privacy during this happy period in our lives."

This will be the first child for Usher, 28, and the fourth for Foster, who recently divorced Noontime Music cofounder Ryan Glover.

Also to Essence, Foster adamantly denied rumors that she was pregnant with her ex's child—"If that were the case, the baby would have been born already"—and that she started stepping out with Usher while she was still "happily" married.

"For the record, I was legally separated from my husband, to whom I was married for five years, not 10 as many have reported," Foster clarified. "He knew Usher and I were dating, and he was dating other people."

Usher, who popped the question in January after about a year of romancing Foster, "had nothing to do with what happened between my husband and me," she said. "Between my hectic travel schedule and our personality differences, my ex and I grew apart. There are no hard feelings between us."

While he awaits their new addition, Usher will be busy putting the finishing touches on his as-yet untitled fifth studio album, which is set to drop in November. The first single from his follow-up to 2004's multiplatinum-selling Confessions is due out in September, along with Usher's new signature fragrance.

Most recently, the erstwhile star of the Broadway production of Chicago appeared at the Tony Awards as a presenter, and he can be heard on the tune "Same Girl" on R. Kelly's latest album, the duet-heavy Double Up.