The procedure, reportedly liposuction was never performed, and Raymond was put into a medically induced coma to aid her recovery. In February 2009, in São Paulo, Brazil, Tameka Raymond suffered a cardiac arrest prior to having cosmetic surgery. On December 10, 2008, Tameka gave birth to their second child, Naviyd Ely Raymond. Their son Usher Raymond V was born on November 26 of the same year. After the sudden cancellation of a planned July wedding due to medical concerns, the two were wed on Augin a private ceremony. In February 2007, Usher announced his engagement. She has a son from when she was a teenager, as well as two sons with Atlanta clothier Ryan Glover. In January 2007 he proposed to his then stylist girlfriend Tameka Foster. Following their break-up, Usher briefly dated English model-actress Naomi Campbell in September 2004. But cheating is not what caused the relationship to collide and crash. Usher defended: ". it just didn't work out. I will never be with him again, and that is that". In an interview on The Bert Show on Atlanta's Q100 in February 2004, Thomas claimed that Usher cheated on her: "Usher did the ultimate no-no to me . His fans inferred the reason he and Thomas split is due to infidelity on his part, giving allusions to the lyrics of the songs. Their relationship lasted for two years: they broke-up in December 2003, followed by a media frenzy surrounding the personal nature of Usher's fourth album, Confessions. In 2001, Usher began dating former TLC member Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, who had a child with producer Dallas Austin. Usher's father died of a heart attack in January 2009. While in Atlanta, Usher attended North Springs High School. In the belief that a city would provide greater opportunities for showcasing his talent, Usher's family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where there was a more conducive environment for beginning singers. As a child, Usher joined in their local church youth choir in Chattanooga when he was nine years old, as directed by his mother, in which event his grandmother discovered his ability to sing, although it was not until Usher joined a singing group that she considered he could sing professionally. Usher spent the majority of his young life in Chattanooga: his father left the family when Usher was one year old, and they relocated to Chattanooga, where Usher lived with his mother, then-step father, and half-brother, James Lackey, born in 1984. Usher was born in Dallas, Texas the son of Jonetta Patton (née O'Neal) and Usher Raymond III. While also starring in Light It Up and In the Mix. He has also been appearing in films, debuting in the 1998 film The Faculty. Usher was also instrumental in starting and continuing the career of teen singer Justin Bieber. He had established his own record label, US Records, and is a part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. Īside from recording, Usher ventured in to other business. In February of 2010 when asked who he thought would fill Michael Jackson's place as the King of Pop Jay-Z stated he thought Usher would become the new King of Pop and said that he thought Ushers tribute to Michael Jackson was fantastic. He also said that he wouldn't be who he is today without Michael Jackson. Despite being named the new King of Pop, Usher has stated that in his eyes there will never be another King of Pop. On several occasions Usher has stated Michael Jackson to be the biggest influence of his career. įor years Usher has been named by his fans, critics, and peers as the successor to Michael Jackson as the new King of Pop. His 2004 album Confessions was ranked as the best solo album and second best overall album of the last decade. (The 2000-2009 decade) While ranking him as the second Top Overall Artist of 2000-2009 decade. Billboard Magazine also named him the greatest singer of his generation. Billboard Magazine ranked Usher the #1 Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Usher has sold over 21.5 million albums in the United States. He ranked higher than any other artist of his generation. In 2008, Usher was ranked as the 21st most successful Hot 100 Singles Artist of all-time by Billboard magazine. To date, he has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and has won five Grammy Awards. His success continued with Confessions (2004), which has sold over ten million copies in the United States, and been certified diamond by the RIAA. He rose to fame in the 1990s, releasing the multi-platinum album My Way (1997) and 8701 (2001). Usher Raymond IV (born October 14, 1978), who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American recording artist and actor. Singer-songwriter, music executive, actor, record producer