The Transformation Of Usher

For decades, R&B legend Usher has been dominating the music industry with his smooth vocals and sensual ballads. Since releasing his first album at the tender age of 16, the singer and songwriter has continued to release critically acclaimed albums and chart-topping songs. Clubs around the world continue to play his iconic hits like "Yeah" and "DJ Got Us Falling in Love" years after they were released.

With a whopping eight Grammy Awards and eight American Music Awards, Usher has earned his nickname as "the king of R&B." But as the artist himself told "The Shade Room, he's more than that. "If I confine myself to just being a King of R&B, that would be too short-sighted," he said. "I love R&B — R&B is a segue to [so many] things." Usher's other accomplishments include performing on Broadway, acting in several films and TV shows, appearing as a judge of "The Voice," and starting his own charitable foundation.

So, how did Usher go from a kid performing in talent shows to one of the most successful artists of all time? We're breaking it all down.

After moving to Atlanta, Usher started performing in local talent shows under the guidance of his mother. It was there that he met A.J. Alexander, who was Bobby Brown's bodyguard at the time. Alexander took the young talent under his wing and mentored him, urging him to continue performing in talent shows and parking lots.

When he was 13 years old, Usher competed on the talent show "Star Search," where he held a note for 12 seconds — the longest time recorded by a child. Though he didn't win the competition, his performance impressed an A&R representative for LaFace Records, who was invited to the show by Alexander. The label's cofounder, L.A. Reid, went on to sign Usher after hearing him sing a cover of Boyz II Men's "End of the Road". 

It was also Reid who convinced 14-year-old Usher to drop the nickname he was using at the time, "Cha-Cha," and go by his first name instead. "I think at the point that's when I all of a sudden had my blinders come open," Usher said. "Yes, my [ambition] was there, but at that moment it was like 'Wait a minute I'm the only one of myself.'"

These days, Usher's name is about as synonymous with philanthropy as it is with music. In 1999, he and his mother founded a nonprofit organization, "Usher's New Look," with the mission of empowering underprivileged kids and setting them up to reach their full potential. With mentorship and leadership programs, the foundation assists children in completing high school and tertiary education, finding their purpose and drive, building careers, and serving their communities. As of this writing, the foundation says it has impacted the lives of over 50,000 children. 

Speaking at the 2023 Usher's New Look Disruptivator Summit: Be Your Own SuperHero, Usher said, "What we want to do is to encourage young men and women who are being disruptive in a positive way. These young 'disruptivators' — as I branded them — are changing their community, and also, too, being thought leaders for people to recognize things that need to be noticed, or either things that need to be highlighted" (via Essence).

In 2004, Usher released the album that would skyrocket his career and cement his status as an R&B legend. The album, "Confessions," sold 20 million copies worldwide and was certified diamond, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. "Confessions" features iconic hits that are still played on radios and dance floors decades later, like the titular track "Confessions," "My Boo" featuring Alicia Keys, and "Yeah" featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon, which Billboard named the Hot 100 Single of the Year. "We all knew it was gonna be a huge record, but we had no idea it would be this huge," he revealed in an interview with BET in 2004.

Thanks to "Confessions," Usher was awarded three Grammys, four American Music Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards. "Confessions is by far one of the greatest albums I've had in my career ... selling 1.1 million units in the 1st week," Usher revealed in an Instagram post.

The song "Confessions" centers around a man getting a woman pregnant while in a relationship with someone else. While some fans thought the track may have been inspired by his real-life experience, the singer confirmed that wasn't the case. "This is artistic creativity, so it's metaphoric ways of explaining situations," he told BET. Rather, he was inspired by the experiences that people around him were going through. "This album projected real talk. It was about real situations that happen in life, not hiding anything." However, he clarified for the audience: "No, I don't have a child."

Usher is a proud father of four. In 2007, he welcomed his first child, Usher "Cinco" Raymond V, with his then-wife Tameka Foster. In 2008, Usher and Foster welcomed a second son, Naviyd Ely. Speaking to Essence that year, Usher reflected on his own father, acknowledging that due to his absentee dad, he missed out on "knowing that I was accepted. That I mattered. And hearing that he cared enough to put me before himself."

Usher ultimately filed for divorce in 2009 and began dating Jenn Goicoechea a decade later. In September 2020, Usher and Goicoechea welcomed a daughter, Sovereign Bo. Speaking to

"Good Morning America," the R&B star expressed his joy at being a "girl dad." "I'm even changing my colors; I'm wearing pink and cool stuff like that," he said. In September 2021, the couple welcomed a second child — Usher's third son — Sire Castrello.

While it's obvious Usher is enamored by his children, they don't seem to love his music. "I do wish that my kids listened to my music more," he admitted to "Good Morning America." "My second son, Naviyd, actually is the one who listens to my music more than anything. Usher, he doesn't care. Sovereign, she just likes me to sing to her."

From discovering Justin Bieber to helping disadvantaged youth reach their full potential through his foundation, Usher has always demonstrated a passion for nurturing young talent. That's what made him the perfect choice to be a judge and mentor on NBC's singing competition, "The Voice." Usher joined the show during its fourth season alongside fellow coaches Shakira, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton.

One of Usher's contestants, Michelle Chamuel, made it to the finale before losing out to Blake Shelton's Danielle Bradbury. Despite not winning, Chamuel praised Usher's coaching style. "Usher helped me bring out more finesse and attention to certain details," she told The Hollywood Reporter. She continued, saying, "He has more patience and vision for what the entirety of a performance will look like."

Usher returned to the show for Season 6 in 2014, where he coached Josh Kaufman who went on to win the competition and make history as the oldest contestant to do so.

You can add doctor to Usher's list of titles (yes, really). In 2023, Berklee College of Music awarded Usher an honorary doctorate degree for his contributions to music and philanthropy. Usher shared pictures of himself proudly posing in a cap and gown on Instagram, writing, "Thank you [Berklee College] for honoring me and presenting me with a Doctor of Music degree. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to share a message to the next generation of artists, producers, vocalists, arrangers, dancers, and more."

During his speech, the singer explained that inspiring people through music was always his goal and that he's proud of the legacy he's built. "Keep running past that finish line, break the barriers, identify that spark in you that motivates you to keep going, and don't expect everything to be perfect and run smoothly," Usher told the class of 2023. "Brace yourself for a bumpy road in life because that's the process." He reminded students that his first album wasn't a success; achieving great success takes time and patience. "Imagine if I had stopped making music at that point," he mused.