Usher: Everything you ever wanted to know about the 'King of R&B'

article

Usher speaks on stage during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Press Conference held at The Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Picture date: Thursday February 8, 2024. (Photo by PA Wire/PA Images via Getty Images)

ATLANTA - Usher, who calls Atlanta home, is this year's headliner at the Super Bowl game and football fans are apparently eager to learn everything they can about the King of R&B.

Trending questions this week on social media have included "Is Usher single?" and "How many Grammys does Usher have?"

In an effort to make those answers easy to find, here's everything you may want to know about Usher.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Real Name: Usher Raymond IV
Nicknames: The King of R&B, Big Tyme, Mr. Entertainment, Godson of Soul
Birthdate: Oct. 14, 1978 (age 44)
Astrological sign: Libra
Born: Dallas, Texas
Currently lives: Las Vegas
Net Worth: $180 million
Cars: 2018 Ford Mustang GT, 2016 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG, 2019 Cadillac Escalade, 2009 Ferrari 458 Spider, 2004 Porsche Carrera GT
Diet: Vegan
Marital status: Single but has girlfriend
Number of children: 4 children, Usher "Cinco" V, Navivyd Ely, Sovereign Bo, Sire Castrello
Sports: Likes to play basketball, owns part of Cleveland Cavaliers
Other sources of income: Restaurants, streaming company, line of fragrances, wellness company, record label
Godparent: Actor and dancer Ben Vereen
First manager: His mother
Influences: Michael Jackson, Prince, Bobby Brown
Total Grammy Awards: 8
Childhood Home: Chattanooga, Tennessee
High School: North Springs High School, Atlanta
How it Began: Singing in a church choir at the age of 9
First recording: At the age of 10, performed with a local quintet called the Nu Beginnings
Big Break: Appearance on "Star Search" at the age of 13
Debut Album: Released in 1994, peaked at number 25 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Received some backlash because Usher, who was 15 at the time, was singing about sex.
Biggest songs: "Yeah!," "OMG," "Good Good," "You Make Me Wanna...," "U Got It Bad"

Career Highlights and Personal Life

1994: Went to New York in 1994 to live with Sean "P Diddy" Combs to attend "Flavor Camp"
1997: 2nd album released on Sept. 16, 1997. Jermaine Dupri co-wrote and produced several tracks.
1998: Named Sexiest R&B Star by People magazine
1999: Soul Train Music Awards: "You Make Me Wanna..." wins Best Male R&B Single
1998: Acting Debut: "Moesha" and "The Bold and the Beautiful"
1999: Establishes nonprofit New Look, which aims to provide young people with a new look on life through education and real-world experience
2001: 3rd album "All About U" released
2001: Begins dating TLC member Chilli Thomas
2002: Founded US Records as a vanity label under J Records
2002: Wins first Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "U Remind Me"
2004: 4th studio album "Confessions" brings numerous awards
2005: Becomes part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers
2005: 2005 Grammy Awards: Performs duet with the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Wins 3 Grammy Awards, including: R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals for "My Boo", which he shared with Alicia Keys; Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Yeah!"; and Contemporary R&B Album for Confessions. The Truth Tour: Kanye West, Christina Millian, Rico Love, Monica, Lil Jon and Ludacris perform with Usher on the tour.
2006: Takes over role of "Billy Flynn" in the long-running Broadway revival of the musical "Chicago"
2007: Usher collaborates with R. Kelly on the track "Same Girl" and with Mary J. Blige on the song "Shake Down"
2008: Discovers, signs, produces and launches singer Justin Bieber
2008: 5th studio album "Here I Stand" released on May 27. Beyoncé and Lil Wayne featured on follow-up single "Love In This Club Part II."
2009: Divorces Tameka Foster following a highly-publicized child custody dispute
2009: Performs with Stevie Wonder and Shakira at President Obama's inaugural celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
2010: 6th album "Raymond v Raymond" released March 30. "OMG," which features will.i.am, is the 3rd official US single.
2011: Honored with Freedom Award by the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis ffor his philanthropic work.
2012: Former stepson, Kile Glover, declared brain-dead on July 8, 2012
2012: "Looking 4 Myself" released June 8. Album features a new type of music that Usher described as "revolutionary pop."
2013: Substitutes for CeeLo Green as a couch for the fourth season of NBC's "The Voice."
2015: Releases an interactive music video about racial profiling and police brutality
2016: Portrays former professional boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in the biographical sports film "Hands of Stone"
2015: Quietly marries long-time girlfriend and manager Grace Miguel
2017: Usher is accused of being a carrier of the herpes virus since 2009 or 2010 and infecting a partner in 2012. Three more claimants sue him on allegations of fraud, sexual battery, infliction of emotional distress and more.
2018: Releases collaborative album titled "A," with songs featuring Future and Gunna.
2018: Separates from Grace Miguel
2019: Has a cameo in the crime film "Hustlers" and returns for the 7th season of NBC's "The Voice"
2019: Goes public with relationship with music executive Jen Goicoechea

Recent Career and Releases

2020 Grammy Awards: Performs a tribute honoring Prince
2021: Las Vegas residency opens at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace
2022: Moves residency from Caesars Palace to Park MGM
March 2022: Parts ways with RCA records after 10 years
March 17, 2023: Releases solo single "GLU"
August 4, 2023: Releases "Good Good" with Summer Walker and 21 Savage
September 24, 2023: Announces Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show
February 11, 2024: Performing in halftime show at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas

Usher: Everything you ever wanted to know about the 'King of R&B'

OTHER USHER STORIES

Beck throws for 2 TDs, runs for another to lead No. 11 Georgia past No. 6 Tennessee 31-17

1 dead, 1 injured in Atlanta double shooting

Rockdale residents demand revocation of BioLab's business license after fire

Diabetic 80-year-old woman with dementia disappears in Decatur

Adam 'Pacman' Jones arrested after Tyson-Paul fight in Arlington