Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Who is Usher?
Usher is an award-winning American singer, songwriter, actor, businessman and philanthropist. With a career spanning nearly three decades, he has released world-renowned hits, won multiple awards and built a legacy that’ll last through time. He started singing from a young age and released his first album when he was 15.
Now, he has nine albums under his belt and hundreds of award nominations to his name, many of which he has won. Considered by many to be legendary in the R&B genre, he has made the top of various lists of best R&B vocalists of all time. His music has served as an inspiration and influence for a whole new generation of R&B artists.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Usher Terry Raymond IV |
| Popular Name: | Usher |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | October 14, 1978 |
| Age: | 44 years |
| Parents: | Usher Raymond III, Jonetta Patton |
| Siblings: | James Lackey |
| Birth Place: | Dallas, Texas |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African American |
| Education: | North Springs High School |
| Marital Status: | Divorced |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | Grace Miguel (m. 2015–2018), Tameka Foster (m. 2007–2009) |
| Children: | Naviyd Ely Raymond, Usher Raymond V, Sovereign Bo Raymond, Sire Castrello Raymond |
| Dating: | Jenn Goicoechea |
| Net Worth: | $180 Million |
| Source of Wealth: | Music, Acting, Entrepreneur |
| Height: | 5ft7 (1.73m) |
| Weight: | 81kg (179lbs) |
Early Life and Career Information
Born Usher Raymond IV in Dallas, Texas, to Jonetta Patton and Usher Raymond III, he was raised primarily in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His father left the family not long after Usher was born. He grew up with his mother, a then stepfather, and his half-brother James Lackey.
Under his mother’s instruction, Usher joined the local church youth choir in Chattanooga when he was nine years old. There, his ability to sing was recognized. However, it was not until Usher joined a singing group that his family considered he could sing professionally.
His family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to provide better opportunities for him in music as Atlanta had a more conducive environment for budding singers.
He was spotted by a LaFace A&R representative on Star Search in 1991 and offered an opportunity to audition. At 14 years old, he auditioned in the presence of LaFace co-founder L.A. Reid, who signed him to a recording contract. He made his recorded debut in 1993 on the Poetic Justice soundtrack with Call Me a Mack, which reached number 56 on Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop chart.
Usher released his self-titled debut album at fifteen in 1994. The album was relatively successful and peaked at No.25 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at No.167 on the Billboard 200.
He continued to work on his skills to release his next album after graduating from North Springs high school. His second album, My Way, was released in 1997 and included hit songs such as You Make Me Wanna and Nice & Slow.
The album debuted at No.15 on the Billboard 200 and later reached number 4 on the chart. It sold over seven million copies worldwide and has been certified six-time platinum in the United States.
Usher launched an acting career, making his debut in the UPN network series, Moesha, where he played a supporting role which led to his first film role in the 1998 sci-fi horror, The Faculty. He acted in two more films; She’s All That and his first leading role in Light It Up. He also appeared in the Disney TV movie Geppetto.
In 1999, Usher released his first concert album, Live, and it featured appearances by Lil’ Kim, Jagged Edge, Trey Lorenz, Shanice, Twista and Manuel Seal. The album has been certified gold in the United States.
Titled initially All About U, he released his third album, revised and renamed 8701, on August 7, 2001. It sold over 210,000 copies in its first week, and the album successfully peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200. The album has been certified four-time platinum in the United States.
In 2004, Usher released his fourth studio album, Confessions. It was an instant hit and sold 1.1 million copies in its first week. The album also won him several awards, including three Grammys.
It has since sold over 15 million copies worldwide, with over 10 million in the United States, and the album was certified Diamond by the RIAA.
His subsequent two albums, Here I Stand, released in 2008, topped the Billboard 200 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, and Raymond v Raymond which was inspired by the end of Usher’s marriage, was released in 2010.
They were both commercial successes, each selling over a million copies. The latter made him the first male artist since Eminem to have three consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
In 2012, he released his seventh album Looking 4 Myself. It was the No. 1 spot on the US Billboard 200 and spawned several hits such as Climax, Scream and Numb. Climax made Usher an eight-time Grammy winner when it won the award for Best R&B Performance.
In 2018, Usher released his ninth studio album, titled simply A. Produced entirely by Zaytoven, it was a collaborative album between the singer and the producer who previously worked on Usher’s Raymond v. Raymond.
He is also involved with several entrepreneurial ventures, such as being the owner of the record label US Records, a co-owner of music streaming service Tidal, and a co-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.
Usher’s Net Worth
Recognized as one of best selling artists in the US, he has sold more than 65 million records globally. His wealth stems from music sales, concert tours, acting career, investments, partnerships and endorsements through the years with big names such as Samsung, Mastercard, and Pepsi, which has turned him into a household name.
This has given him a monumental net worth of $180 million.
Lessons from the Life of Usher
Chase Your Dreams Relentlessly
Usher knew where his passion lay from an early age, and he went to various lengths to achieve it. Rather than luck, it was his effort that paid off. Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams and plan your steps to success.
Evolve and Grow
One of Usher’s charms that have helped both in his career and his life is his constant desire to go beyond. As humans, we need to welcome change and use it to our advantage.
