Source: www.celebritymound.com

Turns out Usher’s still a mama’s boy.

The R&B hitmaker has dumped Hollywood power broker Benny Medina and rehired mom Jonnetta Patton as his manager, E! News has exclusively learned.

“With an artist like Usher, the bar is set really high,” Medina tells E! News. “Whether it was management, marketing or the music, we achieved a No. 1 single and a No. 1 album…I had a great time and we parted ways amicably.”
The behind-the-scenes shakeup also saw the voluntary departure of publicist Patti Webster. “I was not fired,” she tells E! News.

Sources say the Medina split is a direct result of disappointing record sales for the team’s first and only collaboration, Here I Stand.

“The record is pretty stiff, and nowhere nearly as successful as Confessions,” an insider says, referring to the singer’s 2004 blockbuster.

Confessions was a worldwide sensation, selling 19 million copies under the supervision of Patton. After debuting at No. 1 in June, Here I Stand, Usher’s fifth studio album, has chalked up a comparatively paltry 2 million in sales worldwide. This, despite the radio success of the single “Love in This Club (Part II).”

Adds Medina: “It is a completely new day and time in music now. In four years, his audience, demographic, and musical direction has changed. Records like Lil Wayne’s ‘Lollipop’ are the type of phenomena that ‘Yeah’ was in 2004.”
There was no immediate comment from Usher or Patton.

Usher dumped the momager for Medina last year amid reports of tension between wife Tameka Foster and Patton—and considering his previous remarks, it might be tough going home again.

“This is great for me because it means I now get to have my mother strictly as my mother, with no added pressure,” the one-named wonder, whose last name is Raymond, told the Associated Press in 2007, when he and Patton parted ways.

And just last month, the 29-year-old entertainer was quoted in Vibe magazine calling his mom an “aggressive person” who made his decision to part ways difficult.

“I hurt more than anything over these last two years, when I felt my mother didn’t really embrace my situation,” Usher told Vibe.

News of the switcheroo also comes after Usher’s rep shot down rumors that he and Foster were having marital issues.
While it remains to be seen whether Patton still has the multiplatinum touch when it comes to guiding her son’s career, Medina’s probably not hurting too much.

His current stable includes Nicole Richie, Mariah Carey and Rupert Everett. He has also previously helped call the shots for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Tyra Banks and Sean “Diddy” Combs.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Is Usher ready to admit mother knows best?

The singer is said to be quietly talking with mom Jonetta Patton about becoming his manager again.

Last year, just days before Mother’s Day, Usher stunned friends by telling the woman who turned him into an R&B superstar that her services were no longer needed. Shortly afterward, we revealed that he was replacing her with Benny Medina, the man who has steered the careers of Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez, among others.

But now that Usher’s new album has been slow off the mark, he’s blaming Medina, say sources. True, the CD, “Here I Stand,” debuted at number one. But Usher is said to have been disappointed that it sold 433,000 in its first week, compared with his last CD, 2004’s “Confessions,” which had sales of 1.1 million in its first seven days.

Medina, who’s an expert at holding artists’ hands, reassured Usher that his latest sales were nothing to be ashamed of, considering the current climate of the record business. But then, three weeks later, Lil Wayne’s album, “Tha Carter III,” sold more than one million copies its first week out.
“Usher was livid!,” claims an insider. “He threatened to fire everyone.”

Also troubling were the ratings for the BET Awards. While the show pulled 6.3 million viewers when Beyonce opened it last year, the Usher-headlined show drew only 5.8 million.

“People have been telling Usher to listen to his mother,” says a source. “Nobody knows how to sell him better than she does. Usher can be stubborn. But he may be ready.”

Some claim Usher pink-slipped his mom because she failed to show proper deference to his stylist-turned-girlfriend-turned-wife, Tameka Foster. But now that Foster has given her a grandson, the two ladies are said to be getting along better. Usher, for one, denies he fired his mom. Rather, he tells Vibe, “[I paid her] the ultimate compliment - to retire her to be a full-time grandmother.”

Patton has actually been busy running her own record label and managing other artists, including Usher’s brother, Jlack. But sources say that if Usher cries momma, she’s there for him.

(source)

Source: www.celebridiot.com

The 2008 BET Awards took place last night and the stars were out in force.  The show featured some fantastic performances that included Usher, Chris Brown with Ciara, Nelly with Fergie, Lil Wayne and T-Pain, plus even more!!! 

Chris Brown with Ciara

Alicia Keys and SWV

Usher

Ne-Yo

Lil Wayne T-Pain

Nelly with Fergie

Source: www.celebritymound.com

The wait is over! Usher’s long-awaited and highest anticipated album of 2008, HERE I STAND, hits shelves today. This is another musical masterpiece and soon to be classic album from the R&B Superstar!

Don’t forget to pick up a copy and check out the NEW single, soon to be a hit, MOVING MOUNTAINS!

BUY the album HERE!

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Source: www.celebridiot.com

Were you stuck at work today and not able to catch Ellen this morning.  If so you missed Hilary Duff, Gavin Rossdale, and surprise guest Usher on the show!  Luckily you can still catch up!

Hilary duff on Ellen

Surprise guest Usher shows up!

Gavin Rossdale (Mr. Gwen Stefani) performs!

Source: www.celebridiot.com

Usher’s newest CD, Here I Stand, will hit stores May 27th, but you can hear the whole thing right now. The CD features the current hit Love in this Club which he performed on Dancing With The Stars last night - well moved too is more like it I guess.

Source: www.celebridiot.com

Usher appeared on the Dancing With The Stars super long finale and performed his newest hit Love In this Club and Yeah.

User Sings Love In This Club

Usher Sings Yeah

Source: www.showbizspy.com

R & B singer Usher says David Beckham “is the epitome of cool” and that he’s “one of the coolest white boys” he knows.

The ‘Yeah!’ hitmaker, who is good friends with David and his wife Victoria, says the superstar couple are popular among Hollywood’s elite because they are so genuine.

He says, “It’s because they’re real people. Every time I see David, he’s so chilled. He’s the epitome of cool.

“We talk more on text than anything, but I ran into David in Beverly Hills the other day while he was with his sons. I understand that Brooklyn is a great break-dancer and I look forward to doing something like that with my own son.”

However, Usher, full name Usher Raymond IV, says he has no plans to invite the LA Galaxy soccer star to sing on one of his albums.

He adds, “He’s one of the coolest white boys I know, but David really doesn’t sing.”

Source: www.showbizspy.com

Soccer star David Beckham agreed to star in a promotional video for R+B superstar Usher - but stood him up.

The British sports ace was scheduled to star in the music video for the star’s track Love In This Club - but failed to turn up at the studio.

Usher says, “David was supposed to come down and chill and be in the video, but he stood me up.”

Source: www.showbizspy.com

R & B singer Usher says he refuses to cash in on parenthood by selling baby pictures to a magazine.

“In no way would I ever pimp out my child for money,” Usher tells the New York Post newspaper.

“I am livid that people talk about my child,” Usher, 29, said of the rumors he was trying to sell photos of his infant son, Usher Raymond V.

Instead of selling the snaps, the ‘Pop Ya Collar’ hitmaker — real name Usher Raymond IV — has posed — for free — with his son for an “incredible” Father’s Day cover for Essence magazine.

“What makes you a man more than being a father to your child? I recognize I gave anonymity away when I became an artist, but to have people try to paint a horrible picture of what’s so beautiful—it’s obvious someone is trying to stop something so beautiful,” he adds.

Usher also defended his wife, Tameka Foster, who was blamed for the firing of most of his music team, for not getting along with his mother, Jonetta Patton, and for being jealous of other women.

“I stand by her as a man loving my wife and being there for my child . . . Opinions are like assholes. Everybody’s got one,” he said. “What I will say is, this is my wife and I would hope that [people] would respect my wife and my marriage and who I have chosen to spend my life with.”

Usher’s new album, ‘Here I Stand’, is released on May 27.

Source: www.celebridiot.com

The official video for Usher’s smash hit new singe, Love in this Club, is on the net!

Source: www.showbizspy.com

Tameka Foster displayed her trademark “wrath” during a recent video shoot for husband Usher’s new song “Love in the Club”.

Foster — who has a four-month-old son with the ‘Pop Ya Collar’ singer — was furious when she found out her husband of 8 months had personally picked pretty singer/songwriter Keri Hilson to play his love interest in the video.

A source told the New York Post: “It was supposed to be a sexy video shoot.

“And Tameka was there the entire time guarding like a watchdog. It was ridiculous - she knows Keri and knows she’s no video ho or Karrine Steffans.

“Tameka is very insecure. Even in rehearsals she was weird and clearly not happy that Keri is so gorgeous.

“Tameka threw a lot of attitude. The day of the shoot, Tameka dressed Keri very badly - she looked like an extra.

“Tameka wouldn’t let Keri have her hairdresser there - she had to use the hairdresser who was doing the extras.”

And when Usher — full name Usher Raymond IV — and Foster were spotted at the Beverly Hills Hotel after the shoot, “They barely said one word to each other,” the source said.

Usher’s rep said: “Keri could not have been happier with Tameka’s choices in the styling, hair and makeup. The shoot itself went brilliantly.”

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Foster was “domineering” and displayed her trademark “Tameka wrath” during a video shoot for Usher’s new song, “Love in the Club,” the weekend of March 15 in LA.

Our on-set source said Foster was upset when she found out stunning singer/songwriter Keri Hilson was personally picked by Usher to play his love interest in the video.

“It was supposed to be a sexy video shoot,” our spy said. “And Tameka was there the entire time guarding like a watchdog. It was ridiculous - she knows Keri and knows she’s no video ho or Karrine Steffans.” Steffans, nicknamed “Superhead,” wrote the book, “Video Vixen,” about her alleged flings with Usher and several other artists.

“Tameka is very insecure,” our source said. “Even in rehearsals she was weird and clearly not happy that Keri is so gorgeous. Tameka threw a lot of attitude. The day of the shoot, Tameka dressed Keri very badly - she looked like an extra. Tameka wouldn’t let Keri have her hairdresser there - she had to use the hairdresser who was doing the extras.”

Foster also took a dislike to Usher’s longtime choreographer, Jamaica, and banned her from the set. When Usher and Foster were spotted at the Beverly Hills Hotel last week, “They barely said one word to each other,” we’re told.

The two have had a choppy past. After they got engaged, Usher fired his mom, Jonetta Patton, as his manager and also axed his publicists. “Tameka was the one and only one to call the shots,” spies said.

They were supposed to wed last summer at L.A. Reid’s Hamptons estate - but the wedding was called off at the last minute. They wed a week later in Atlanta, and Foster gave birth to their son, Usher Raymond V, in November. Usher’s album, which may be called “Regret,” was supposed to have come out last year but was delayed due to his wedding and baby. It is now expected by June.

Usher’s manager, Benny Medina, said via e-mail: “Keri could not have been happier with Tameka’s choices in the styling, hair and makeup . . . Jamaica was flown out and arrived a day late to do Keri’s choreography, and was on-set at all times. The shoot itself went brilliantly.”

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Usher’s father, Usher Raymond III, passed away at an Atlanta hospital on Friday, the R&B star’s rep confirms to PEOPLE.

The cause of death was not immediately known and Usher was unavailable for comment.

The funeral will take place this week at the Taylor funeral home chapel in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press was first to report the news.

Usher and his wife Tameka recently celebrated the birth of their son, Usher Ramond V.

(source)

Source: www.celebridiot.com

Usher and his wife Tameka Foster welcomed a baby boy into the family today.  Their is no word on the name of the child yet, but Usher did say if it was a boy he wanted to give the child his name.

Usher and his wife, Tameka Foster, welcomed a baby boy at 9:30 p.m. Monday night, a representative for the singer has confirmed to MTV News. The baby weighed 7 pounds and 9 ounces.

It hasn’t been the easiest year for the couple.  User closed down his fan site message board after many began referring to Tameka as Maneka.   Many also believe that his new wife has hurt his career and taken away all control from the singer.

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Usher and his wife, Tameka Foster, welcomed a baby boy on Monday night, multiple sources say.

While reps for Usher and Foster were not immediately available for comment, one source says Usher was with his wife and new child Tuesday at an Atlanta hospital, and the family is expected to head home on Wednesday.

Multiple sources told PEOPLE before the birth that the couple planned to name their son Usher Raymond V.

No other details were available.

Usher, 29, and Foster, 36, announced the pregnancy in June. In September, Usher told PEOPLE that they were expecting a boy, and added, “I just want my son to fully be coherent and to be healthy, first and foremost.”

The couple were married in a quiet civil ceremony in Atlanta on Sept. 1.

Source: www.celebritymound.com

FOR those who were holding their breath waiting for Usher’s new album, it’s time to exhale. Industry insiders told Page Six that though the R&B star had been planning to drop a record next month, “it’s not happening anymore” due to “issues in his personal life” relating to new wife Tameka Foster. According to the source, “Usher only listens to Tameka now, and she wants all Usher’s focus to be on her and the baby.” The couple, who wed in August, are expecting later this year. Bailing on the album may not have been a wise decision on his part, however, especially because other money-making ventures - like the launch of his new fragrances - were scheduled to coincide with the new disc. “The album had been in the works for over a year,” the insider dished. “He put it on the back burner when Tameka got pregnant . . . now it looks like it’s never going to happen.” Usher’s reps did not return multiple calls for comment.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Usher and his pregnant wife Tameka Foster will renew their wedding vows in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend, according to reports.

The 28-year-old - real name Usher Raymond - married stylist Foster at his lawyer’s office in Atlanta on August 3rd.

The nuptials followed a last minute cancellation of a star-studded wedding ceremony at music mogul Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid’s Sagaponack, New York home in late July.

Foster blamed a brief hospitalisation for the postponement.

Now the couple is hosting another lavish ceremony, which insiders claim will be more in line with what they’d originally planned, with family and friends invited.

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Nelly checks out the pregnant belly of Monica

Usher points out his wife Tameka Foster’s Pregnancy

Jermaine Dupri and Janet Jackson

Source: www.celebritymound.com

When Usher and Tameka Foster tied the knot in a simple civil ceremony Aug. 3, there were no white hydrangea centerpieces, no love songs from Robin Thicke, no fancy spreads from celebrity chefs, and – most conspicuously – no mother of the groom, PEOPLE reports in its new issue.

A source close to the family confirms that Usher’s mother and former manager, Jonetta Patton, was a no-show at the ceremony, reportedly held in Usher’s lawyer’s office, and she instead chose to spend the day at a spa in Atlanta.

As for the rest of Usher’s inner circle, “some people didn’t know about [the civil wedding] until a day later,” says a source. “But that’s Usher and Tameka for you. One thing one day and a whole other thing the next.”

The missing mom could add fuel to the rumor fires circulating after the R&B singer, 28, called off his lavishly planned July 28 Hamptons wedding at the last minute.

Other theories for the postponement include a dust-up over wedding details, a pregnant Foster, 37, being reluctant regarding a prenup (she eventually agreed to sign one) and a strained relationship with Patton, who apparently does not get along with her new daughter-in-law.

Possible points of contention mentioned in the media are that Foster has three children from a previous marriage as well as a 1991 conviction for auto theft.

The newlyweds plan to make it up to their whiplashed friends and family by throwing a big bash in Atlanta in a few weeks.

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

After abruptly canceling his Hamptons wedding to stylist Tameka Foster last Saturday, Usher became a married man Friday in Atlanta, a source confirms.

The two reportedly exchanged vows in the office of his lawyer – a far different affair than the event planned for last weekend at music mogul L.A. Reid’s Sagaponack, N.Y., home. The couple had spent $10,000 on invitations alone, and had lined up singer Robin Thicke to perform and renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, along with Sylvia’s of Harlem, to cook.

“It would have looked amazing,” one source said of the plans.

But Friday, in their home state of Georgia, the Chicago Sun-Times reports, it was a much simpler ceremony for the couple, who are expecting their first child together this winter. (Foster also has three children from a previous marriage.)

The marriage came after speculation that the couple had called things off because of arguments involving everything from the wedding plans to the fact that Usher’s mother, Jonetta Patton, didn’t approve of Foster.

The bride-to-be dismissed those rumors, but did confirm that she had a pregnancy “scare.”

In fact, the couple insisted that it was that hospitalization that caused the postponement, and nothing more. “I was pushing myself way too hard,” the five-months pregnant Foster, 37, said. “But I am fine and the baby is fine.”

A source also said that it was never a question that they would marry at some point and that Usher, 28, “wants to be there for a baby.”

(source)

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Saturday’s canceled wedding of Usher and Tameka Foster – who is due to have the couple’s baby this fall – was the result of the past few bumpy days for the couple.

At issue were family matters and the event itself.

“Usher’s mother [and former manager, Jonetta Patton, whom he fired in May] is against the wedding. That is one of the main obstacles,” according to the source, who also said of the bride, 37, and groom, 28: “They only decided two weeks ago to have a wedding. They wanted to have it take place before the baby bump started showing.”

But as another source tells PEOPLE: “Usher changed his mind.”

Usher (full name: Usher Raymond) and Foster, a stylist, also “had a lot of differences about the details. For example, the bride wanted barbeque, [and] he wanted to have [renowned chef] Jean Georges cook,” said the source.

As a result of the differences, the wedding “was on again off again for the past few days. [Foster] was calling it off because she wasn’t getting the things that she wanted. The mother was calling it off. … Usher was calling it off.”

On Saturday, only hours before the afternoon ceremony was to take place at the Southampton, N.Y., estate of music mogul L.A. Reid, Usher’s publicist Patti Webster issued the following statement: “It was announced today that the wedding ceremony for Usher Raymond IV and Tameka Foster was canceled. No additional information will be given regarding the circumstances of the cancellation, but we hope the privacy of this matter will be respected.”

According to the New York Post, the 70 to 100 guests who needed to be informed there was to be no wedding included couples Beyoncé and Jay Z, as well as Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri.

The paper also said Usher’s godfather, Broadway star Ben Vereen, had been removed from the guest list because of his view toward Foster, and that Usher’s mother had not been invited to begin with.

New York’s Daily News reports that Usher’s mother was invited at the last minute, though an unnamed source tells the paper she did not want to go.

“The tents were up,” an insider says. “And they paid all of the people, the vendors, so that wasn’t an issue. … Hotel rooms were an issue. Janet [Jackson] was coming, but she had eight security people. Ashanti and Nelly were coming.”

The source added that it was a possibility that the wedding may still come off. On Saturday, however, Webster would not comment on whether Usher and Foster were still engaged or even remained a couple.

Foster was previously married to Noontime Music cofounder Ryan Glover, with whom she has three children.

Speaking about her relationship with Usher, Foster told Essence.com last month, “He just accepted me for who I am. I have flaws, I have an attitude problem. … Overall, I have issues that a person could either love or hate, but he accepted me completely. And every day he still treats me like we just met.”

Earlier this month, in an open letter to PEOPLE, Usher addressed rumors that he was somehow being coerced into getting married. “I am happy, excited, completely clear and independent on my direction, feelings, decisions,” he wrote, “and I am NOT BEING LED.”

(source & source)

Source: www.celebridiot.com

Usher has apparently had enough of his top fan site ripping into his fiance on a daily basis.  Tameka Foster has been on the short end of message boards, fan sites, gossip sites, news papers, and radio shows because of the way she seems to be controlling Ushers’ every move.  Usher filed suit in New York to force the shut down of usherforever.com.

Singer Usher has reportedly served a legal papers on the woman running his No.1 fansite, usherforever.com, to shut shop because the website does not care for his fiancee, Tameka Foster.

An insider has revealed that the singer has sent Erika Jackson papers through his lawyer.

“He’s had his lawyer send her papers,” the New York Daily News quoted the insider as saying.

I understand that Usher might be upset that his top fan site has been critical of some of his recent career moves and the fact that he had to come out and make a claim on his own website that Tameka isn’t in control, but that is no reason to sue.  This is a story that would have faded away when his new CD came out and the fans could appreciate his talent.  However this lawsuit makes Usher look bad and will make his recent bad press that much worse.  Good luck to the fan site!!

Stop making fun of me or I’ll tell my lawyer!!!

Source: www.celebritymound.com

Usher and Tameka Foster

Kanye West

Michael Jordan and Steven Tyler

Denise Rich and Ivana Trump