Heartthrob Usher Raymond sits down with “O’ Magazine to talk about the best mistake he’s ever made: Getting married—at age 28.
“Getting married at 28. Most people probably think I regret it because I ended up getting divorced, but it helped me learn that sometimes I think I know more than I actually do.”
Not sure if Usher is referring to the fact that the one closest to him that loved, supported, and managed him throughout his career (his mother) was not on board for the relationship, the marriage and too, did not attend it. “Of course it hurt me. You know…this is supposed to be the person that I feel I’m going to share the rest of my life with and nobody is responding the way that I’d like them to respond,” said Usher.
It was just last year that Usher sat down with Oprah on OWN and pretty much explained that from the beginning, although he had the support of “ton of people”, “tons of people” didn’t give him their blessing on his blessed union with ex wife and mother of his two boys: Tameka Foster (Raymond) .
Needless to say, Usher ended up canceling the wedding ceremony hours before it was set to begin and the couple opted to marry in a private ceremony later that same year.
Although the relationship soured quickly Usher did admit the part he played in that being so. “Towards the end of our marriage, I found myself lost, and I just wanted out,” said Usher-when asked had he ever cheated on Tameka.
He continued: “No. I was faithful at heart, but not faithful all the way. Even having a conversation with another woman, period, about matters of your relationship or emotions is, in my opinion, not being faithful.”
Well, Usher had his turn to finally speak out on the unanswered questions (his side) of what Tameka Foster has spoken out on via television and other media platforms to varying degrees obvious and inconspicuous degrees.
Along with CeeLo Green’s ex-Christina Johnson, singer Neo’s ex-Monyetta Shaw, comedian Kevin Hart’s ex-Torrei Hart, and ex football player Ray Buchanon’s ex-Sheree Buchanan) Tameka Foster just recently joined the cast of “VH1’s Atlanta Exes,” and according to the trailer:
…Tameka’s storyline will be much adieu about her losses: the break up of she and Usher and as well, the loss of her son Kyle in a jet-ski incident (of whom someone else is the father-not Usher).
The show premiered Wednesday, August 13, 2014.
While the ball is back in Tameka’s court for the next few weeks/months, Usher is a feature and opened himself to the pages of ‘O’ magazines September issue-briefly talking about the marriage to Tameka as being his “best mistake”—in that it was a learning experience for him–that he didn’t know all he though he knew at 28 like he thought he did [at 28].
As well, the father of two talks about his love of family traditions: “Reunions, or what I call red-cup celebrations: Everybody’s hanging out on the lawn, drinking out of those plastic cups, eating fried chicken, and dancing to loud old-school music. Sometimes the simpler the celebration is the better...”
The babyfaced crooner (who’s managed to maintain a successful career for over the past twenty years) also shares some of the best advice he’s gotten from another great, James Brown. He said Brown told him right before performing together at the 2005 Grammys: “If you stay ready, you ain’t gonna get ready.’
Also known for his fancy footwork (and shiny nice shoes that he wears on “The Voice”); Usher says (about his impressive shoe collection) “My dress shoes. I shined my grandfather’s shoes as a kid, so I gained an appreciation at an early age for really nice Italian leather shoes.”
Usher header photo credit: Kenneth Cappello for O Magazine
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