Category Archives: Usher

Madonna Remembers Michael Jackson

The Queen of Pop star Madonna and fellow artists – Quincy Jones, Lisa Marie Presley, Brooke Shields, John Landis, Smokey Robinson and Usher – release statements about the death of Michael Jackson –


Kevin Mazur / WireImage

Quincy Jones: I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on The Wiz and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the 80’s. To this day, the music we created together on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all…talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.

Madonna: I can’t stop crying over the sad news. … I have always admired Michael Jackson. … The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! … My heart goes out to his 3 children and other members of his family. … God bless.

Lisa Marie Presley: I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children, who I know were everything to him, and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me.

Brooke Shields: My heart is overcome with sadness for the devastating loss of my true friend Michael. He was an extraordinary friend, artist and contributor to the world. I join his family and his fans in celebrating his incredible life and mourning his untimely passing.

Thriller director John Landis: I was lucky enough to know and work with Michael Jackson in his prime. Michael was an extraordinary talent and a truly great international star. He had a troubled and complicated life and despite his gifts, remains a tragic figure. My wife Deborah and I will always have great affection for him.

Smokey Robinson: It’s so shocking. “Michael was a gregarious prankster, but so advanced for his age talent-wise. He was watching everybody and learning all the time. He was a typical young boy too. One of my fondest memories is of him riding the golf carts when Bobby Taylor, who brought the Jackson 5 to Motown, and I played golf. The world is mourning the loss of his talent, and people will miss his music. Michael Jackson was one of the most intense, dynamic talents to ever live. When I was in London recently, the whole buzz was about those 50 concerts. He was still Michael Jackson.

Usher: This loss has deeply saddened me, with a heavy heart I composed this statement. May God cover you Michael. We all lift your name up in prayer. I pray for the entire JACKSON family particularly Michael’s mother and all his fans that loved him so much. I would not be the artist, performer, and philanthropist I am today without the influence of Michael. I have great admiration and respect for Him and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to meet and perform with such a great entertainer In so many ways he transcended culture. He broke barriers, he changed radio formats! With music, he made it possible for people like Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama to impact the mainstream world. His legacy is unparalleled Michael Jackson will never be forgotten.var addthis_pub=”reserveresult”;
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Timbaland @ GQ Gentlemen’s Ball

Peter King Hunsinger, John Varvatos, Jim Wahlberg, Mike Joyce, Mark Wahlberg, Forest Whitaker, Earl Best and Usher attend the GQ Magazine Gentlemen’s Ball at The Edison Ballroom in New York City

Keri Hilson and Timbaland perform at the lavish ball.


Wargo / WireImage

Kevin Wall was in attendance as well, congratulations to all of the honorees.

Rihanna @ Thisday ‘Africa Rising’ & InStyle

Rihanna, Jay-Z and Usher perform at the third annual Thisday ‘Africa Rising’ Festival in Abuja, Nigeria. Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, Ozwald Boateng, Naomi Campbell, Oluchi, Tyson Beckford and Alek Wek appeared in the next leg of Thisday ‘Africa Rising’ Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. And the festival will move to Washington, DC on August 1, and then conclude in London, UK on October 13.

Rihanna graces the cover and pages of Instyle August issue, and she delves into her personal style. The issue hits newsstands on Friday, July 18.

On her style: I love to play to both sides of my personality – the girlie and the tough. That’s what makes my style different. … (Growing up in Barbados), I wore my brother’s clothes, dresses with sneakers, or no shoes at all. I would always get into trouble with my mom. She would say things to scare me like, ‘You’re going to get cut!’ But I couldn’t help it. I would climb trees, steal mangoes, catch birds—silly things that were fun to us at the time.

On her short hair: The first time I heard people were asking for the Rihanna, it was really flattering and maybe a little strange. It caught be by surprise, but now I feel it’s a very cool thing. I don’t feel the pressure to change it up again at all. I like it, as they like it.

On where she’ll be in 10 years: …In 10 years I want to have already started my family and have some business of my own. A fashion line, a makeup line, and I still want to be doing what I’m doing at a much bigger capacity—by the grace of God!

To read the full article, visit InStyle.

Thisday ‘Africa Rising’ Festival is set to project positive images of Africa by showcasing the renaissance of Africa’s music, fashion and the arts.

Usher Humps Entertainment Weekly

Usher is the cover boy and one of the feature musician in Entertainment Weekly summer music preview issue.

On Usher’s son, Usher Raymond V., being a new addition to his family and healing his strained relationship with his mom: I have a beautiful baby boy that she’s in love with, he says. She’s very happy, and he makes us all a better family, period.

On replacing his mother / manager with Benny Medina (manages Mariah Carey and Nicole Richie): I understand the whole thing about the drama between me and my mother, he concedes. To be honest with you, we had a very one-sided relationship, and for obvious reasons: She had to make the majority of the sacrifices; otherwise we didn’t go forward…. I’m pretty sure that my mother would want to forever manage me. She’ll always be my partner. But I feel like I’m at a point where I wanna grow, be able to handle my business firsthand, and understand every facet of it. Also, on the other side is the fact that you get the stigma of being too sheltered. So now I make the move to go out as a man and stand on my own, and it’s bad?

On the sudden death of Usher’s father, who died of liver disease on January 21th of 2008: That made me care more about being a father than anything, he says. It’s my opportunity to make sure that [my son] never feels what I felt.

To read the full article, visit EW.com.

Usher & Kerry Washington @ Obama Rally

Usher, Kerry Washington, State Representative Bakari Seller and Chris Tucker attend Barack Obama’s presidential campaign rally at South Carolina State University.


Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press

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