Usher's parents, Jonnetta Patton and Usher Raymond III, could not have been more different in their influence on his life. While his mother was the architect of his music career, his father remained a distant figure. As Usher himself said, 'My mother was the one who was there… she was the person who really pushed me and believed in me when others didn’t. I did not have a relationship with my father at all. I didn’t know him my entire life.' This quote highlights the stark contrast between the two parents.
Key Takeaways
- Usher's parents split when he was young; he was raised primarily by his mother.
- His father, Usher Raymond III, was largely absent due to drug addiction.
- His father died on 18 January 2008 from liver failure, shortly after they attempted to reconcile.
- Usher has a half-brother, James 'J.Lack' Lackey, a music producer.
Profile Summary
- Full name: Usher Raymond IV
- Nickname: King of R&B, Big Tyme, Mr Entertainment
- Date of birth: 14 October 1978
- Age: 47 years old (as of May 2026)
- Place of birth: Dallas, Texas, United States
- Nationality: American
- Father: Usher Raymond III
- Mother: Jonnetta Patton
- Siblings: 1 (half-brother)
- Profession: Singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, businessman
Usher's Parents: Jonnetta Patton and Usher Raymond III
Usher Raymond IV was primarily raised by his mother after his parents separated when he was young. Jonnetta and Raymond married in 1977 and welcomed Usher the following year. After their divorce in 1979, Jonnetta remarried Terry Lackey two years later. The family moved from Chattanooga to Atlanta to support Usher's music career.
Jonnetta Patton
Jonnetta Patton is an entrepreneur, former choir director, and talent manager who was the driving force behind Usher's rise. After noticing his vocal talent in church, she closed her sewing business and moved the family to Atlanta. She managed his career for 17 years through her companies JPat Management and Lion Queen Entertainment. Usher credited her with instilling discipline and perseverance, saying during his 2024 NAACP Image Awards speech: 'If anyone deserves it more than anybody, it is her, because of the tenacity that it took to look within a male-dominant industry and believe in your son unwaveringly.' In 2007, they ended their professional partnership, allowing Jonnetta to focus on her own ventures. In a 2025 interview, she said: 'I absolutely love it. I spent 17 years building for my son. The things I’m doing now are all for myself.' She launched J's Kitchen Culinary Incubator in 2016 and J's Smokehouse. She also co-founded Usher's New Look, a non-profit for youth empowerment, and leads JP's Recipe for Life, promoting diabetes awareness.
Usher Raymond III
Usher Raymond III was born on 26 March 1955 in Chattanooga. He was a talented athlete who captained his high school basketball team and attended Motlow State Community College. He struggled with long-term substance abuse, which led him to leave the family when Usher was about one year old. In a 2008 interview, Usher said: 'My dad got into drugs at a very young age. Alcohol and substance abuse led to his death.' In a 2024 interview, he added: 'It was actually a bit of a tragic situation. I did not have a relationship with my father at all.' Before his death on 18 January 2008 from liver failure, Usher visited him in the hospital with encouragement from Nelly, providing closure. Usher said: 'I was happy that I did, happy that I got closure, happy that I forgave him for not being there and that I knew he really did love me.' He was buried in Highland Memorial Gardens in Chattanooga.
James 'J.Lack' Lackey
James Antwon Lackey is Usher's younger half-brother, son of Jonnetta Patton and Terry Lackey. He is a Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter. His breakthrough came in 2007 with Lloyd's hit 'Get It Shawty'. He has worked with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Chris Brown, and Ryon Lovett, and contributed to Usher's albums including Confessions (Expanded Edition), Here I Stand, and Raymond v. Raymond. He also owns Star Studios.
FAQs
- Who is Usher? An American dancer, singer, and songwriter known as the King of R&B.
- Who are Usher's parents? Jonnetta Patton and Usher Raymond III.
- What happened to Usher's father? He died from liver failure on 18 January 2008 after long-term drug addiction.
- Are Usher's parents Haitian? His mother is African-American; his father claimed African-American and Haitian heritage.
- What is Jonnetta Patton's nationality? American.
- Does Usher have a twin brother? No.
- How many siblings does Usher have? One half-brother, James 'J.Lack' Lackey.
- Does Usher have a relationship with his father? They reconciled shortly before his father's death.
- Did Usher's mom manage him? Yes, for 17 years until 2007.
Usher's parents shaped his early life in contrasting ways. His mother was a driving force in his rise, while his father was largely absent. This article was proofread by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
