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Usher's Evolution: New Album, New Chapter for Star
Grammy-winner talks to Robin Roberts about personal and professional challenges.
March 29, 2010— -- Usher Raymond IV has the voice and what he calls "the swagger" -- a style so distinctive he only needs one name to get the party started.
But the last year hasn't been a party for the R&B superstar, and after enduring a number of struggles in his personal life, he's back with an introspective new album called "Raymond v. Raymond."
His favorite cut, he said, is "the whole thing."
"They're all my babies," he told "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts. "I don't have a favorite cut. I wish I did. You know, the entire album is a package."
The Grammy winner views each project as "a new chapter" and an opportunity to grow and to tell a story. In "Raymond v. Raymond," he said, the story is the difference between the real Raymond and his public perception.
"My fans will be able to understand, 'Wow, there was a story here,'" he said. "There was an evolution of the person.'"
Fans have watched Usher's professional evolution from a 13-year-old "Star Search" contestant to a multi-platinum, multi-faceted superstar. But with the success has come pain, including a very public divorce from Tameka Foster, the mother of his two sons.
"I didn't become an artist to hide out," he said. "You know, anonymity is something that goes out the window when you decide that you want to be an entertainer."
When asked if the lack of anonymity took a toll on his marriage, he said, "I'm pretty sure it did."
"To have my life as heavily scrutinized as it is, and people to have their opinions, you know, everybody's going to have one," he said. "And unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about it."
The most difficult part of the divorce was letting go of something that was "one of the most sincere occurrences in my life."
"Unfortunately, it just did not work out," he said. "And we've moved on to be very happy."
He said he and his ex-wife are fully committed to co-parenting their sons and focusing on their growth and development.
"I just hope that my kids will be passionate young men," he said, "that they will believe in something and stick to it until it is finished."
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