When Usher received the President’s Award at the 55th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, he dedicated the prestigious honor to his mother and his family.
“I’m thankful for the support that my mother gave me for my dreams,” he said in part. “I’m so overwhelmed with appreciation for my entire family. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do this.”
“They say behind or beside or with every strong man is a stronger woman — and for that I thank my mother, and I thank my beautiful wife Jennifer, for holding me down,” he continued, before adding, “My kids, I love you guys so, so much.”
Before the night was over, Usher was also named entertainer of the year and outstanding male artist at the NAACP Image Awards.
The spotlight on Usher and his family has been stronger than ever since the R&B legend performed at the the Super Bowl 58 halftime show in February, where he sang some of his biggest hits including “Yeah!” and “OMG.”
Usher, 45, is a father of four and recently featured his daughter Sovereign near the end of the music video for his new single “Ruin” with singer-songwriter and producer Pheelz.
Below, get to know the “Coming Home” singer and his family.
Jennifer Goicoechea
Usher has been with wife Jennifer Goicoechea since 2019. Goicoechea is a music executive at Epic Records.
The couple married in Las Vegas in February, on the same night as Usher’s Super Bowl halftime show. They have two children together, Sovereign and Sire.
Usher “Cinco” Raymond V
Usher shares his eldest child Usher Raymond V, also known as Cinco, with ex-wife Tameka Foster, to whom he was married from 2007 to 2009.
Usher V is now 16, and last November, his proud father dedicated his live performance in Las Vegas to his firstborn son.
“Happy super sixteen to my firstborn @cincoye we celebrating U in ATL & Vegas,” the singer wrote alongside an Instagram video post marking the teen’s milestone birthday.
MORE: How Usher is preparing for Super Bowl halftime show
Naviyd Ely Raymond
Naviyd, Usher’s second child with Foster, is now 15.
When Naviyd turned 13, Usher shared a tribute to him in an Instagram post and called him his creative partner.
“NAVIYD!!! Turnin the Big 13!!! My Silent Partner, Creative Director, Always Full of Ideas… You’re ‘The Good News’ Wishing you the Happiest Birthday son!! Love DAD You are my favorite 13 year old,” he wrote at the time.
Sovereign Nancy Bo Raymond
Sovereign is Usher’s third child, and the first for him and Goicoechea.
Usher announced that the couple was expecting during an appearance on “Good Morning America” on Sept. 4, 2020.
“Very excited about this! … Babies always bring such joy to a family and I’m really excited for my young one’s arrival,” he said at the time.
The couple welcomed their daughter soon after, and Usher announced Sovereign’s arrival in a celebratory Instagram photo post on Sept. 30, 2020.
“We are feeling blessed and full of love with the arrival of our beautiful baby girl, Sovereign Bo Raymond. ‘Isn’t She lovely’ by Stevie Wonder on repeat ❤️ ❤️ ❤️,” he wrote at the time.
Sire Castrello Raymond
Usher announced the birth of his youngest child, a son named Sire Castrello, in an October 2021 Instagram post.
“Hi my name is Sire Castrello Raymond … I am the newest addition to the Raymond crew,” the “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)” singer wrote in the accompanying caption. “I was born Sept 29 2021 at 6:42pm weighing 7lbs 13oz. Hear me roar … A.K.A Ra Ra .👶🏽 ♎️Gang #demraymondboys.”
In a separate Instagram post that same month, Goicoechea noted that Sire is named in part after her grandfather, Champ Castrello.
“The Champ is Here!! Weighing in at 7lbs 13oz… Sire Castrello Raymond. Proud to be your Mama ❤️,” she wrote at the time. “I recently lost my grandfather, Champ Castrello (he was was 105) . Champ was the strongest, bravest, family oriented, funny and kindest man I know.. (other than my baby father lol) I couldn’t ask for a better example of how a man should be! He was the definition… it was only right we keep his name alive. #family #legacy #demraymondboys.”
