USHER: Oh No, Say It Ain't So

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

According to published reports, R&B superstar Usher Raymond has chosen his 38-year-old fiancee to handle his career over his mother Jonetta Patton (pictured here in a recent photo). Did Usher really put his mom out to pasture?

If you have the tabloids tell it, yes: Jonetta Patton is being "eased out."

"Damn, Damn, Damn!!!" as Florida Evans expressed on a memorable episode of 'Good Times.'

What a way to spend Mother's Day.

Speaking of mothers: Tameka Foster, the 38-year-old divorced mother of three who is now engaged to the 28-year-old multi-platinum-selling, multiple Grammy Award winning R&B superstar, is believed to be the new Capo of the House of Usher.

38-year-old fashion stylist Tameka Foster is a divorced mother of three. Here, she is pictured with Usher, the R&B superstar she's engaged to. "Tameka has a hold over him," one alleged "friend" told the 'New York Daily News' this week. "Nobody can figure it out. Some people think he may make Tameka his manager."

Whoa.

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Another infamous black momager once told me years ago that "nothing is stronger than pillow talk."

Patton, who celebrated her 50th birthday at a lavish soiree last month, has been reportedly romantically linked to Eric Carr, a 36-year-old well-to-do former professional pugilist turned tycoon. According to Wikipedia, the Houston native is a 1993 Golden Globes champ, who has one child from a previous relationship.

He and Patton are reportedly engaged.

Holy Cougar!!!

R&B superstar Usher in his 'Burn' video, circa 2004 No one has really confirmed if a fall-out occurred between mom and son, but Usher's longtime publicist Simone Smalls confirmed that she, herself, is no longer working for him -- after a near decade-long association. However, the esteemed Vice President of New York's Susan Blond publicity firm remains in close company with Patton and said that she will not be releasing a statement about her son.

Now I'm not going to say that Usher, legally known as Usher Raymond, is throwing "mama from the train," but all arrows are pointing in that direction.

His former record company publicist Chris Chambers, who also works OutKast, Jill Scott and Mya, said he thinks Usher may have hired power publicist Patti Webster, whose client roster includes Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, Patti LaBelle, Ludacris and Kimberley Locke, among others.

Webster has not confirmed or denied her involvement in Usher's revamped management efforts at presstime.

This ousted momager business couldn't have come at a worst time, though.

Jonetta Patton photographed with her son Usher. There are reports that he is no longer being managed by his longtime momager. She's the subject of an E! Television special about Hollywood Moms, airing on Mother's Day. Patton, once described as "rotund" and "jovial" in a legendary 'Vibe' magazine cover story penned by 'New York Times' reporter Lola Ogunnaike, is the subject of an E! Television special, 'Raising Celebrity: Tales of Hollywood Moms,' premiering May 13 --that's Mother's Day!!!

Known as one of the most successful (and stable) stage moms in the business, Patton talks tough throughout the hour-long special, which also features an exclusive interview with Lindsay Lohan's tabloid-ready mother Dina Lohan.

"You wear two hats, but you never take off the mother's hat," Patton is quoted as saying.

"If you're hanging with your kid in the club and you're doing the same thing that your, your kid's doing, then how could you demand the respect, so, I think it's important that the parent always set the example," she commented.

She doled out other advice too.

"As a parent in the business that manages the child, I will say be the leader, not the follower."

With advice like that, I'm starting to wonder if maybe she should've gotten a book deal, like Kanye West's mother.

"You have to always have the kid's best interest at heart from the beginning, and, then, second, you have to know in your heart that you are doing the right thing for the kid," she said.

Now that she may not be overseeing the mega-successful career she built, Jonetta Patton could be an in-demand free agent.

(l-r) Executives at pop starlet Britney Spears record label are reportedly hoping that Usher's mother Jonetta Patton will oversee her troubled career. "[Execs at Usher's label] think Jonetta's done an incredible job with his career," the "friend" told the 'Daily News.' "They're encouraging her to take on Britney Spears."