By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
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.
"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.
Technorati Profile
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!!!
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.
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.
"[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."
I would pay to see that happen.
Maybe Brit would too.
Ha.
According to a rep for the E! network, 'Hollywood Moms' "uncovers the talked-about tales of celebrity moms like Spears, Kate Moss and B."
Bow Wow's mom, Theresa Caldwell was also interviewed for the special.
Now, that sounds like some "Must See TV."
UPDATE #1: IN HIS OWN WORDS: Usher faces the music and responds here.
UPDATE #2: CONFESSIONS OF A PUBLICIST, Usher's Ex-Spokesperson Speaks here.
Comments: (147)
Add a comment
By: BiigO6 on 5/08/2007 2:01PM
YO USHER YOU BUGGIN OR WHO KNOWS WHATS GOIN ON WITH UR RELATIONSHIP WITH UR MOTHER, BUT THATS UR BIZZ. BUT COME ON NOW SHE AND UR GRANDMA RAISE YOU TO BE THE MAN YOU ARE..YO ITS WHATEVA FLOUGHTS YA BOUT KiiD...IM STILL WAITING FOR THE NEXT ALBUM BUT >>dammdammdamm>Say something the the Media so they can stop bashing you and understand what's goin on
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: BiigO6 on 5/08/2007 2:04PM
Make the Next album hot 2 Cd Layout 1 side Music other side Vidoes..Every track a HIT
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: B. RAFEAL SMITH ( LIMODUDE 999) on 5/08/2007 2:41PM
USHER RAYMOND, YOU'RE A DAMN FOOL IF YOU MARRY THIS GIRL! IT'S PLAIN TO SEE THAT YOU ARE DRAWN TO OLDER, CONTROLLING WOMEN, BUT ONE WHO HAS THREE KIDS, TWO BABY DADDIES, A TRICK CUNT, AND A DESIRE TO DISTROY YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR OWN MOTHER IS MORE OF AN ENEMY. YOU DON'T SEE IT NOW, BUT MARK MY WORDS: "THIS FEELING WILL NOT LAST AND YOU'LL REGRET THAT YOU LET HER PUSH JONETTA ASIDE.I'VE SEEN JO IN ACTION. SHE'S GREAT FOR YOU AS BOTH A MOTHER AND A MANAGER.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: janice on 5/08/2007 2:53PM
usher you have your whole life ahead of you to start new.When you get married it should be for life, not when someone have a disagreement.I hope you give it some thought.Remember God hates a devoiceing.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: L.J. on 5/08/2007 2:48PM
I think Usher made a big mistake letting his mother go. Like the article said she built his empire. He was doing great with her. Unless she wants to retire then that is another story.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: MRS.DIVA CT on 5/08/2007 2:54PM
YOUR MOTHER IS YOUR BACK BONE! DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR MOTHER FOR NOBODY!!!! I LOVE YOU USHER! YOU ARE ARE VERY SMART YOUNG MAN SO LOVE YOUR MOTHER! YOU ONLY GET ONE MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: FuFu on 5/08/2007 3:32PM
It will not work, I know, been there done that. It was the worse 7 years of my life. It will be for him too. Starting out by cheating, KARMA will get you and yo cheat-mate. He really doens't know how she will take him for evey peeny and whatever else she wants, when she is done. Then he will cry. He will curse the day he betrayed his Mother. I can't beleive these women who look like drag Queens winning over a so-called real man. I'm sorry, but there is more than we all see. I tought his new woman was t MTW, trany. That's ok too. I'm not saying it's wrong or bad, I'm saying that looks and appearances can be decieving. Many have been fooled by beauitful trany people. It happens. I know she had children, becasue the artical speaks of them, so why she look so hard? Maybe its becasue I know she cheated, so she looks odd. maybe thats it. So, she being a woman, should know never to block out the Mother of a woman who brought her son raise, by her renforcment of his abiltiy to be who he is and became. I know this, this new woman who cheated her way into his life, is going to be his KARMA. I tell ya people, don't waste your money on this loser. Looks are ugly when a person does wrong to another person who had a wife that you took, or she enticed you to be her, so you went. Pay back is a blip, and revenge is a credit card queen on your heels! I hope he does wake up. He doesn't know it, but he really messed up his life, and so young.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: altinea' on 5/08/2007 3:41PM
wow. I am truly surprised that Usher is even involved with this young lady. She is the female I think that Usher's mom tried to keep away from him in the first place. I can totally see his mom's reservations about her. Her son is a multi millionaire and he can have any woman he desires and he chooses a woman with all this baggage. I would hope that he would not push his mother, who has devoted her life to making sure he is successful and productive, for a female who is trying to re create his whole circle and take over his whole career. Above everything this is his mother and their is nobody that should come between that relationship. NO WIFE. NO BABY MOM....NOBODY. He needs to watch his girl very closely because sometimes when people get into your life and they want to move people out it is because they do not want him around people who may tell him the truth about the other person that may be ruining their life. Be careful Usher. I would hate for you to run away the people who really care about your best intrest. God bless
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: FuFu on 5/08/2007 3:39PM
Tell when when they end the sob story of all the pain and suffering they , no she was thru, ha. Everyone else can see, but him.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: tony on 5/08/2007 4:26PM
what is he smoking you never hurt your moms not for some old lady with 3 kids come on ush.
Reply to this Comment | Report This