"Life is an evolution. So as I look at the reality of who I've become, I'm very happy, you know, but at the same time I'm, I'm humbled in every way every day." – Usher, reflecting on life

"I would not be who I am, what I am, without her." – Usher on the influence of his mother

"Everyone started talking about this little kid that was just the next Michael Jackson." – Jonnetta Patton, Usher's mother, on his first singing appearance

"I could not understand why this was happening to me. Uh, but more than anything, I couldn't understand why these people were turning their back on me." – Usher on almost being dropped from his record label at age 15

"At heart I am a lover man, because I'd always wanted to be in a relationship, a serious relationship." – Usher on seeking love

"I never thought of him cheating, I don't know I just, I didn't expect anything like that from him because of how much we loved each other. But I kept hearing about it, then I went to him and I asked him and he… admitted it. You know I just, I felt like… a fool, I felt like everybody knew something and I didn't, and I'm… just now finding out." - Rozonda "Chili" Thomas on finding out about Usher's infidelity

"I hated the album. You know, because I just, I hated what it stood for. I hated that it was blowing up because people were thinking that 'Oh my God, this is all about their relationship,' it was just too much. It was a lot for, it was too much for me to handle." - Rozonda "Chili" Thomas on Usher's album, Confessions

"The relationship between me and Tameka, uh, definitely bothered my mother… She never chooses to speak about it, but, I think that she just didn't approve of it because she didn't want to." Usher on the rift between his ex-wife Tameka and his mother

"I've been with him holding his hand since the age of 13. So he kind of wanted to step out and do his own thing as a man and I applaud him for that." - Jonnetta Patton, Usher's mother, on Usher firing her as his manager

"I felt like there was so much that I wanted to ask him. I wanted him to be clear about a few things with me and I wanted him to meet my son." – Usher on the death of his father

"I'm paying a lot, but I got a lot out of the deal too, you know. Um my boys, I love them, you know, and I'll never be unavailable for them. I'll always be there. Not having my father be there is what makes me the father that I am to my sons." – Usher on fatherhood and being awarded joint custody of his two sons

"I began to regret the fact that my life was all over the place, and, and, everybody had an opinion about it. I hated it, you know, I couldn't allow myself to be seen that way and I'd gotten lost." – Usher on people criticizing his life choices and music