We’re only three months into 2024 and Usher has been having quite the year. To continue the momentum, he was honored as “Entertainer of the Year” and received the coveted President’s Award at the 55th NAACP Image Awards.
In his speech he express sheer gratitude for his mom who he believes truly deserves the award.
“I’m very honored to receive this amazing award, from the depths of my soul, my passion … work is what has mattered to me since my mother has made me understand what the opportunity to be able to speak to the entire world is,” he said.
“I wanted to make it known that far too often, women in our industry [don’t] get the recognition that they truly deserve. When we first started, it was even harder for a mother to believe in the dreams that I had because I was unwavering, being raised without a father. In our home being raised [by] a single parent … it was a lot. But if anybody deserves it more than anybody, it’s [my mom].”
The “Superstar” singer, who recently married Jennifer Goicoechea, continued to honor the women he loves during his moving acceptance speech..”
“The tenacity that it took to look within a male-dominated industry and believe in your son unwaveringly, no matter how hard those board rooms may have been, she didn’t have the experience … but because of that, I have this moment,” he said.
“I want you to know how much I really love, honor, recognize, and appreciate you. It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the NAACP in and this beautiful community. We all take our crafts very serious … I am thankful for the support that my mother gave me. I’m overwhelmed by the appreciation from my entire family. I thank my beautiful mother and my beautiful wife, Jennifer, for holding me down. I dedicate this award to family.”
Usher closed out last year with his Las Vegas residency and had an unforgettable Super Bowl 2024 Halftime Show.