USHER - USHER SACKS MUMMY MANAGER

USHER SACKS MUMMY MANAGER

Pop royalty Usher has revealed that his mother will no longer be his manager but insists the split is amicable.

The five-time Grammy award winning singer, famous for hits such as You Make Me Wanna and Burn, has been managed by his mother Jonetta Patton since his debut album was released in 1994.

However the 28-year-old singer, who recently announced his engagement to long-term girlfriend and stylist Tameka Foster, says it is time to cut the apron strings.

"It means I now get to have my mother strictly as my mother with no added pressure," he told Associated Press news agency.

Atlanta-born Usher, currently working on his follow-up to smash hit album Confessions, says the split is necessary to keep business and family separate.

"At this time in my life, I am simply more interested in building the strength of my family. And in order to do that, I feel it's best to separate my business life from my personal life."

Yet Usher's new manager will have some big shoes to fill as his success in the past 13 years includes selling 35 million albums worldwide and a host of MTV awards.

His last album, Confessions, became one of the most successful records 2004 and eventually sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.