Usher Says His Kids Sometimes Ask Him Not to Attend Their Events Because of His Fame: ‘It’s Hard’

It’s impossible to deny that the lifestyle of a celebrity is as extraordinary as it gets, but as high as the highs are, many lows come with fame — especially for stars with kids. As a father of four, Usher knows all about the negative aspects of life in the limelight, and he recently opened up about just how difficult it can be to navigate parenthood as a global celebrity.

During Wednesday’s episode of the Club Shay Shay podcast, the Super Bowl halftime performer got candid about the challenges of raising his teenage sons, Usher “Cinco” V, 16, and Naviyd Ely, 15 — particularly when it comes to their school engagements.

With Fame Comes Recognition

Usher began, “My kids, sometimes they don’t want me to come. They don’t want me to be at their basketball game or their recital, or they wanna be very, very low-key, ’cause they don’t want that energy.” He continued, “They don’t want, ‘Oh dad walked into the room and took [everyone’s attention].’ And it’s hard because I try my hardest to have that empathy, but I wanna be there,” the Grammy winner shared.

In order to support his kids without his fame becoming a distraction from their events, Usher said that there have been “countless times” where he’s positioned himself “at the back of the room, quiet” in an effort to “keep myself as small as possible and be as quiet as I possibly can.”

We really feel for the musician — it’s a pickle of a position to be in, wanting to show up loud and proud for your kids but knowing that doing so will negatively affect their experience. We also have loads of respect for the way User does his best to honor his sons’ wishes while still supporting them in the way they feel comfortable with.

Ensuring His Kids Are Aware of Their Class Privilege

The “Yeah” singer also opened up about trying to impart perspective on his kids when it comes to the privileged life he worked so hard to give them. “That access and that reality that they’re looking at — it gives them some expectation and unfortunately I can’t take it back,” he said. “I walked so that we could ride. And now that you’re riding, I want you to understand the importance of walking.”

Though Usher’s children enjoy the lavish perks of his fame, like maid services and living in a mansion, the thoughtful father said he has “empathy” for the unusual life they were born into. “That is a harsh reality, which is more the reason why you gotta be harder on them. But mindful that their normal is different than our normal … the expectation is actually higher,” the “OMG” singer said. “That’s the one thing that I have empathy for my children.”

The Weight of a Legacy

Another thing he empathizes with is the expectations shouldered by his eldest son, who’s named after him. “You know, I named my son Usher so every time he’s out, obviously, there’s that pressure,” he said. Usher previously spoke about Cinco’s discomfort with the limelight, telling Tamron Hall in 2020, “I have one son, Cinco, who does not like to be called Usher, who tries to get away from it.”

At the end of the day, the award-winning artist said the key to parenting is communication and balance. “It’s equally important to talk to your kids,” he said of his personal philosophy. “If you gonna push ’em that way, you gotta love on ’em just as much.”

In addition to Cinco and Naviyd, whom he shares with his ex-wife Tameka Foster, Usher is also dad to daughter Sovereign Bo, 3, and son Sire Castrello, 2, whom he welcomed with longtime girlfriend Jenn Goicoechea.

These celebrity parents are sharing the struggle — and sweetness — of raising teenagers.