Usher opens up about fatherhood, his new album, ”Here I Stand,” and what it says about how far he’s come in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly.

On the then 27-year-old in the midst of a life-changing existential dilemma: ”I was going out night to night, having a different woman in my bed every time I chose, and I began to wonder: Am I really being a playa or am I a whore?”

On going for the cougars: ”I really was dating for maturity because that’s what I thought I would get — a person that has some stability. She also has to be understanding, patient, kind, and supportive.”

On his mother missing his wedding: ‘My mother made a decision not to come to my wedding because she didn’t really agree with my decision (his choice of wife or his decision to fire his mother as manager). I don’t know why [she didn’t come]. She’s never told me and I’ve never asked her. It hurt me very much not to see her there ’cause I would’ve liked for her to be there, not to mention that I paid so much money for her to be accommodated and her behind didn’t show up. [Laughs] But just as she’s made stands, so have I.”

To read the full Usher interview, visit EW.com.

Dancing with the Stars has lined up Usher for the guest spot on its finale on May 20th according to OK!.

Usher, 29, reportedly even asked Karina Smirnoff (Mario Lopez’s current squeeze) to be in his feature performance despite recently being booted. Three female dancers from DWTS will be in the number.

The My Way singer got married to Tameka Foster last year and ushered in its baby boy, Usher Raymond V, on Nov. 26 as well.

Usher attends the Kids’ Choice Awards 2008 on Saturday night at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion in Westwood, Calif.

More pictures inside of Usher @ Kids’ Choice Awards 2008… More Here! »

Usher’s father, Usher Raymond III, passed away at an Atlanta hospital on Friday.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press first reported the news in its obituaries section.

The funeral will take place later this week at the Taylor funeral home chapel in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Usher and his wife Tameka’s son, Usher Raymond V, turns two months this Saturday.

R.I.P.

Joshua Jackson (Dawson’s Creek), Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl), Usher and Carrie Underwood attend Club Marquee’s Anniversary party on Thursday night/Friday morning in New York City.

Chace and Carrie were first photographed heading to the party together.

NBA baller King Lebron James also stopped by the party.

More Here! »

Usher and wife Tameka Foster welcomed a baby boy at 9:55 p.m. Monday in Atlanta.

They named their son Usher Raymond V, who weighed in at 7 pounds and 9 ounces.

“We are so happy and proud of our beautiful son,” Usher said in a statement. “What a blessing!”

URV is the couple’s first child together. Tameka has three children with ex-husband Ryan Glover.

Usher and Tameka wed in a civil ceremony in Atlanta on September 1.

Congrats to the happy couple!

Beyonce makes a surprise appearance at Usher’s Launch Party for his two new fragances at the Cipriani Toy Center on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

The singer debuted his very own scents — fragrances Usher for Men and Usher for Women. Super producer Jermaine Dupri and rapper Nelly also turned up to celebrate with the star. Pictured below: Usher’s mom, Jonetta Patton and President of LC Cosmetics Art Spiro.

Usher also revealed to People on Tuesday that he’s having a baby boy with wife Tameka Foster: “I just want my son to fully be coherent and to be healthy, first and foremost. I’ve found that it is a step-by-step process. You can wish for a million and one things. But I hope that my son has the same energy I had as a child. Hopefully, he won’t be as bad as me. I hope that he’s just a healthy son.”

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• Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie left Malawi Friday after gaining custody of a 1-year-old boy they adopted during a weeklong tour of orphanages. Yohame Banda, father of newly adopted boy David, said he is happy for his son and that Madonna and Guy “are a lovely couple.”
• Usher has withdrawn from Broadway musical Chicago because he has a sever case of strep throat. The singer has been sidelined since last Friday and was scheduled to give his farewell performance tomorrow night.
• John Mayer alluded to Jessica Simpson, who he was once rumored to be dating, on his blog yesterday. Mayer said Sheryl Crow should retaliate for a prank he played on her “by dressing up in a blond wig and roller skates, licking an ice cream cone,” a la Simpson in her video for “A Public Affair.”
• Christina Aguilera says her and husband Jordan Bratman will be house hunting in New York when the singer finishes her tour.
• For the first time, CBS’ Criminal Minds drew more viewers than ABC’s Lost. Wow, Lost is going down the tubes.