Usher famously 'fired' his mother/long-time manager Jonetta Patton just days before Mother's Day 2007. The happily married R&B singer cleared up that misconception in a recent interview with "VIBE" magazine: I decided to not fire, not get rid of, but to give [my mother] the ultimate compliment — to retire her to be a full-time grandmother. The gossip columinists Rush & Molloy of the New York Daily News claimed Usher wants to re-hire his mother after the lackluster 433,000 first week sales of his current disc, "Here I Stand." Usher has since hired Benny Medina -the guy responisble for managing the multi-facted careers of Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Lil' Wayne, and Tyra Banks.

"People have been telling Usher to listen to his mother," says a source. "Nobody knows how to sell him better than she does. Usher can be stubborn. But he may be ready."

Some claim Usher pink-slipped his mom because she failed to show proper deference to his stylist-turned-girlfriend-turned-wife, Tameka Foster. But now that Foster has given her a grandson, the two ladies are said to be getting along better. Usher, for one, denies he fired his mom. Rather, he tells Vibe, "[I paid her] the ultimate compliment - to retire her to be a full-time grandmother."

Patton has actually been busy running her own record label and managing other artists, including Usher's brother, Jlack. But sources say that if Usher cries momma, she's there for him. [NYDN]

Usher's headlining performance at this year's BET Awards drew 5.8 million viewers - the lowest rated in the urban awards show's 8 year run. Maybe the way Usher handled all of his personal affairs in the public and the occasional outburst affected the way his album sales performed? That's just a thought...

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Labels: Music Hoopla, Usher