Usher released his fourth studio CD, Confessions, in 2004, and its massive success quickly vaulted him into one of the world's biggest acts. The album sold 9.5 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, won three Grammys, and dominated Billboard's Hot 100 chart with four No. 1 singles, including the anthemic smash ''Yeah!'' The disc's centerpiece was a Jermaine Dupri-produced groove about infidelity and unplanned pregnancy called ''Confessions Part II.'' Released just months after Usher's highly publicized split with Chilli, many fans and critics alike assumed, incorrectly, that the song was inspired by their breakup. Though the lyrics were really about Dupri's own baby-mama issues, the controversy taught Usher a valuable lesson: ''People love drama.''
Ever the consummate ladies' man, Usher relished the spoils of his newfound success, romancing a string of beauties, including supermodel Naomi Campbell, 38, and notorious hip-hop groupie Karrine ''Superhead'' Steffans, 29, who spilled the beans about their risqué romps in her 2005 best-selling memoir, Confessions of a Video Vixen: ''Usher seemed to be turned on by commanding me to do things sexually in a tone I found condescending and disrespectful.'' (The singer's reps declined to comment on this matter.) With his career at an all-time high, Usher wasn't quite ready to settle down in another serious relationship...or so he thought. ''I was just looking for good times. In the club. Not living right. This woman. That woman. Uncertain. Unsure.... But there does come a time when you start thinking, Who's gonna love me and take care of me when I'm down? Who's gonna care about making sure that I'm okay? I need a companion. Damn.''
Usher's wife, Tameka, is pouring a carton of milk over his head on the set of his EW cover shoot at a Manhattan photo studio on a sunny Sunday afternoon. ''Do it faster,'' he urges, ''Like this!'' With his eyes clenched shut, he reaches above his head, grabs the container of milk, and dumps it on himself. The shot is ruined because Usher's arm gets in the way. Take 2: Someone passes Tameka another carton of milk and she slowly begins pouring again. This time, Usher doesn't interrupt her. He stays quiet and keeps still while the opaque white liquid trickles down his face. As the photographer prepares for the final setup, Usher retreats to his makeshift dressing room, where Tameka, who's styling today's shoot, has stockpiled enough designer clothing and sneakers to meet the inventory needs of a small high-end boutique. The secret to their union is their unique dynamic: Usher sometimes acts like a petulant kid, and Tameka, who has three children from a previous marriage, is endowed with strong maternal instincts that help put him in check and keep him grounded. Their chemistry is genuine and their body language is affectionate; much to the chagrin of the tabloids, their love seems real.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond met and became fast friends when she was hired to be his stylist in 2001. At the time, he was dating Chilli, while Tameka was married to Atlanta music executive Ryan Glover. Over the next few years, their bond grew tighter as their respective relationships flamed out. ''That's when our rapport started becoming more than friends,'' Usher says. ''And before you know it, she was undergoing a divorce and we started dating.''
NEXT PAGE: ''What about the fact that in our society there are not enough fathers for our black young men? And here I am being a great example and we don't embrace that?! Think about that.''
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