Usher began participating in local singing competitions at the age of 12, before he was signed by a record label.

His second album, released in 1997, went six times platinum in the US, introducing the world to hits such as "You Make Me Wanna..." and "Nice & Slow." When he released his 2004 album, "Confessions," he became one of the best-selling artists of the 2000s.

Usher has now released eight studio albums, and was a coach on the fourth season of NBC's "The Voice."