Sunday, 2 September 2007

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Dad-to-be Usher: I want a boy

And singer wants to name the baby Usher

Recent groom and father-to-be Usher is ready to pass on his name – to a boy.

In his first interview since marrying Tameka Foster on Aug. 3, the R&B star, making a surprise appearance on Tuesday's post-Labor Day The Ellen DeGeneres Show, tells the host, "I don't know," when she asks, "Is it a boy or a girl?"

But, he adds, "I want it to be a boy" – which prompts DeGeneres to tell him, "Now, you're going to have a girl, and she's going to see this tape and say, 'Daddy, why don't you love me?' You better save some for some therapy. But you're going to love her if it's a little girl."

Asked if he wants a boy so they can play sports together, Usher says, "I think every man wants a son."

As for names, "If it's a boy, I'm going to name him Usher," says the musician, whose full name is Usher Raymond. "I'm hoping to name him that. I've been playing with a few names. I'm the fourth. Usher Raymond IV. I just want to pass the name on. Maybe I'll change the middle name."

And, if it's a girl? "What about Usherette?" asks DeGeneres.

"I thought you would've suggested Ellen first," says Usher.

"Last time you were here, you were single," DeGeneres also tells him. "You said you wanted a lady that you could take from the Waffle House to the White House. You found her."

"I did. I found someone that I'm very, very happy to call my wife," he tells her. "Tameka Raymond. She's beautiful."

Only DeGeneres also wants to know why she wasn't invited to the wedding, which was originally scheduled for July 28 in the Hamptons but ended up taking place in a civil ceremony in Atlanta.

"I actually sent you an invite," claims Usher. "You didn't get it? You never called me that you changed your address. I sent to 3941 Lover's Lane."

"That's so odd I didn't get it," kids DeGeneres, who then gets serious and says about the big, lavish wedding the bride, 37, and groom, 28 have scheduled for Atlanta over Labor Day weekend: "I'm really happy for you."

By Stephen M. Silverman