Usher’s Homecoming: Son of Chattanooga Receives Key to the City

Eight time Grammy award-winner Usher Raymond IV was welcomed back to his hometown with applause, cheers and chants from thousands of his Chattanooga community members in UTC’s McKenzie Arena on April 20.

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly personally elected Usher to receive the Key to the City and described it as an ultimate compliment. 

“To me, it's kind of the ultimate compliment because it's a son or daughter of the city that has really made the city proud,” Kelly said. “I mean, it can also be used for foreign dignitaries, people that are important to the signal that again, literally and figuratively, the door is always open but in this case, it is a favorite son of Chattanooga that has made us all very proud.”

Often referred to as Dr. Usher Raymond — due to an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music for his contributions to music and philanthropy — the eight-time Grammy Award winner thanked his loved ones for their time, love and passion poured into him. 

“Before I even get to activating the artistry and creativity and all of the other things, it was their patience, it was their time they took in helping me understand this moment right here,” Usher said in a speech. “My mom she knows this, I never take two seconds to enjoy anything because I'm always looking to the next day…because that's what life teaches you sometimes you just keep going and move on to the next thing but being able to be present and see you see me because I love y'all everywhere that I go.”

He told Chattanoogans “even though I am not here everyday, wherever I am, I need you to know that Chattanooga is the foundation.”

In his speech, Usher frequently expressed his love for the community and acknowledged the walls of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and Chattanooga’s history of segregation. He said the key is a symbol for something that opens or closes something while the lock is a binding mechanism

“With this key, I hope I can unlock something that I think needs to be heard,” Usher said. “That needs to be seen, needs to be recognized because I feel like I represent the other side of the incredible history that Chattanooga offers.” 

Mayor Kelly and Tennessee Representative Yousef Hakeem read proclamations from state and local governments that indubitably noted his contributions. Moreover, Weston Wamp declared April 20, Usher Raymond day. 

Usher’s legacy not only lives in Chattanooga through Usher Raymond Parkway but also as a result of the numerous contributions he has given to students in Chattanooga schools. For one, he supports music and arts education through the Nancy Lackey Community Education Foundation in commemoration of his late-grandmother. This fund gives grants to school and after-school programs where music and arts are needed.  

Julie Sanders, who helps with the foundation and its allocations, read the many grants and philanthropy work committed over the years by Usher. Among the recipients are Dalewood Middle School, Calvin Donaldson Elementary, Center for Creative Arts Project Motion — whose performers took center stage at the beginning of the event — and more.

“Coming Home: A Celebration of Usher” was presented by the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, UTC and the Chattanooga Business Elite. The event gave free tickets to 3,500 people and they sold out within 30 minutes. It was sponsored by the Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Chattanooga Football Club, The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Tennessee, Cempa, Dynamo Studios and more. 

Before the event began, a long line could be seen at McKenzie Arena’s Gate 2 before doors opened at 2:00 P.M. where fans were eager to get seats. Once the host took the stage after 2:30 P.M., the crowd stood to their feet to welcome him to the stage. Among them were the sponsors of the event, Hamilton County students and his own family members including his mother, wife and children. 

The show began with Project Motion dancing on stage then a video by Dynamo Studios — a non-profit empowering children on production and the arts — notably featuring Usher’s mother and teacher in a film titled Usher “Big Time” Raymond that incorporated photos of young Usher and his early interviews. 

William Vest, who helps run Toldwell, volunteered on the video. 

“Dynamo Studios kind of sits in this position to be able to be between opportunities, and kids who need opportunities, so the project's cool, but the way cooler thing is ultimately getting to be able to put these kids in positions where they can learn from these types of projects and, you know, be in the room with these types of people, with Usher's mom to get to learn from them,” Vest said. “A lot of people getting to see [the video] was cool, but way cooler is these kids that are getting to be behind the scenes getting to access it all, get to learn from it.”

Executive Director of Dynamo Studios Kessler Cuffman said the students have worked with celebrities like Billie Eilish and now Usher. 

“As the kids have gotten better, they deliver really strong results so, you know, we've done a lot with the city and when they've got these huge things like this, they're like, ‘Oh, we'll call them,’” Cuffman said. “We're gonna get great content, but it also gives the kids an insane opportunity to, you know, apply what they've learned in the real world.”

The host welcomed Usher by stating “right here in this building is the greatest entertainer in the world” followed by the crowd chanting Usher.

As he walked on stage in his all white suit, white boots and diamond necklace, he greeted each individual on stage by hand. The crowd stood until he asked them to sit saying “you’ll be here a while.”

Following speeches by Mayor Kelly and Representative Hakeem, Shay McCowan — founder and CEO of Chattanooga Business Elite — presented Usher with the first ever BEC Chattanooga Icon Award on behalf of her organization. 

“Everything he's done, 30 years in the music industry, he's just been amazing,” McCowan said. “And I knew that we came up with that award, he had to be the first one to get it, so he's really made himself an icon, and right here in Chattanooga.” 

In a faith-driven speech, McCowan said Usher is an example of black excellence coming from the city of Chattanooga, Tenn. 

“We want you to know that we love you, we adore you and we are excited for you and what God decides to do with your life moving forward,” McCowan said. 

Since Usher did not perform, the event ended with tribute singers, dancers and musicians.  

In their sparkling black tops and black outfits, tribute dancers Ryan Roberts and Casey Burse took a photograph with Usher at the VIP Photo area and their emotions were of pure excitement. 

“Watching from a little kid and knowing I'm standing right next to him and taking a picture and performing in front of him is crazy,” Burse said. 

Roberts added that it is a dream come true. 

This was all hosted in UTC’s backyard, only a walk away for most students. UTC Chancellor Steve Angle also arrived and was joined by his family and found the event a fun opportunity to see people of the community equally excited. 

“It's great for UTC to host and to have him on our campus, but it's a community effort and welcoming,” Angle said. “Part of it is because not only is he a big star, but he's given back to local schools and really made a difference in the lives of young people here, so I think it's a great way to honor him and to celebrate his success and what's gonna come out of all the young people that he's helped.”

Students that attended were pleased to know it was free and close to campus. Freshmen Kyla Winston and Abigail Tomlin came to the event and enjoyed it as fans of Usher. 

“I grew up listening to Usher so he's a big part of my music and hearing that he came just to support his hometown is so cool,” Winston said. “All I had to do [was] literally walk over and see a big artist that I love, so it was really nice to see that.”

Tomlin said Usher is a really big person. This goes for the music industry and Chattanooga’s philanthropy. 

“We [were] able to experience that and my birthday is tomorrow; it was just so fun,” she said. “I wish he could have gave us like a couple songs but it's okay; we're just happy.”

Ahead of this year's Super Bowl —  where Usher headlined the halftime show with 129.3 million viewers — he also received the key to the city of Las Vegas, Nev., followed by Atlanta’s highest honor and the Phoenix Award for his service to the city. His latest awards add on to a key bestowed by New Orleans for his help after hurricane Katrina in 2008.

Now, Usher leaves his hometown with not only the Key to the City but also a proclamation, a Chattanooga Football Club Jersey, and the love and support given by his community.