"I'll Be Your Greatest Supporter and Your Greatest Critic"

When you were both born, I felt a weakness and a strength at the same time. When I heard you both breathe and cry for the first time, if I didn’t have anything to hold on to, I would have passed out. When you arrived, my knees buckled! It was a very unique feeling of overwhelming happiness.

I still feel it today, especially when you make me laugh. Usher, your first word was Daddy, and Nayvid, yours was airplane, which tickled me because we were obviously doing a little traveling at the time. The confidence you both have about life always makes for interesting conversation. Nayvid, I’ve heard you insist that you are Jewish, just because you go to a diverse school. I’m going to let you roll with that for now.

Because being a father is the greatest role I’ve ever played in life. I’m always thinking 15, 20 years from now—who are you going to be? What is going to make you who you the person you will become? What will you represent?

Usher and Nayvid, just know that the love I have for you is unconditional—always has been and always will be. I’ll be your greatest supporter and your greatest critic because I will always be honest with you and push you to be your best selves. I only want what’s best for you.

Looking back, I’d say some of the greatest moments I’ve had with you are the moments I wanted for myself as a child, like taking you to school early in the morning in the minivan no matter what time I got home from work the night before. When I travel around the world, nothing makes me happier than to see you both smile when I get back. That joy in comparison to what I didn’t have as a kid—I think that’s part of what makes me the father that I am.

Love,
Daddy

Usher is a Grammy-winning musician who has sold more than 65 million records worldwide

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