Usher unveils childhood snapshot on billboard

Grammy-winning artist Usher credits the Boys & Girls Club of America for making a difference in his life, so the least he could do was lend the group a slightly embarrassing photo of himself as a 7-year-old.

"I can only imagine how many accidents are going to happen in result of this being here," the 30-year-old Usher joked Wednesday as he glanced at a new billboard on one of Atlanta's busiest streets.

With about 20 kids surrounding him, Usher unveiled the billboard with his likeness as part of a national youth advocacy campaign to raise awareness for the club.

The singer's picture also will be used at airports and in public service announcements. He joins others with childhood billboards for the club - Denzel Washington, Shaquille O'Neal, Martin Sheen, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Gen. Wesley Clark.

"This is an opportunity for people to learn more about us," said Roxanne Spillett, Boys & Girls Club of America's president. "I hope this effort can spark more alumni to contribute and become a role models."

Usher, who was a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs for four years in his home state of Tennessee, hopes his billboard can have a positive affect on another child's life.

"It made a difference for me," he said. "Being great doesn't start in the later moments of life. We could be speaking to tomorrow's Barack Obama or Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson or Usher. These clubs are valuable to the community. Hopefully my billboard can help inspire someone else."

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Usher's wife checks out of Brazil hospital

The wife of R&B singer Usher was released from a Sao Paulo hospital after spending 11 days recovering from a cardiac arrest she suffered shortly before undergoing plastic surgery.

A spokeswoman for the Sirio-Libanes Hospital said Wednesday that Tameka Raymond left the facility Monday night but declined to provide any details on Raymond's treatment at the family's request. The spokewoman spoke on condition of anonymity per hospital policy.

Representatives for Usher had no immediate comment.

Ellen Dastry, a spokeswoman for the doctor who was to perform the plastic surgery, said last week that Raymond suffered a cardiac arrest while being anesthetized ahead of a "simple liposuction" at Sao Paulo's Sao Rafael Hospital.

Raymond was revived in less than a minute with heart massage, and was placed in an induced coma before being taken to the intensive-care unit, said Dastry, spokeswoman for plastic surgeon Silvio Sterman.

She was then transferred to the posh and better-equipped Sirio-Libanes Hospital to recover.

Usher was supposed to perform at music mogul Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party, but backed out to come to Brazil to be with his wife.

The 30-year-old R&B star and his wife were married in August 2007. They have two young sons, 2-year-old Usher Raymond V and 2-month-old Naveid Ely Raymond. - AP

Usher's wife recovering after cardiac arrest

The wife of R&B singer Usher continues to recover in a Sao Paulo hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest shortly before undergoing plastic surgery, the spokeswoman of the doctor who was to perform the procedure said Thursday.

Ellen Dastry, spokeswoman for plastic surgeon Silvio Sterman, says Tameka Raymond checked into the Sao Rafael Hospital last Friday for a "simple liposuction." Dastry said that Raymond suffered a cardiac arrest while being anesthetized for the procedure "but was revived in less than a minute by heart massage." She was then placed in an induced coma before being taken to the intensive-care unit, a procedure Dastry said was "absolutely normal" and performed in order to "avoid unnecessary complications."

That same day Raymond was transferred to Sao Paulo's posh and better-equipped Sirio-Libanes Hospital where she is recovering, Dastry said without providing further details.

At Sirio-Libanes, a spokeswoman would only say that Raymond remains hospitalized. She explained that Raymond's family requested that no information regarding her condition be divulged by the hospital. She did not give her name, per hospital rules.

Usher was supposed to perform at music mogul Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party last Saturday, but backed out to come to Brazil to be with his wife.

The 30-year-old R&B star and his wife were married in August 2007. They have two young sons, 2-year-old Usher Raymond V and 2-month-old Naveid Ely Raymond. - AP