Usher Clarifies Whether He Was Beyoncé’s Nanny When They Were Younger
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Originally appeared on E! Online
Usher is saying OMG to these rumors.
Amid the speculation that he was, at one point, Beyoncé's nanny, the Super Bowl XVIII performer firmly set the record straight.
"First of all, how can I be a nanny? I'd be a manny," Usher joked to Shannon Sharpe on the Jan. 31 episode of the Club Shay Shay podcast. "Nah, nah. I wasn't Beyoncé's nanny."
After all, the "Yeah" singer, 45, is only a few years older than Beyoncé, 42. However, Usher admitted that he was responsible for looking after Queen Bey when they were both kids and working with producer Daryl Simmons out of his Atlanta home.
"Daryl Simmons—he had a group by the name of The Dolls and they came to Atlanta for the first time—this was before Destiny's Child became Destiny's Child," he explained. "I think I looked over them while they were doing something in the house, I had to watch them ‘cause I was the authority ‘cause I guess I was the teenager at the time."
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The "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" artist, who was around 12 at the time, further clarified that he was only a temporary caregiver, adding that his duties were limited to, "making certain that they didn't get in no trouble in the house at the time."
When Shannon pointed out that Usher recognized the talent and aided in the success of Justin Bieber in the 2010s, he asked if he knew back then that Bey would go on to become a music legend.
"When I saw them, I knew there was something very special about all of them because as Destiny's Child—they all thrive," he said of the group—who were active from 1990 to 2006. "Even still to this day when you see them together—they all thrive. They all are an incredible unit."
He also noted that the "Cuff It" singer was a standout from the very beginning.
"Beyoncé had a talent and also, too, a brilliance and a brightness that was much different," Usher added. "It's really great for my sister to see that she's done so amazing and continued to thrive and just get bigger, better."
And if the history between these two bright stars surprised you, read on for more unexpected celebrity friendships.
<p>Mindy Kaling & Reese Witherspoon</p>
They have been friends for years and have worked together. The two starred together in A Wrinkle in Time, while Mindy also had a recurring role on The Morning Show. In addition, the latter is co-writing Legally Blonde 3. Weirdness: 3/10
<p>Adam Sandler & Timothée Chalamet</p>
The two actors, who costarred in the 2014 film Men, Women & Children, reunited for an outdoor game of basketball in New York City in July 2023.
Russell Crowe & RZA
The actor has worked with the Wu-Tang Clan rapper on several movies, including The Man with the Iron Fists, American Gangster and The Next Three Days. But their bond goes much deeper than that. "As friends, we talk," Crowe tells Fuse. "It is no effort for me to give a friend advice. Film has many gods and you have to understand, as a director, you will be required to please and appease them all."
Michelle Dockery & Pippa Middleton
Before running into each other again at Wimbledon, the unlikely duo first crossed paths at the Downton Abbey set. "She actually came on-set with her brother, James, a few years ago," Dockery told E! News."They are good fans of the show."
David Beckham & Snoop Dogg
When the "footballer" moved to L.A. and became a "soccer player," he befriended the rapper. Becks appeared on Snoop's reality show, the two played soccer and Snoop plays his new music for David first. Weirdness: 8/10
Dakota Fanning & Kristen Stewart
The two former child actors have worked on two films, Twilight and The Runaways, but Dakota says their friendship isn't based on work, "When we're together, we're not talking about movie stuff." Weirdness: 3/10
<p>Paris Hilton & Britney Spears</p>
The two hung out together in the aughts and maintained their friendship over the years.
Nicki Minaj & Anna Wintour
The two have two very different approaches to fashion (has Anna ever been bedazzled?), but they bonded in the front row of an Oscar de la Renta show and Anna scored a name-drop in one of Nicki's raps. Weirdness: 7/10
50 Cent & Bette Midler
Now this is one strange duet! Fiddy met Bette working for the charity New York Restoration Project, where she gushed, "He's one of the newest members of our tribe. He's really made my life worth living." Weirdness: 9/10
Taylor Swift & Lena Dunham
Taylor is a self-proclaimed good girl. Lena isn't afraid to stir the pot. But they have a lot of mutual respect for each other and the Girls creator described T.Swift's show as the "most life-affirming thing I've experienced." Weirdness: 6/10
Jennifer Lopez & Leah Remini
The former King of Queens actress has been supertight with Jenny From the Block for a while now, bonding over fashion and tweeting cutesy things at each other with the hashtag "#luckybesties." Weirdness: 3/10
Gwyneth Paltrow & Jay-Z
The Goop goddess herself is actually friends with both Jay and his wife, Beyoncé, though you might be more surprised to learn that Gwyn is an intense rap enthusiast and her kids even call Mr. Carter "Uncle Jay." Weirdness: 5/10
Brad Pitt & Jonah Hill
You might not expect the hunky thespian to be close with the dude from Superbad, but look at it this way: Pitt is a total prankster (says Jonah) and Jonah is now a serious Oscar nominee (for their film Moneyball). Weirdness: 6/10
Eminem & Elton John
The controversial rapper joined forces with Sir Elton at the 2001 Grammys and later Em turned to his new friend for support getting sober: "I told him, 'Look, I'm going through a problem and I need your advice.'" Weirdness: 7/10
