In a momentous celebration of his unparalleled contributions to music and social activism, Usher Raymond IV was honored with the prestigious President's Award at the 55th NAACP Image Awards ceremony on Saturday, March 16 in Los Angeles.

Born on October 14, 1978, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Usher exhibited prodigious talent from a young age. His journey to stardom began when he was discovered by music executive L.A. Reid at the tender age of 14. With his smooth vocals, electrifying dance moves, and undeniable charisma, Usher quickly rose to prominence as one of the most iconic figures in contemporary R&B.

Usher's groundbreaking debut album, "Usher," released in 1994, laid the foundation for his illustrious career. His sophomore album, "My Way," catapulted him to superstardom with chart-topping hits like "You Make Me Wanna..." and "Nice & Slow." With subsequent albums such as "8701," "Confessions," and "Raymond v. Raymond," Usher solidified his status as a global music phenomenon, earning numerous awards and accolades, including eight Grammy Awards.

"From the depths of my soul, my passion work is what has mattered for me the moment my mother made me understand what purpose lies with the opportunity to speak to the entire world," he said while accepting his award.

"I wanted to make it known, far too often in our industry, that women don't get the recognition that they deserve. And when we first started, it was even harder for a mother to believe in the dreams that I had because I was unwavering being raised without a father in our home."

He continued, "Being raised from a single parent it was a lot, but she was more defiant, so if anyone deserves it more than anyone, it is her because the tenacity that it took to look within a male dominant industry and believe in your son unwaveringly, and no matter how hard those boardrooms may have been, she didn't have the experience, thank God she had Donald Passman to read his book and to understand the industry. But because of that, I have this moment."

Congrats to Usher!