usherUsher has said that watching his father’s struggle with drugs convinced him never to get involved with that sort of thing himself.

His dad, Usher Raymond III, walked out on the family when Usher was a small child and only reconciled with his son last year, before dying of liver failure in January caused by alcohol and cocaine abuse.

Usher told the Mirror recently: “My dad got into drugs at a very young age.

“Alcohol and substance abuse led to his death. He had many problems and never addressed it. Unfortunately it went on too long and took his life.

“I didn’t choose not to get into hard drugs - I was just too fearful what drugs might do to me. I worried that maybe there was a chemical imbalance that may trigger something, so I couldn’t do it.

“My father became a failure to substance abuse and I didn’t empathise with him, I didn’t have sympathy because I thought it was a cop-out.”

But the singer added that he’s glad he got to meet with his dad before it was too late: “My mother unsurprisingly wasn’t very fond of my father - she kept her distance and suggested I did as well.

“She never wanted me to meet my dad but as a man I had to make my own decision. What if he died and I never got the chance to meet him?

“I was happy that I did, happy that I got closure, happy that I forgave him for not being there and that I knew he really did love me.”

And the experience has made him act differently towards his own son, Usher Raymond V: “Not having a father around has made me want to be the best father I can be to my son.

“I wouldn’t miss a day of my son’s life and I wouldn’t miss a day of being a husband to my wife because there was a void in my childhood. I wouldn’t want that for my child - I wouldn’t want that for any child.

“My son didn’t meet his grandfather because I felt this vicious cycle of life was far too repetitive. I felt like my son helped to break a curse that has plagued my family, of fathers not being there for their sons.

“Even if my wife and I have complications in our relationship I’ll always be there for him. If I have to get on a plane and fly back home and give him a spanking, I’ll find a way to do it.

“There’s no way in hell I’m going to miss being there - it’s beautiful and priceless.”