LOS ANGELES — Usher is going solo.
The 30-year-old R&B star filed for divorce Friday from his wife of less than two years, Tameka Foster Raymond, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. Usher, whose real name is Usher Raymond IV, filed the petition in Superior Court in Atlanta.
The couple, who married in a lavish Georgia wedding in August 2007, have two young sons together, Usher Raymond V, 18 months, and Naviyd, 6 months.
The 38-year-old Raymond also has three children from a previous marriage.
Usher and Raymond have denied problems in their marriage almost from the day they first tied the knot. In May 2008, the Grammy winner denied reports that his wife had filed for a separation.
"She's built up ... the foundation of who I am," Usher said at the time. "I want to see more men standing with their women. I want to see more men be open and honest about where they are in life."
When he wasn't denying friction in his marriage, Usher frequently spoke about the joys of fatherood,
"I'm so proud to be a father by the time I'm 30," he previously told People. "I'd hate to be 80 years old and not be able to run with my kids. I need to still be able to do flips when they're in high school!"
In February, Raymond suffered a cardiac arrest shortly before undergoing a plastic surgery procedure in Brazil. Upon hearing the news, Usher canceled a scheduled performance at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy party so that he could travel to Brazil and be with his wife.
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