Usher surprised fans when he got married last month. But they weren’t the only ones.
The Grammy winner told Entertainment Tonight on Saturday that his wedding to Jennifer Goicoechea also took his family by surprise.
“It was an incredible moment that we felt was great for us,” he said. “It was a button at the end of an incredible Las Vegas run. My mother was there, her mother was there, the kids were there, our immediate family was there. Matter of fact, everybody was surprised. I’m like, ‘No, no, no, we’re having a wedding right now. We’re gonna go have Elvis officiate us.’”
The couple wed last month in Las Vegas only hours after he performed at the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show at Allegiant Stadium.
This weekend, Usher was at the NAACP Image Awards, where he not only took home the top prize of entertainment of the year but also was honored with the President’s Award. During his speech, he gave a shout-out to his “beautiful wife, Jennifer” and his kids, saying “I’m a dad who’s just trying to get it right every day.”
The President’s Award is “presented in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service,” says the organization.
Usher’s rep confirmed his wedding to The Hollywood Reporter last month.
Surrounded by close friends and family, “they both look forward to continuing to raise their children together surrounded by love and thank everyone for the well wishes,” the rep said at the time.
The couple’s whirlwind night saw them head from Usher’s lauded performance at Allegiant Stadium to The Fast Lane drive thru at Vegas Weddings, where they wed in an intimate ceremony.
The pop star’s very busy week included the release of his ninth studio album, Coming Home, and the announcement that he is extending his Past Present Future Tour. His Usher: My Way Las Vegas residency ended in December after 100 performances.
This marks Usher’s second marriage. The “Yeah” singer was previously wed to fashion designer Tameka Foster, with whom he shares sons Usher “Cinco” Raymond V, 16, and Navid Ely, 15.
This article originally appeared in THR.com.
