Usher Returns To The Stage After Stepsons Death

14 August 2012

Usher has thanked his friends for their support as he made an emotional return to the stage on Saturday night (11 August) for his first performance since the death of his stepson.

Kile Glover, the 11-year-old son of the singer's ex-wife Tameka Foster, tragically died last month (July) after a Jet Ski accident in Georgia.

WENN reports that Usher made his first public performance following the tragedy at a star-studded charity event in New York over the weekend to raise millions of dollars for the Big Apple's famed Apollo Theater.

Usher was among the headline acts during the bash at businessman Ronald Perelman's luxury estate in East Hampton in aid of the Harlem venue, and during his set, he appeared to address the Jet Ski tragedy.

According to the New York Post's gossip column Page Six, Usher told the audience, "For all the hard times, you can't do it without your friends, so I just want to toast a second... Thank you for allowing me to share this incredible moment with you... Cheers for tears."

Sir Paul McCartney also made an appearance at the event, and Jennifer Hudson performed a medley of Whitney Houston's hits.

The gig raised more than $2 million for the infamous theatre, which is credited with helping launch the careers of stars including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and James Brown.