After the moderate success of his self-titled debut album, 16-year old Usher ran into a problem: his voice changed. Before another track could be cut, the young singer underwent vocal training to adjust to his deeper tone. Along with his new voice came new material that moved away from the fabricated bad boy image of his first record. Insistent that an R&B artist need not be bad to be cool, Usher dropped the tough guy makeover he was given by producer Sean 'Puffy' Combs and started smiling for the cameras, unleashing the seductive sweetheart image for which he would become known. With his true-to-life image, strong voice and proficient dance moves, Usher was on his way to greater success. The performer's youth and predilection for stripping down to show off his sculpted muscles would ensure teen idol status as well. "My Way,” his 1997 sophomore effort produced by Jermaine Dupri, was a collection of sultry slow jams that showcased the singer's matured vocals and style. A few million sales later it was apparent that young Usher was the reigning prince of smooth, impressing both younger and older concert goers on his 1998 tour with Janet Jackson. Here the entertainer made the most of his supporting act stint, playing his new hits and covering older R&B standards in medley form, wowing the audience with both his vocal skills and footwork. That same year his phenomenal record sales earned him artist of the year honors from Billboard.

Although he had conquered the musical market, Usher was not satisfied. In 1997, hot on the heels of his Number One single "You Make Me Wanna", the singer turned actor with a recurring role on the UPN comedy "Moesha", playing the title character's boyfriend. He followed with a recurring role on the CBS daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful" as Raymond, a young man involved in an interracial romance. Film work was next, and Usher was able to use his physical strength as well as his developing acting skills as a football hero at an alien-possessed high school in the Robert Rodriguez thriller "The Faculty" (1998). 1999 saw the release of two more films featuring the young star: the high school comedy "She's All That", with Usher combining the music and acting fields in a role as the campus DJ, and the drama "Light it Up,” featuring the actor as part of a reform-minded group of inner city high school students who take a security guard hostage.

In a rare turn of events, Usher returned to the place of his discovery to serve as a judge for the revamped, but short-lived “Star Search” (CBS, 2002-2004) hosted by Arsenio Hall. Returning to the feature world, he had a supporting role in “Texas Rangers” (2001) as an overeager and inexperienced recruit in the famed group of lawman. After appearing alongside his hip-hop contemporaries in “Fade to Black” (2004), a documentary on the life and times of fellow rapper Jay-Z, Usher had his first starring role with “In the Mix” (2005), a comedy about a nightclub DJ (Usher) who saves the life of a mob boss (Chazz Palminteri) and is rewarded with the job of watching over the Don’s beautiful daughter (Emmanuelle Chriqui).