# Jonnetta Patton
**Jonnetta Patton** (born 1957; birth name Jonetta O'Neal) is an American talent manager, producer, and entrepreneur, best known as the mother and longtime manager of the R&B singer Usher.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733224/bio/) She managed his career for 17 years from its beginnings in [Chattanooga, Tennessee](https://www.edgepedia.org/chattanooga-tennessee), through his rise to stardom on [LaFace Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/laface-records), and later built her own businesses in Atlanta, including the J's Kitchen Culinary Incubator and the barbecue food trailer J's Smokehouse.[2](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/peace-up-a-town-down-ushers-mom-stops-by-wsb-tv-ahead-singers-super-bowl-performance/4G64BC7P5JE5FK2LR2PPUUB4VA/) • [3](https://www.jkitchenculinaryincubator.com/files/119166588.pdf) Her name appears in sources both as Jonnetta and Jonetta; IMDb lists "Jonetta Patton" as an alternative name.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733224/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1957; birth name Jonetta O'Neal[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733224/bio/) |
| Management career | Managed son Usher's career for 17 years, from his teens; partnership ended in May 2007 and was renewed in August 2008[2](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/peace-up-a-town-down-ushers-mom-stops-by-wsb-tv-ahead-singers-super-bowl-performance/4G64BC7P5JE5FK2LR2PPUUB4VA/) • [5](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ushers-mom-no-longer-his-manager/) • [6](https://www.nme.com/news/music/usher-12-1324436) |
| Companies | JPat Management; J's Kitchen Culinary Incubator (2016); J's Smokehouse (2024); Lion Queen Entertainment, a film and TV production company announced in 2023[3](https://www.jkitchenculinaryincubator.com/files/119166588.pdf) • [7](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/ushers-mom-launching-mobile-food-trailer-named-js-smoke-house) • [8](https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/10/19/ushers-mom-talks-business-new-film-ventures-assembly-atlanta/?outputType=amp) |
| J's Kitchen | 21,000-square-foot shared commercial kitchen in Doraville, Georgia, with business development services for culinary entrepreneurs[3](https://www.jkitchenculinaryincubator.com/files/119166588.pdf) |
| Philanthropy | Co-founder, with Usher Raymond IV and Shawn H. Wilson, of Usher's New Look, founded in 1999[9](https://ushersnewlook.org/about/) |
| Producing credits | Executive producer of *Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up* (2005) and *Usher: Evolution 8701: Live in Concert* (2002)[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733224/) |
## Managing Usher
Patton directed the church youth choir in Chattanooga where her son sang, and she has said she recognized his talent when he performed with a youth group at his school.[10](https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2022/07/18/monica-pearson-one-one-jonnetta-patton-helps-entrepreneurs-develop-sustainable-businesses/?outputType=amp) She moved the family to Atlanta to pursue a record deal, and Usher signed with LaFace Records; his self-titled debut album was released in 1994.[2](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/peace-up-a-town-down-ushers-mom-stops-by-wsb-tv-ahead-singers-super-bowl-performance/4G64BC7P5JE5FK2LR2PPUUB4VA/) A Forbes profile from 2005 records that she had worked as a senior claims examiner at Blue Cross/Blue Shield before deciding in 1993 to break her son out on his own, and that she later remarried and had a second son, James.[11](https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0509/094.html)
When Usher's voice changed during puberty, Patton kept his career on track by arranging for the label to secure a vocal coach; she has recalled that he nearly lost his record deal during that period.[12](https://radiox.cms.socastsrm.com/2024/02/07/usher-reveals-his-super-bowl-strategy-and-the-halftime-veteran-who-gave-me-some-notes/) She ran her management operations through her own company, JPat Management, and bought her own office space, including a studio and dance studio, so that she controlled rehearsal and business decisions rather than negotiating them with label executives.[13](https://www.essence.com/celebrity/ushers-mom-jonnetta-patton-built-her-own-empire-after-she-saw-deception-entertainment-business/)
**The 2007 split and 2008 return.** In May 2007, Usher confirmed that Patton was no longer managing his career, saying he wanted to separate his business life from his personal life and denying any rift; the singer hired [Benny Medina](https://www.edgepedia.org/benny-medina) as his manager.[5](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ushers-mom-no-longer-his-manager/) • [6](https://www.nme.com/news/music/usher-12-1324436) In August 2008, after disappointing first-week sales of the album *Here I Stand*, Usher re-engaged his mother as his manager.[6](https://www.nme.com/news/music/usher-12-1324436) Across both stints, [WSB-TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/wsb-tv) and other outlets put the total length of her management at 17 years.[2](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/peace-up-a-town-down-ushers-mom-stops-by-wsb-tv-ahead-singers-super-bowl-performance/4G64BC7P5JE5FK2LR2PPUUB4VA/)
## Culinary businesses
In October 2016, Patton opened J's Kitchen Culinary Incubator, LLC, a shared kitchen facility in the Doraville area of metro Atlanta. [The 21](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-21),000-square-foot space offers commercial kitchen equipment, on-site food and supply procurement, office facilities, and a curriculum of business and culinary workshops, with kitchen access available to members 24 hours a day.[3](https://www.jkitchenculinaryincubator.com/files/119166588.pdf) Patton has described the model as pairing chefs' skills with the business services they often lack, so that first-time owners can build sustainable businesses.[10](https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2022/07/18/monica-pearson-one-one-jonnetta-patton-helps-entrepreneurs-develop-sustainable-businesses/?outputType=amp) In 2019 she partnered with HUNGRY, an online marketplace that connects independent chefs to businesses and catering events.[7](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/ushers-mom-launching-mobile-food-trailer-named-js-smoke-house)
**J's Smokehouse.** On August 2, 2024, Patton launched J's SmokeHouse, a mobile food trailer serving barbecue, with a grand opening at 3996 Pleasantdale Road in the Embry Hills area. The menu combines traditional barbecue with vegan options prepared on a second grill.[7](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/ushers-mom-launching-mobile-food-trailer-named-js-smoke-house) Around the same time, Sysco Foods honored her at the Women En Blanc Honors Brunch during the Essence Festival; a later FOX 5 report describes the recognition as an Influencer Award at the event's fifth year.[7](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/ushers-mom-launching-mobile-food-trailer-named-js-smoke-house) • [14](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/jonnetta-patton-ushers-new-bbq-business) Her company's materials also describe a Jet Catering Services venture, a premium inflight dining service, added in 2025.[15](https://www.jkitchenculinaryincubator.com/files/141458950.pdf)
## Film, television, and philanthropy
Patton's producing credits include the video *Usher: Evolution 8701: Live in Concert* (2002) and *Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up* (2005), both as executive producer, and she appeared as herself in the OWN series *Behind Every Man* in 2020.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733224/) In 2023 she said she would open Lion Queen Entertainment, a movie and television production company, and spoke about placing it near Assembly Atlanta, a film studio development in Doraville where her culinary incubator was already located.[8](https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/10/19/ushers-mom-talks-business-new-film-ventures-assembly-atlanta/?outputType=amp)
In 1999 she co-founded Usher's New Look with Usher Raymond IV and Shawn H. Wilson. The national nonprofit, which reports serving more than 50,000 young people worldwide, runs career-pathway programs such as Spark Club (ages 14 to 17) and the Entertainment Industry Club (ages 18 to 24) in content creation, production, branding, and entrepreneurship.[9](https://ushersnewlook.org/about/)
## Personal life
IMDb records that Patton was married to Usher Raymond III from 1977 to 1979, with one child, and to Terry Patton from 1981 to 1990.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733224/bio/) A biographical account gives the second marriage's name as Terry Lackey and places the family's move from Chattanooga to Atlanta in the early 1990s; the two sources disagree on the second husband's surname, and both spellings circulate for her own first name as well.[16](https://www.legit.ng/ask-legit/biographies/1708352-ushers-parents-couldnt-different-mom-built-career-dad-barely-knew-him/) Her younger son, James "JLack" Lackey, is a Grammy-nominated producer whom she also manages.[11](https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0509/094.html) • [7](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/ushers-mom-launching-mobile-food-trailer-named-js-smoke-house)
## References
1. [Jonnetta Patton – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733224/bio/)
2. ['Peace up! A-Town down:' Usher's mom stops by WSB-TV ahead of singer's Super Bowl performance, WSB-TV](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/peace-up-a-town-down-ushers-mom-stops-by-wsb-tv-ahead-singers-super-bowl-performance/4G64BC7P5JE5FK2LR2PPUUB4VA/)
3. [Jonnetta Patton Opens J's Kitchen Culinary Incubator, press release (October 18, 2016)](https://www.jkitchenculinaryincubator.com/files/119166588.pdf)
4. [Jonnetta Patton, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733224/)
5. [Usher's Mom No Longer His Manager, CBS News/AP (May 7, 2007)](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ushers-mom-no-longer-his-manager/)
6. [Usher re-hires mother as manager, NME (August 7, 2008)](https://www.nme.com/news/music/usher-12-1324436)
7. [Usher's mom launches mobile food trailer named J's SmokeHouse, FOX 5 Atlanta](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/ushers-mom-launching-mobile-food-trailer-named-js-smoke-house)
8. [Usher's mom talks business, new film ventures at Assembly Atlanta, Atlanta News First (October 19, 2023)](https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/10/19/ushers-mom-talks-business-new-film-ventures-assembly-atlanta/?outputType=amp)
9. [About – Usher's New Look](https://ushersnewlook.org/about/)
10. [Monica Pearson One on One: Jonnetta Patton helps entrepreneurs develop sustainable businesses, Atlanta News First (July 18, 2022)](https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2022/07/18/monica-pearson-one-one-jonnetta-patton-helps-entrepreneurs-develop-sustainable-businesses/?outputType=amp)
11. [Diamonds, Cars and Confessions, Forbes (May 9, 2005)](https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0509/094.html)
12. [Usher Reveals His Super Bowl Strategy, Radio 88.8/Billboard syndicated (February 7, 2024)](https://radiox.cms.socastsrm.com/2024/02/07/usher-reveals-his-super-bowl-strategy-and-the-halftime-veteran-who-gave-me-some-notes/)
13. [Usher's Mom Jonnetta Patton Built Her Own Empire After She Saw "Deception" All Around Her, Essence](https://www.essence.com/celebrity/ushers-mom-jonnetta-patton-built-her-own-empire-after-she-saw-deception-entertainment-business/)
14. [Jonnetta Patton 'ushers' in new BBQ business, FOX 5 Atlanta (August 20, 2024)](https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/jonnetta-patton-ushers-new-bbq-business)
15. [Meet the Owner – Jonnetta Patton, J's Kitchen Culinary Incubator](https://www.jkitchenculinaryincubator.com/files/141458950.pdf)
16. [Usher's parents couldn't be more different, Legit.ng](https://www.legit.ng/ask-legit/biographies/1708352-ushers-parents-couldnt-different-mom-built-career-dad-barely-knew-him/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Directors, producers, and screenwriters › Film producers › American and Canadian film producers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license