Usher's New Puppy Cost $12,000, Won At A NYC Auction

At a gala on Oct. 25, Usher outbid "Gossip Girl" star Jessica Szohr to take home a Goldendoodle puppy, which reportedly cost the singer and new "Voice" coach $12,000.

The singer won the cross-bred dog at a gala for Pencils of Promise, an organization that helps build schools in improverished nations, according to Us Weekly. Szohr bid $11,000 but after trying to win a puppy at last year's gala and losing to a family, Usher was not taking "No" for an answer this time around. Ironically enough, the family who won the puppy at last year's event named the dog after Usher, according to Popcrush.

The puppy is a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle. Usher said he was thinking of naming the dog Poppy Raymond but added, "however there are two gregarious 3- and 4-year-olds that will have the last say -- and the responsibility that comes with her," referring to his two sons Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Raymond.

Usher also donated a private dance lesson to be auctioned off at the gala, which in the end sold for $65,000.

Usher and Shakira will fill in the seats of Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera as the new judges for NBC's singing competition "The Voice," which starts again in the spring. Both Green and Aguilera said they will return to the show for its fifth season in the fall.

Usher already has experience as a mentor, by helping Justin Bieber make a name for himself and turn into the pop icon he is today. Earlier this month, the "Scream" singer posted a photo of himself with Bieber on his Facebook page. The image was captioned,  "I find it important to be a mentor to young talent. Giving them my perspective and allowing them to grow from it."