According to an article recently published in USA Today, international pop singing sensation Justin Bieber claims that he may be ready to retire at the ripe old age of 19.

No further word has emerged from Bieber or his representatives as to whether this latest announcement was a misunderstanding, genuine on his part, or merely a public relations ploy. Bieber does have a new album, "Journals", which is scheduled for release on iTunes on December 23.

According to an interview that the Canadian superstar recently conducted with Los Angeles based radio station Power 106, the threat of retirement is real. "After the new album, I'm actually, I'm retiring man, I'm retiring," was the exact quote that Bieber offered to a stunned interview at the radio station this past Tuesday.

Of course, this is not the first time that Bieber has threatened to retire from the music scene, either temporarily or permanently. And, according to insider sources who gave their take on the situation to TMZ, this latest announcement is little more than a joke on Bieber's part.

If this is truly the end of Bieber's sensational public career, he has much to celebrate and reflect on. Only time will tell.