WASHINGTON — Ashanti and Nelly are expecting their first child together and are also engaged, the couple announced exclusively with Essence magazine.
“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation," Ashanti, 43, told the outlet. "Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.”
Wednesday's announcement also featured a video of Ashanti getting ready for a performance and when she's asked how much time she's going to need, Ashanti replies, "I'm going to need about nine months." The clip then showed a logo for Proov, which are at-home fertility and hormone marker tests for individuals looking to get pregnant. The "Baby" singer and "Hot in Herre" rapper shared with Essence that they are co-owners in the company, along with its founder.
While the singers first began their relationship in 2003, they officially called it quits in 2013. Last May, a source confirmed to ET that the couple were back together and "very happy."
There had been pregnancy rumors surrounding the couple since December 2023, when they attended Nelly's 11th Black and White Ball in St. Louis. Video from the event, obtained by TMZ, showed that while onstage Ashanti placed her hands on her stomach and Nelly followed suit, before they both burst out in laughter. Afterward, US Weekly cited a source saying the couple were expecting their first baby together.
This will be Ashanti's first child. Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., has two children from a previous relationship and adopted his sister's son and daughter after she died of leukemia in March 2005.
