“Ashanti and Nelly’s love story spans decades”:Ashanti reveals she’s pregnant and engaged to Nelly after rekindling their romance-HO

Following a whirlwind reunion, lovebirds Ashanti and Nelly are getting a visit from the stork.

The R&B songstress is expecting her first child with the “Hot In Herre” rapper, Ashanti confirmed in an interview with Essence magazine Wednesday. A representative for Nelly also confirmed the news

“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation,” Ashanti told the magazine. “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.”

The engagement of the couple was hinted at during their appearance at the Black & White Ball in December 2023, as seen in footage obtained by TMZ. In the video, Ashanti was observed rubbing her stomach while on stage, with Nelly reaching out to touch her stomach a few seconds later. The two singers then shared a laugh following the gesture.

On Instagram Wednesday, Ashanti also alluded to her pregnancy in a video. She captioned the post: “Baby baby baby baby…. ❤️🙏🏽😆”

Nelly has two children from previous relationships: his daughter Chanelle Haynes, who is 30 years old, and his son Cornell Haynes III, who is 25. Additionally, after his sister Jackie Donahue passed away from leukemia in 2005, Nelly adopted her children, Shawn and Sydney Thomas.

Ashanti and Nelly’s love story spans decades

Ashanti and Nelly had a private, on-and-off relationship for approximately a decade, as reported by Entertainment Tonight. Their connection deepened after both were nominated for, and later won, Grammy Awards in 2003.

Following months of speculation about their rekindled romance, Nelly confirmed in a September 2023 interview that he and the “Foolish” singer were giving their relationship another chance.

Appearing on the Philo show “Boss Moves with Rasheeda,” the rapper and “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” star got straight to the point with Nelly: “So you and Ashanti are back together?”

Laughing and accusing the host of starting the interview with “no warmup,” Nelly bided his time before answering. “Yeah,” he confirmed to Rasheeda and her husband, Kirk Frost. “We’re cool again.”

“I think it surprised both of us, though. It wasn’t anything that was like, I don’t think, planned. I think we both was pretty much doing what we do,” Nelly said.

In addition, he reflected, “But sometimes being apart, you gain a deeper understanding of each other. You start to see things from their perspective. Because, you know, in relationships, we can all be a bit defensive at times. We might know we’re in the wrong, but we still stand our ground, you know what I mean?”

Ashanti rocks Nelly purse atMTV Video Music Awards after couple rekindles romance

Ashanti rocks Nelly purse at 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, confirms romance

Ashanti made her relationship with Nelly red carpet official at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards in September by accessorizing her look with a clutch that had a photo of the couple printed on it.

“This is where we first exchanged numbers. I was like, ‘Oh, this would be cute,'” she told TODAY ahead of the event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

A few months before Ashanti’s VMAs shoutout, Ashanti and Nelly hit the stage together in Las Vegas for a surprise performance of their 2008 hit “Body on Me,” which features Akon.

“We’re in a great space. Everything is positive; we’re having a lot of fun,” Ashanti told People magazine in September.

Ashanti surprises boyfriend Nelly with custom convertible for his 49th birthday

Ashanti surprised Nelly with an electric blue 1962 Impala convertible at his “G.I. Moe” joint birthday and Halloween party in October 2023.

In the video from TMZ’s coverage of the event, an emotional Nelly, whose birthday falls on Nov. 2, embraced his girlfriend twice upon the unveiling of the extravagant gift, while fireworks illuminated the background. After Ashanti took her seat next to him in the passenger side, the couple shared a tender kiss.

The car, which Ashanti had specially shipped from California to Atlanta, came equipped with custom light and sound systems, along with a Derrty logo representing Nelly’s record label, as confirmed by a representative for Ashanti at the time.