It’s official! Singer Ashanti and rapper Nelly are going to have a baby together! The “Falling for You” singer officially confirmed the news on Instagram with a fun video. “Baby baby baby baby…. ❤️🙏🏽😆”
In Ashanti’s video announcement, the singer was shown preparing to take the stage, with her team checking in on her to see when she would be ready. A scene cut to Ashtanti backstage where several Proov pregnancy tests were opened on a table. The couple are co-owners of the diagnostic company Proov. Finally, a member of the singer’s team pulled back a curtain and asked, “How much time you need?” Ashtanti came out from behind the curtain holding a test and said, “Imma need about nine months.” The video concluded with a black screen reading, “To be continued.”
The couple spoke exclusively with Essence about their baby news and revealed other exciting news: they’re engaged! “This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,” the singer shared. “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.”
News that the singers were expecting a baby first began at the end of last year. The rumors started following Nelly’s Black and White Ball and while the couple was on-stage, they each placed a hand on Ashanti’s stomach. A source later confirmed the news in a statement to US Weekly that the “Only U” singer was pregnant, but it wasn’t until now that the couple confirmed the rumors. This new baby will be Ashanti’s first and is baby number 3 for the “Ride Wit Me” rapper. Nelly shares two children with his ex Channetta Valentine: daughter Chanelle, 30, andson named Cornell III, 25. Nelly also adopted his sister Jackie Donahue’s children – Shawn and Sydney – following their mom’s death in March 2005 from leukemia.
Ashanti and Nelly first met in the early 2000s during a press conference at the Grammy’s. The couple dated on and off between 2003 and 2013, and even sang together on the 2008 song “Body On Me.” Last April, the couple fueled dating rumors after they were spotted holding hands at a boxing match in Las Vegas. The following month, the rapper confirmed the two had rekindled their romance on Boss Moves with Rasheeda. “Yeah, we cool again,” he shared and explained it “surprised both of us. It wasn’t anything that I don’t think was planned.”
Congratulations to Ashanti and Nelly on the news of their first baby together!
Kate Fann (she/her) is the BabyNames.com celebrity blogger, as well as an established content writer, aspiring author, and social media expert. She has been featured in online publications such as Bolde, ManoByte, Medium, The Social Observer, and more. Kate has ghostwritten numerous romance novels and is currently working on publishing her own works in the Young Adult genre.
Kate lives in East Tennessee with her husband Casey and her two sons, Quinn and Noah. When she's not writing or scrolling Instagram, Kate can be found tasting delicious wines, playing with make-up, baking yummy treats, or hiking the beautiful Smoky Mountains.
