After rumors swirled over the weekend that singer Ashanti was pregnant, the news has officially been confirmed by an unnamed source. Ashtani is expecting her first baby with rapper Nelly, and this little one will be baby number 3 for the “Just a Dream” singer. The news comes after the couple rekindled their romance earlier this year.

This weekend, Nelly’s annual Black and White Ball returned after a 7-year hiatus in St. Louis. During the event, Ashanti placed a hand on her stomach while on stage and the “Ride Wit Me” rapper did the same, which fueled the rumors. A source confirmed the news exclusively with US Weekly, “Nelly and Ashanti are welcoming their first baby together.” Neither singer has issued a statement on their news. While this new baby will be the “Only U” singer’s first baby, this will be Nelly’s third. He shares a daughter named Chanelle, 29, and a son named Cornell III, 24, with his ex Channetta Valentine.

Ashanti and Nelly, who sang together on the 2008 song “Body On Me,” dated on and off for the better part of a decade between 2003 and 2013. The two met during a Grammy Awards press conference in the early 2000s. This past April, the two were spotted in Las Vegas holding hands at a boxing match, which fueled rumors that the two were back together. The rapper confirmed the following month on Boss Moves with Rasheeda, that they were together. “Yeah, we cool again,” he revealed before saying that the relationship “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! We wish them lots of love as they prepare to welcome their little one into the world.

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.