R&B singer Ashanti is reportedly expecting her first child with rapper Nelly.
The couple, who reignited their relationship earlier this year, is said to be thrilled about the impending arrival of their unborn baby, according to Us magazine.
This will be 43-year-old Ashanti’s first child. However, Nelly, 49, already has a daughter named Chanelle, 29, and a son named Cornell Haynes III, 24, from his previous relationship with Channetta Valentine.
Speculation about Ashanti’s pregnancy arose over the weekend during Nelly’s Black and White Ball in St. Louis. The Only U singer, attending the event with Nelly, was spotted placing her hand on her stomach while on stage, a moment that was reciprocated by Nelly. A fan video shared by TMZ captured the couple breaking into laughter, seemingly confirming the pregnancy hint.
The history between Ashanti and Nelly dates back to their initial on-and-off relationship from 2003 to 2013, sparked by their meeting during a Grammy Awards press conference.
In April of this year, rumours of their reconciliation surfaced when they were seen holding hands at a boxing match in Las Vegas.
Nelly officially confirmed their renewed relationship in September during an episode of Philo TV’s Boss Moves with Rasheeda, stating, “Yeah, we cool again.” He shared that the reunion was a surprise to both of them and wasn’t something pre-planned.
In a twist of fate, Ashanti, after a decade apart, reportedly did not expect to reignite the romance with Nelly. The couple made their Instagram debut in October this year, delighting fans with their public acknowledgment of the relationship.
Their love story, which began in 2003, saw its fair share of on-and-off phases before a decade-long hiatus in 2013. Nelly subsequently dated influencer Shantel Jackson, Floyd Mayweather’s ex-fiancée, for seven years before their split in 2021.
Fans and well-wishers are eagerly anticipating the newest addition to the couple’s family as they embark on this exciting journey together.
