Ashanti is preparing to welcome her first baby after almost jumping the gun with the announcement.
Amid news of their secret nuptials last year, the Grammy Award winner, 43, recently revealed how she told husband Nelly about her pregnancy after he prematurely announced the news.
‘I was kind of late,’ she explained of the first realization as she appeared on Entertainment Tonight.
‘My fiancé kind of blurted something out on stage and when he blurted that out on stage, we actually did not know,’ recalled Ashanti. ‘I hadn’t even taken a test at that time.’
She said ‘it was definitely a total coincidence’ that Nelly’s trigger-happy moment at his Black & White Ball in December turned out to be true.
Amid news of their secret nuptials last year, Ashanti recently revealed how she told husband Nelly about her pregnancy after he prematurely announced the news
‘I was kind of late,’ she explained of the first realization as she appeared on Entertainment Tonight
Ashanti also recalled the moment she confirmed the news was true. ‘I was so shocked and happy and emotional,’ she said.
‘ I always dreamed about it. I wanted it so, so bad and I just feel like the timing was perfect,’ added Ashanti. ‘And he was just like, “Oh I knew.”‘
The John Tucker Must Die actress said they ‘were both smiling’ at the news, recounting how she told Nelly, 49.
‘It’s so funny, I was actually at his mom’s house and I had to FaceTime him,’ said Ashanti. ‘He was in the studio, and I was at his mom’s house. So, it was a really cool moment… I couldn’t wait.’
The couple had no problems keeping the happy news a secret until the mother-to-be began showing. ‘Obviously, my body has changed so much, so that’s the tough part,’ said Ashanti.
‘But there are so many things that we just keep close to the vest. Both of us are really private people,’ she added. ‘So, that part isn’t hard, but the growing bump, there’s nothing I can do about it.’
This is Ashanti’s first baby, while Nelly shares daughter Chanelle, 30, and son Cornell, 25, with ex Chanetta Valentine.
He also adopted nephew Shawn and niece Sydney after his sister Jackie died of leukemia in 2005.
In April, Ashanti confirmed her first pregnancy and engagement to Nelly during an interview with Essence.
‘My fiancé kind of blurted something out on stage and when he blurted that out on stage, we actually did not know,’ recalled Ashanti. ‘I hadn’t even taken a test at that time’
She said ‘it was definitely a total coincidence’ that Nelly’s trigger-happy moment at his Black & White Ball in December turned out to be true
Ashanti and Nelly previously dated from 2003 to 2014 before rekindling their romance last year
‘This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,’ she explained.
Ashanti added, ‘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.’
It turns out Ashanti was already married to Nelly at the time, after they secretly tied the knot on December 27.
The Braveheart artist recalled the ‘beautiful, intimate moment’ Nelly proposed while they were in their pajamas. ‘We were not dressy,’ she said on ET.
‘I cried. I gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever,’ said Ashanti. ‘I FaceTimed everyone I know… I was overjoyed and shocked and surprised and happy kind of like all in one.’
Ashanti and Nelly previously dated from 2003 to 2014 before rekindling their romance last year.