Ashanti and Nelly secretly wed nearly six months ago.
Citing public records, TMZ reports the couple wed December 27, 2023.
The couple are expecting their first child together and revealed their engagement in April.
Recently Ashanti shared the sweet details from Nelly’s proposal.
The singer reflected on the event, explaining the casual way the rapper popped the question.
Ashanti shared the sweet details from Nelly ‘s proposal as the couple prepares to welcome their first child together
‘It was just such a beautiful, intimate moment’ Ashanti told Entertainment Tonight. ‘We were not dressy.’
The 43-year-old said they were watching television in bed, dressed in pajamas, which added to why she was ‘completely’ shocked.
‘I cried. I gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever,’ Ashanti recalled. ‘I FaceTimed everyone I know… I was overjoyed and shocked and surprised and happy kind of like all in one.’
When it comes to their impending nuptials, the Foolish artist confirmed she will give birth before walking down the aisle.
As for what fans can expect to see from Ashanti’s big day? She told the outlet that the beach, palm trees and plenty of sunshine are all must-haves.
Ashanti also took a moment to reflect on how far she and the rapper have come since first dating in the early aughts.
‘Never in a million years did I think we would be here,’ she gushed. ‘Ten years ago – maybe yes – but after our breakup, you know, I didn’t even think we’d ever have a conversation again.’
The couple dated from 2003 to 2013 before going their separate ways.
Then, in 2021, Nelly and Ashanti ran into each other at Fat Joe and Ja Rule’s Verzuz battle.
The 49-year-old asked for Ashanti’s number from DJ City, sparking the pair to rekindle their romance.
‘I guess when you go through a breakup, for me personally, I kind of just shut that person out…’ Ashanti continued. ‘It’s kinda like, OK, that chapter is closed and you just move on, you know, and there’s nothing there.’
And when they reconnected, the star dug deep to see if he was the one.
‘I cried. I gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever,’ the singer recalled. ‘I FaceTimed everyone I know… I was overjoyed and shocked and surprised and happy kind of like all in one’
‘I had to really, like, be real with myself, like, do I have feelings for him again? Like what’s going on?’ she explained.
‘Because they were out, you know what I mean. They were gone. I was pleasantly surprised that they were there.’
In fact, things are even better than they were a decade ago.
‘The growth has been like superb, you know, like on both ends,’ Ashanti told ET.
‘We are both at a place where like before, sometimes we would argue and walk out, slam the door, and not talk for a few days.’
The 43-year-old confirmed she will give birth before walking down the aisle
But the duo knows how to handle things more communicatively in present day.
‘Now, it’s kind of like, “All right, you good?” You know, give me a kiss goodbye and it’s over,’ said the actress.
‘It’s not like holding on and bickering and we find out what the resolution is. We apologize… It used to take me a little longer to apologize.’
With their little one on the way, Ashanti feels she and her fiancé are fully on the same page.
‘I think just we both are so passionate about working and about building family,’ she noted. ‘We are so, so aligned.’
‘I think just we both are so passionate about working and about building family,’ she gushed to Entertainment Tonight. ‘We are so, so aligned’
Along with an adorable proposal, another milestone was when Ashanti discovered she would be a first-time mom.
After missing her period, the Winter Song star began to suspect she could be pregnant and decided to FaceTime Nelly – who is also dad to Shawn, Chanelle, Sydney, and Cornell – to tell him the news.
‘I couldn’t wait, [I] had to get it out,’ Ashanti told Entertainment Tonight. ‘And he was just like, “Oh I knew.”‘
‘He was so happy and we were both smiling and it was so funny,’ she continued. ‘I was actually at his mom’s house. He was in the studio. It was a really cool moment. It was a little bit of everything.’
On Mother’s Day, Ashanti shared a look at her growing bump, posting an adorable slew of photos from their celebration.
‘This Mother’s Day was so special…,’ she wrote alongside a shot of the smiling pair. ‘Having our families together as we are about to embark on such an incredible journey was amazing. Wishing all of the amazing Moms and Moms to be a beautiful Mother’s Day/ Pre Mothers Day!!!!!’
‘Yeah yeah I know I’m late…,’ Ashanti teased. ‘It was so much food I got distracted. Ps… I only had 1 plate tho.’