The rekindled duo has made their engagement and pregnancy public, exclusively sharing the news with Essence magazine, which announced it on social media this Wednesday. “This new chapter in my life is brimming with blessings, love, and anticipation,” remarked Ashanti, 43, in a statement to the publication.
“Becoming a mother has been a long-awaited dream, and being able to share it with my family, fiancé, and devoted fans, who have supported my journey, is truly remarkable.” Adding a touch of humor to the reveal, Ashanti posted a video on her verified Instagram account, showing her getting ready for a performance.
In the clip, her mother and manager, Tina Y. Douglas, asks about her time frame, to which Ashanti playfully responds, “I’ll need about nine months,” eliciting a gasp from her mother as the screen transitions to a Proov logo, an at-home fertility and hormone marker test.
In a statement, the singer expressed her excitement about parenthood, saying, “Given my close bond with my parents, I’m eager to be a loving parent to our child, following in their footsteps as they raised me and my sister. Nelly and I are thrilled to welcome Baby Haynes into our lives with open arms.” (Nelly’s birth name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr.)
Ashanti, 49, and Nelly confirmed their reconciliation as a couple in September, two decades after their initial relationship, which spanned a decade, came to an end. Around that period, Ashanti attended the MTV VMA Awards, where Nelly was slated to perform. She accessorized with a clutch featuring a photo of them together at the same event back in 2003.
During an interview with E! News at the ceremony, Ashanti complimented the bag as “cute” and was probed about her relationship status with the “Hot in Herre” star.
Amid laughter, she coyly responded, “I mean… yeah.”
Nelly also opened up during an appearance on “Boss Moves with Rasheeda,” alongside “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta” stars Rasheeda and Kirk Frost, last autumn. “We’re back on good terms,” Nelly shared. “I think that it caught us off guard. It wasn’t something we planned.”