Ashanti is opening up about her pregnancy journey and the moment she and husband Nelly discovered they were expecting.
In an exclusive interview with ET, the singer expressed her initial reaction upon learning the news.
“I was so shocked and happy and emotional. I wanted it so, so bad and I just feel like the timing was perfect,” she revealed.
The revelation came shortly after a viral December 2023 incident at Nelly’s annual Black and White Ball in St. Louis, where speculation arose after a video showed Nelly affectionately rubbing Ashanti’s belly onstage.
However, Ashanti clarified to ET that they were unaware of her pregnancy at the time and the incident was purely coincidental.
“When he blurted that out on the stage, we actually did not know. I hadn’t even taken a test at that time,” she said.
It wasn’t until she missed her period that the Foolish singer suspected she was pregnant. She promptly FaceTimed Nelly to share the news once her suspicions were confirmed.
“I couldn’t wait, [I] had to get it out,” she recalled. “He was so happy and we were both smiling and it was so funny.”
This will be Ashanti’s first child and Nelly’s third, as the rapper has two older children from a previous relationship and has also adopted his late sister’s two kids.
“I think he’s going to be amazing, he’s so good with his kids. When they have a chance to spend time together, he makes it count,” she said of Nelly. “They have all had to make sacrifices because of [his] career and the traveling and them growing up, you know. But when they are together it’s the best thing in the world to watch.”
Reflecting on their journey, Ashanti shared, “I always knew I wanted it to happen, you know, I always had dreams, I had visions it was going to happen. Never in a million years did I think [Nelly and I] would be here. Like 10 years ago maybe, but after our breakup, I didn’t even think we’d have a conversation again.”
Ashanti has been fortunate to have a smooth pregnancy so far. “I have been so blessed. This has been an amazing pregnancy, I have zero symptoms,” Ashanti tells ET of her pregnancy. “I’m still performing. So I’m so happy and so blessed.”
Looking ahead, Ashanti is excited about the future, especially seeing “this little human version of myself and the person that I love so much be here. I’m really looking forward to having an extension of both of us, be with us, and watching that spirit grow. It’s an amazing thing.”
As for the baby’s gender, the couple is keeping that detail under wraps for now, adding to the anticipation surrounding their growing family.
