Ashanti and Nelly Expecting First Child Together After Reuniting
Us Weekly can confirm that Ashanti is expecting her first child after getting back together with Nelly earlier this year. “Nelly and Ashanti are having their first baby together,” a source tells Us exclusively. The baby will be the only child for Ashanti, 43, while Nelly, 49, has two children from a previous relationship with Channetta Valentine: daughter Chanelle, 29, and son Cornell Haynes III, 24. Ashanti sparked rumors of her pregnancy over the weekend when she joined Nelly at his Black and White Ball in St. Louis. The couple touched their stomachs while on stage with Nelly and then laughed as if they were hinting at their family expansion. A fan video shared by TMZ showed the moment. Ashanti and Nelly met at a Grammy Awards press conference in 2003 and dated on and off until 2013. They reignited their romance in April when they were spotted holding hands at a boxing match in Las Vegas. Nelly confirmed their relationship in September in a clip from Philo TV’s “Boss Moves with Rasheeda,” saying, “Yeah, we cool again.” He said that the reunion “surprised both of us though,” and added, “It wasn’t anything that I don’t think was planned.”
A source told Us exclusively in September that Ashanti didn’t see herself getting back with Nelly after a decade apart. “Ashanti never would’ve imagined reconciling with Nelly a few years ago, but they’re enjoying spending time together,” the insider said then. “They don’t want to rush anything.” The pair made their relationship Instagram official in October when Nelly celebrated Ashanti’s birthday. “One time for the birthday girl,” he wrote alongside a series of photos of them smiling. “Such a beautiful, an incredible person inside and out and one of the hardest working women. I know… @ashanti Enjoy your day Ma you look awesome!!! Happy Birthday Love ya!!!” Ashanti surprised Nelly with a car for his birthday last month, a source confirmed to Us exclusively. “She had been planning this surprise for months and it was such a hard secret to keep. But seeing his reaction made it all worthwhile,” the insider said in November. Nelly was overwhelmed by the generous gift. “He was in total shock and overcome with emotion when he saw it. This gift meant the world to him because it had a much more sentimental reason behind it,” the source explained. “This was Nelly’s dream car since he was a kid and he couldn’t believe Ashanti gave him such a thoughtful gift. It’s one of the best presents he’s ever received.”