After rumors surfaced late last year that singer Ashanti and rapper Nelly were having a child together, the two confirmed the news today, per People. Ashanti (full name: Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas) shared the news via a video on Instagram, which she captioned, "Baby baby baby baby…." In the clip, her mother, Tina Douglas, asks her how much time she needs to prep for a performance, to which she answers, "Uh, I'm gonna need about nine months."

This will be Ashanti's first child. Nelly shares two children, daughter Chanelle Haynes and son Cornell Haynes III, with his ex-partner, Channetta Valentine. Nelly also adopted his niece and nephew, Shawn and Sydney Thomas, after his sister, Jackie Donahue, passed away from leukemia in 2005.

Speaking to Essence, Ashanti shared another major milestone: she and Nelly are engaged. 

"This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation," Ashanti said. "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."

Getty Images

The duo first sparked pregnancy rumors in December 2023 when made an appearance at the the Black and White Ball in St. Louis. During their time on stage, Ashanti touched her stomach, which led to Nelly doing the same and fans speculated that the two were expecting. 

Nelly confirmed the two were back together during an interview on the Boss Moves with Rasheeda show, saying that the reconciliation "surprised both of us." The two first dated back in 2003 and were together for nearly 10 years.

Getty Images

"It wasn't anything that we planned. We both were pretty much doing what we do,” he said. “But sometimes, being separate, you understand one another more. You could be like, 'Well yo, let me exactly see maybe what they see.' We all can be defensive sometimes in our own relationships. We know we wrong, but we going to stand on it, you know what I mean? But we all a victim to that."

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qrrSrbClnV6YvK57wKyfmqaknnqvsculsGaoopq0r63NrWSeppeWtKawjHFtbG1hboI%3D