Ashanti, 43, FINALLY confirms she is expecting first baby with Nelly, 49, and reveals pair are ENGAGED in interview announcing pregnancy: 'I have looked forward to motherhood'

Ashanti has finally confirmed she is expecting her first child with Nelly - and revealed their engagement in a candid new interview. 

The songstress, 43, announced her pregnancy and her engagement to Nelly in an interview with Essence.

'This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,' she explained.

'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.'

While this will be Ashanti's first child, her partner, 49, shares his two adult children Chanelle, 30, and Cornell Haynes III, 25, with his ex Channetta Valentine. Nelly also adopted his niece and nephew, Shawn and Sydney Thomas, following the death of his sister Jackie Donahue.

Ashanti has finally confirmed she is expecting her first child with fiance Nelly (pictured last month in Washington, D.C.)

Ashanti also announced her pregnancy with Instagram followers with video promoting her and Nelly's fertility diagnostics company Proov. 

The video shows Ashanti preparing for a concert before her mother Tina Douglas asks, 'How much time do you need?'

Ashanti takes an early pregnancy test from Proov before she emerges from the wings with a swab in hand and says, 'I'm going to need about nine months.'  

She captioned the post: 'Baby baby baby baby….' with a red heart, prayer hands, and silly emoji. 

Proov provides 'affordable fertility diagnostics & treatment at home', according to their website. 

Ashanti and Nelly told Essence they co-own the company with founder Amy Beckley, PhD.

Ashanti and Nelly rekindled their romance last year 10 years after their initial split.  

The couple first sparked pregnancy rumors back in December while at Nelly's 11th Black and White Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis.

During the event, Ashanti raised speculation that she may be expecting after placing her hand on her stomach, as if she was cradling a baby bump.

While she made the gesture, Nelly also touched his stomach.

Ashanti also announced her pregnancy with Instagram followers with video promoting her and Nelly's fertility diagnostics company Proov

She can be seen opening up Proov's Early Pregnancy Test 

Her mother's jaw drops when her daughter tells her, 'I'm going to need about nine months' 

After seemingly indicating they had a little one on the way to the audience, they both laughed and exchanged knowing glances.

A source subsequently told Us Weekly that the pair are 'welcoming their first baby together.'

In September, Nelly confirmed they were back together during an interview with Love and Hip Hop stars Rasheeda and Kirk Frost.

'Yeah, we cool again,' he gushed when asked if they had rekindled their romance.

The performer continued: 'I think it surprised both of us though. It wasn't anything that I don't think was planned.'

Nelly added that he believes spending so long apart from one another has been helpful with their reunion because the distance allowed them to 'understand' each other and their relationship better.

Ashanti and Nelly rekindled their romance last year, after splitting in 2013 (pictured February 2024)

He explained: 'I think we both were pretty much doing what we do, but sometimes being separate you understand one another more.

'You be like, "Yo, let me see exactly what they see." You know, because we all can be defensive sometimes in our own relationships. We know we wrong but we going to stand on it. But we all a victim to that.'

The couple's relationship 'feels good now' because there is 'no pressure' on either of them.

Nelly added: 'Before I felt like both of us were doing what we were doing before career-wise, and when you got so many people in the middle of it, it can be tough.'

Nelly and Ashanti sparked rumours they were back together after being spotted in Las Vegas in March 2023, and a week later they attended a 40th birthday party for businessman Jon Schwartz together.

The couple pictured in June 2023 

Ashanti and Nelly, real name Cornell Haynes Jr., first got together after meeting in 2003

In December 2022, the Foolish singer appeared on stage with Nelly during Power 98.3 and 96.1's Under the Mistletoe concert.

Following the show, Ashanti admitted she was surprised by the response from fans wanting the former flames to get back together.

Appearing on Watch What Happens Live, she told host Andy Cohen: 'My reaction was, "wow". It was a lot of comments and a lot of people wanting that.'

Although she stayed coy over whether or not they would get back together, she did admit they were in a much 'better place' than they were when they broke up.

She added: 'What I will say is we're in a better place... We're cool now. We had some conversations, so it's cool.

Ashanti and Nelly at the premiere of John Tucker Must Die in 2006

Ashanti and Nelly, real name Cornell Haynes Jr., first got together after meeting in 2003.

The rap star has collaborated with the R&B star on various occasions, including her 2007 track Switch and 2010's NY Lover.

Over ten years ago Ashanti reportedly split with Nelly due to his alleged 'cowardly betrayal.'

Ashanti spoked about their breakup while on The Meredith Vieira Show in 2015.

'I think sometimes when people have their own insecurities it allows them to act out of character. I've been betrayed,' she said at the time.

'Again, you just have to grow. You have to grow up and accept responsibilities for the things that you do. I'm not a big fan of people being cowards.

'I think it's really important to know yourself and understand what you want and get it. I'm in a different place right now.'