Nelly and Ashanti’s relationship began in 2003 and lasted a decade before they broke up. The pair were apart for another ten years before their reunion in September 2023. Neither of them expected to see the other. “I think it surprised both of us,” Nelly said during an appearance on Boss Moves with Rasheeda. “It wasn’t anything that was planned.”
While it wasn’t planned, he played it cool, even walking up to Ashanti at some point to hug her. She was also uncertain about how things would play out as she did not expect to see him there, but she was satisfied with how things turned out.
Imagine everyone’s surprise when it was revealed that the pair had decided to get married quietly in December 2023. Keep reading to learn more about their relationship, which they denied for years only to keep it under wraps after the big reveal.
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How Nelly and Ashanti’s Relationship Began
Nelly and Ashanti first met at a Grammy Awards press conference, an event for the 2003 Grammy Award nomination announcements. Ashanti discussed their first meeting in VH1’s “Behind the Music” special.
“The first time I met Nelly, he asked me for my autograph, but I think he was being sarcastic, and I remember writing it down on the program,” she said. “That picture has been in so many publications as something else, but it all started out as a joke. For the record, it took him a long time to get my number.”
Two years later, Ashanti was still denying that there was anything special between her and Nelly, but she admitted that they “went out” despite their non-dating status.
Ashanti Teased Their Relationship for the First Time in 2008
Nelly and Ashanti’s relationship remained under speculation in the years that followed. However, in June 2008, she teased their relationship for the first time after her performance of the National Anthem at a Los Angeles Lakers game.
“Me and Nelly, we’re good friends. We kick it – hang out a lot,” she said. “The industry is very hard, so it’s good to have fun and lighten it up.”
When asked about the possibility of them getting hitched, Ashanti denied the rumors but didn’t completely dismiss them. “Oh no. Noooo! No engagement,” she said before adding, “but definitely in the future. Ha! Ha!”
Nelly and Ashanti’s Relationship Crashed in 2013
Between 2008 and 2013, Nelly and Ashanti continued to tease the public about their relationship. They never outrightly confirmed they were together, but their fans treated them as an item — until 2013, when rumors they had split started circulating.
It was a tricky period; neither Ashanti nor Nelly had confirmed their relationship. They also refused to address breakup allegations, but in March 2014, Ashanti seemed to imply that there was no longer anything between them and that she had “no beef” with him.
She said, “I feel like in a relationship, it’s like ping-pong. Sometimes you love them, sometimes you hate them. That’s a real statement; everyone goes through that.” It was not until 2015, when she appeared on “The Meredith Viera Show,” that she admitted they broke up.
Asked why they split, she said: “I think sometimes when people have their own insecurities, it allows them to act out of character. I’ve been betrayed… You have to grow up. You have to accept responsibility for the things that you do. I’m not a big fan of people being cowards.”
Nelly and Ashanti Reunited in 2021
Nelly and Ashanti reunited on the Verzuz stage to perform with Ja Rule and Fat Joe. After the performance, Ashanti admitted on Instagram Live with Ja Rule that she was shocked to see Nelly on the stage, a sentiment the rapper shared.
In December 2022, the pair gave their fans a show when they sang “Body On Me” together during Power 98.3 and 96.1’s Under the Mistletoe concert in Arizona. From the performance, it was clear they still had chemistry, and several days later, Ashanti appeared on Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens Live,” where she admitted they were in a better place.
When Cohen asked if there was a chance they would get back together, Ashanti seemed flustered as she told the host, “I mean, I don’t … ” before making exasperated sounds.
2023 Saw Nelly and Ashanti’s Relationship Back on Track
Nelly and Ashanti confirmed they rekindled their romance when he appeared on “Boss Moves with Rasheeda,” where he said he and Ashanti are “cool again.”
“I think it surprised both of us,” he added. “It wasn’t anything that was planned.” According to him, time played the most significant role in their reunion. Their time apart helped heal old wounds and gave them clarity.
“We both were pretty much doing what we do,” he said. “But sometimes, being separate, you understand one another more.” Ashanti confirmed their relationship later that day when she walked the red carpet at the 2023 MTV VMAs.
The singer’s fashion did most of the talking, featuring a clutch with a photo of her and Nelly. “We’re in a great space, everything is positive, we’re having a lot of fun,” she said. The couple married in December. However, the news wasn’t confirmed until months later, in June 2024. According to court documents, the date of their marriage was December 27, 2023.
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Ashanti Revealed Her Pregnancy in April 2024
During an interview with Essence, Ashanti revealed that she and Nelly are expecting their first child together. As she discussed it, she expressed anticipation, claiming motherhood was something she had always looked forward to.
The pair welcomed their first child, a baby boy, on July 18. “Ashanti and Nelly welcomed their baby boy, Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, on July 18, 2024. The proud and happy parents are so in love with KK!” a rep for the couple told PEOPLE.
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