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 singer, 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 I’ve been looking forward to, and sharing it with my family, fiancé and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, has been an amazing experience.”

Although 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, after the death of his sister Jackie Donahue.

Ashanti also announced her pregnancy to Instagram followers with a 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 with Proov before emerging from the wings with a cotton swab in hand and saying, “I need about nine months.”

She captioned the post: ‘Baby baby baby baby….’ with a red heart, prayer hands and crazy emoji.

According to their website, Proov offers ‘affordable fertility diagnostics and treatment at home’.

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

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

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

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

While making the gesture, Nelly also touched his stomach.

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

A source said this later We weekly that the couple is “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’re cool again,” he said when asked if they had rekindled their romance.

The artist continued, “I think it surprised both of us. It wasn’t anything that I don’t think was planned.”

Nelly added that he believes being apart for so long has been helpful in their reunion, as the distance allowed them to better “understand” each other and their relationship.

He explained, “I think we both kind of did what we do, but sometimes you understand each other better when you’re apart.

“You say, ‘Yo, show me exactly what they see.’ You know, because we can all be defensive in our own relationships sometimes. We know we are wrong, but we continue to insist. But we are all victims of that.’

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

Nelly added: ‘Before I felt like we were both doing what we were doing before, and when you get so many people in the middle of it, it can be difficult.’

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

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

After the show, Ashanti admitted she was surprised by the response from fans who wanted the former flames to get back together.

Appearing on Watch What Happens Live, she told host Andy Cohen: ‘My reaction was “wow”. There were a lot of reactions and a lot of people wanted that.’

While she remained coy about whether or not they would get back together, she did admit that they were in a much “better place” than when they broke up.

She added, “What I’m saying is we’re in a better place… We’re cool now. We’ve had some conversations, so it’s cool.

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 several occasions, including her 2007 song Switch and 2010’s NY Lover.

More than a decade ago, Ashanti reportedly split with Nelly over his alleged ‘cowardly betrayal’.

Ashanti talked about their breakup while on the road The Meredith Vieira Show in 2015.

“I think sometimes people have their own insecurities that can cause them to act out of character. I have been betrayed,” she said at the time.

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

‘I think it’s very important to know yourself and understand what you want and get it. I’m in a different place now.’