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Ashanti is opening up about her engagement with Nelly, their romantic reconciliation, and sharing a peek at her engagement ring.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight published on Tuesday, June 18, Ashanti opened up about being surprised at where her and Nelly’s romance stands today. The outlet notes that Ashanti spilled the tea while speaking to the outlet at her maternity shoot.
“Never in a million years did I think we would be here,” she explained. “Ten years ago — maybe yes — but after our breakup, you know, I didn’t even think we’d ever have a conversation again. I guess when you go through a breakup, for me personally, I kind of just shut that person out… It’s kinda like, okay, that chapter is closed, and you just move on, you know, and there’s nothing there.”
According to the outlet, the singer and Nelly rekindled their communication after Fat Joe and Ja Rule’s Verzuz battle in 2021.
“I had to really, like, be real with myself, like, do I have feelings for him again?” she recalled. “Like, what’s going on? Because they were out, you know what I mean. They were gone [but] I was pleasantly surprised that they were there.”
During the interview, Ashanti shared how Nelly proposed. The singer explained that it was a “beautiful, intimate moment.”
“It was just such a beautiful, intimate moment,” Ashanti explained. “We were not dressy… It was very, like, I had absolutely no idea.”
The singer told the outlet that they were watching TV in bed at the time. Additionally, she explained that she was left in shock.
“I mean, I felt like it was going to come soon, [but] I didn’t know when… I cried,” she said. “I gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever. I FaceTimed everyone I know… I was overjoyed and shocked and surprised and happy kind of like all in one.”
The outlet reports that Ashanti also explained that she plans to give birth before she and Nelly walk down the aisle. Additionally, she plans to have a wedding filled with a beach backdrop, “sunshine, and palm trees.”
Before concluding the interview, Ashanti opened up about how her romance with Nelly differs from then to now.
“The growth has been like superb, you know, like on both ends,” she said. “We are both at a place where, like — before, sometimes we would argue and walk out, slam the door, and not talk for a few days. Now, it’s kind of like, ‘All right, you good?’ You know, give me a kiss goodbye, and it’s over… It’s not like holding on and bickering, and we find out what the resolution is. We apologize… It used to take me a little longer to apologize.”
Additionally, the singer explained that she and Nelly are “so aligned.” Furthermore, she said they are both “passionate” about their careers and “building family” together.
“I think just we both are so passionate about working and about building family. We are so, so aligned,” she said.
Check out the singer’s interview and watch as she flaunts her engagement ring below.
As The Shade Room previously reported, Nelly confirmed his and Ashanti’s rekindled romance in September 2023. At the time, the rapper also noted his surprise at the turn of events.
In April 2024, Ashanti simultaneously revealed her pregnancy and engagement to the rapper, per The Shade Room. Most recently, the singer headlined her last performance before heading for maternity leave.
