From the time of 2003 to 2023, Nelly and Ashanti’s relationship has been through a lot of ups and downs. They first came across each other in a press conference for the Grammy Awards that year, then they started dating not long after their meeting. The couple had some splits and got back together several times before also with the most recent reunion happening in 2023. In September 2023, they confirmed their engagement.
Then in April 2024, they told the world about their first child together. They have had many problems in their relationship, including rumors and guessing games about whether or not they are still together.
But through it all, they always show a strong connection with one another and stick by each other’s side no matter what happens, this is why we believe that these people will make an excellent couple for life.
The First Meeting
The very beginning of Nelly and Ashanti’s relationship can be traced back to a Grammy Awards press conference in 2003. At that time, Ashanti recollected how they crossed paths for the first time and stated that Nelly jokingly requested her autograph. “I think he was being sarcastic, and I remember writing it down on the program,” Ashanti said in a VH1 Behind the Music special.
“That picture has been in so many publications as something else, but it all started out as a joke. Anyway, for the record he took my number for a long time.” These words were shared by Ashanti about her connection with Nelly during their meeting at the 2003 Grammy Awards.
The Early Years (2003-2006)
In the early 2000s, Nelly and Ashanti were known for working together on music projects. They made a hit single called “Switch” in 2004. At the same time, they started to frequently show up at each other’s birthday parties which showed their closeness. The love story between them started back in 2003 when Nelly met Ashanti for the very first time during a Grammy Awards press conference.
The Break-Up (2013)
Nelly and Ashanti broke up in 2013 because they did not trust each other and had doubts about their relationship. On “The Meredith Vieira Show”, Ashanti shared that she felt betrayed by Nelly’s actions which made her think, “I think sometimes when people have their own insecurities it allows them to act out of character. The relationship ended over their falling trust. Over the ten years, they had to face problems as a couple. For example, Nelly wanted to marry Ashanti but she didn’t feel the same way. The end of their relationship made big changes in their jobs and personal lives.
The Aftermath (2013-2023)
Following their break in 2013, Nelly and Ashanti advanced towards their own works and personal development. Nelly released a number of albums that did well, like “M.O.” and “Virsa,” while Ashanti kept putting out music along with trying other creative paths such as acting. Social media was important for their relationship.
They both used Instagram and Twitter to show their activities, and communicate with supporters. Sometimes they would write about each other or the time spent together on these sites.
The Reunion (2023)
In September 2021, Nelly and Ashanti met again at the Fat Joe and Ja Rule Verzuz event. Ashanti shared with us on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen ” that she had a small meeting with Nelly at the Verzuz, which made them be in better terms. This unexpected encounter during Verzuz event where they talked about their past together as well as musical partnerships, is what started a new connection between these two artists.
In the month of August 2022, Nelly and Ashanti held their reunion on stage. They performed a song named “Body on Me” together at a pool party in Las Vegas. The performance was intense and it made fans go wild when they saw this former couple dancing very close to each other.
It restarted rumors about these two possibly having romantic feelings again after being apart for many years. Probably, the reasons that caused them to reunite are remembering their past relationship, common love for music and wanting to progress positively after all these years apart. The way Nelly and Ashanti performed together showed their ongoing good chemistry and respect for each other, even after experiencing various stages in their connection.
The Engagement (2023)
Nelly asked Ashanti to marry him in September 2023, which is a very important event showing their relationship has now reached this stage. It happened after they got back together and revived their love story again during 2021. Nelly’s choice of proposing to Ashanti following almost twenty years in an intermittent relationship shows how strong their bond is and that both want total commitment from one another.
The announcement of Nelly and Ashanti’s engagement is like a symbol for the strength of their love and journey together. It shows how they found each other by chance at 2003 Grammys, then recently met again before deciding to move forward in life as one united couple.
The Pregnancy (2024)
Ashanti made her pregnancy public on Instagram. She shared that she and Nelly were expecting their first child together. The news ended many months of guessing and stories going around about her being pregnant, making this a big step forward in their relationship. Both, who had mended their relationship in 2023, were happy to make a family.
Ashanti expressed her joy by saying that becoming a mother is an aspiration she had always held dear. She felt thankful for the chance to share this experience with her fiancé and also with his loyal followers. The news of engagement and pregnancy from the couple confirmed their dedication towards each other. They eagerly looked ahead to this fresh phase in life together. The couple, who started dating again in 2023, were excited about having a baby.
Ashanti said she was thrilled to become a mother because it had always been her dream and she thanked God for making this possible at such an amazing time in their lives.
The Musical Collaboration
Nelly and Ashanti have worked together often on music projects before. Their last collaboration was made known in November 2023 with a song produced by Jermaine Dupri featuring Juicy J set to be released soon. This new collaboration is an important step for them both professionally as it highlights not just their musical compatibility but also personal dedication towards one another.
Fans have always liked their past collaborations, for instance “Body On Me” in 2008. All these factors have kept their fame consistent.
The journey of Nelly and Ashanti relationship has been a tale that captivated their fans, filled with events like the time they met by chance at Grammys or recent news about getting engaged while also expecting a baby together. The couple’s story shows how love can be strong even in tough times.
