Ashanti and Nelly’s relationship timeline

Asanti And Nelly found each other again in 2023 after a series of ups and downs.

The pair sparked romance speculation in early 2003 after meeting at a Grammys event. Although they were coy about their status for years, Ashanti confirmed in March 2015 that they were a couple until 2013.

After ten years apart, Ashanti and Nelly rekindled their romance in early 2023. “A few years ago, Ashanti never thought they would reconcile with Nelly, but they are enjoying spending time together,” a source exclusively shared. We weekly in September of that year. “They don’t want to rush anything.”

Three months later, Us exclusively confirmed that the two musicians are expecting their first child together. The child is Ashanti’s first and Nelly’s third. He already shares daughter Chanelle and son Cornell Haynes III with his ex Channetta Valentine.

Scroll down to relive Ashanti and Nelly’s relationship from the beginning:

January 2003

The duo first crossed paths during a Grammy Awards press conference. Ashanti later revealed that Nelly playfully asked for her autograph when they met. “I think he was being sarcastic, and I remember writing it down in the program,” she recalled during a VH1 interview. Behind the music special. “That photo has been in as many publications as anything else, but it all started as a joke. Just to be clear, it took a long time for him to get my number.”

October 2005

Nelly was spotted at Ashanti’s 25th birthday. The following month, Ashanti was seen celebrating Nelly as he turned 31.

July 2006

Ashanti brought Nelly as her date to the John Tucker must die premiere. In the film, Ashanti played cheerleader Heather. The following year, the pair released their first collaboration, ‘Switch’.

December 2009

The musicians teamed up again to release Nelly’s “Body on Me” music video just months after reports surfaced that they had split.

October 2010

“We never admitted that we were together, back together or divorced, but we heard that,” Nelly said Complex when asked about the pair present T.I‘s wedding together in August. “All we ever said was that we were friends, and that’s still true today.”

Summer 2013

The duo called it quits for the second time.

March 2015

“I think sometimes people have their own insecurities that can make them act out of character,” Ashanti said of her split from Nelly during an appearance on The Meredith Vieira Show. ‘I have been betrayed. Again, you just have to grow. You have to grow up and accept responsibility for the things you do. I’m not a big fan of people being cowards. I think it is very important to know yourself and understand what you want and get it. I’m in a different place now.”

September 2021

Ashanti and Nelly publicly reunited for the first time when they made an appearance on Friends Yes Rule And Fat Joe‘Verzuz’ battle. Ashanti later said during an Instagram Live that she “had no idea he was going to be there.” She explained at the time: ‘I haven’t seen or spoken to him since we broke up. Six years or something?”

December 2022

The following year, the pair took the stage together to perform “Body on Me” at Power 98.3 and 96.1’s Under the Mistletoe concert. When asked about the reunion, Ashanti shared Andy Cohen that she was surprised by how much fans were invested in her and Nelly’s dynamic.

“My reaction was wow. It was a lot of responses and a lot of people wanted that,” she revealed during an appearance on Watch what happens live with Andy Cohen that month. “What I’m saying is we’re in a better place. You know, because it used to be that way [mimics fighting]. But we’re cool now. Yeah, we have some conversations, you know. So it’s cool.”

April 2023

Nelly and Ashanti sparked reconciliation rumors after they were spotted holding hands in Las Vegas while attending a boxing match.

June 2023

The couple continued to fuel romance speculation as they stepped out for the 3rd Annual Birthday Ball for Quality Control CEO Pierre “P” Thomas at The Fox Theater in Atlanta. The event marked their first red carpet as a couple since their divorce in 2013.

September 2023

Nelly discussed his relationship with Ashanti during a segment from Philo TV’s ‘Boss Moves with Rasheeda’, saying: ‘Yes, we’re cool again.’ He confirmed that the rekindled romance “took us both by surprise,” adding, “It wasn’t anything that I don’t think was planned.”

October 2023

The following month, Nelly gushed about his partner on her birthday. He called Ashanti “so beautiful, an incredible person inside and out and one of the hardest working women” in an Instagram post at the time. “Happy birthday, I love you!!!!”

November 2023

When Nelly turned 49, Ashanti surprised him with a vintage 1962 Impala. “He was completely shocked and overcome with emotion when he saw it. This gift meant the world to him because there was a much more sentimental reason behind it,” a source exclusively shared Us at the time. “This had been Nelly’s dream car since he was a child and he couldn’t believe Ashanti gave him such a thoughtful gift. It’s one of the best gifts he’s ever received.”

The insider added that Ashanti “couldn’t wait” to give Nelly the gift. “She had been planning this surprise for months and it was such a hard secret to keep. But seeing his reaction made it all worth it,” the source said.

December 2023

Us exclusively confirmed that Ashanti is pregnant. “Nelly and Ashanti are welcoming their first baby together,” an insider confirmed.