Aww, Baby!!! Nelly & Ashanti Announce Pregnancy & Engagement, R&B Mama-To-Be Cradles Baby Bump In... 

Aww, baby; the rumors are true! Nelly and Ashanti are not only expecting—but the rapper and R&B mama-to-be are ENGAGED!

Nelly and Ashanti

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty

The news was first shared by Ashanti, 43, who took to Instagram on Wednesday, April 17, to announce her pregnancy.

In a video, Ashanti is seen getting ready for a performance as her glam team and her mom Tina Douglas urgently ask her how much time she needs.

“Uh, I’m gonna need about nine months,” responds the singer with a smile.

Following the big reveal, Ashanti confirmed to ESSENCE  that Nelly, 49, popped the question and asked her to be his wife.

“This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,” said Ashanti. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.”

Ashanti also gave more insight into their pregnancy journey and told ESSENCE that they’re the co-owners of Proov, a diagnostics company that offers at-home tests that help individuals looking to conceive make it happen faster and in a way that doesn’t leave a large dent in their pockets. The rekindled duo owns the company alongside founder Amy Beckley, PhD.

After the news broke, Ashanti was seen onstage at a Florida conference cradling her baby bump in a royal blue dress.

 

 

This will be Ashanti’s first child, Nelly’s fifth. The rapper has a daughter, Chanelle, a son, Cornell Jr., and adopted Shawn and Sydney Thomas, the two children of his sister, Jackie Donahue, after she passed away from leukemia in 2005.

The rekindled couple sparked pregnancy rumors in December when Ashanti rested her hands on her stomach during a performance. Just days later, US Weekly broke the news that they were expecting their first child.

Most recently Dan thought they spotted Ashanti’s burgeoning bump while she performed onstage with Nelly in February for the 10th anniversary of E11EVEN Miami.

Congratulations to Nelly and Ashanti!

Nelly and Ashanti

Source: Prince Williams / Getty

‘Abbott Elementary’ Star Quinta Brunson Plays Hooky To Celebrate 60th Anniversary Of Famed Studio... 

Quinta Brunson x Universal Studios Hollywood asset

Source: Elwood Walker/Universal Studios Hollywood

Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson played hooky to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the famed Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Her school day funday at the park comes after she became only the second Black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy back in January.

Starting April 26, 2024, guests can visit an iconic film set, experience immersive photo-ops, enjoy throwback eats, purchase exclusive merchandise, and more in celebration of the Studio Tour’s 60th Anniversary.

To commemorate the Anniversary, the entire tour is getting a makeover with “updated decor, new scripts for the tour guides, and new media content (featuring new celebrity cameos),” per the theme park’s site.

Several of the trams will be retro-themed to look like classic candy-striped Glamor Trams from the ’60s and, for the first time in decades, guests will get to experience the studio backlot by foot.

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, guests can expect to see nostalgic studio props including a Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur, massive King Kong backdrop, and the theme park’s original Jaws shark.

Also worth noting is the return of the original Runaway Train (which ran from 1974-1985) and an updated version of “Earthquake – The Big One” which has been revamped into a modern subway stop with a fire, a ceiling crashing in, a gas tank sliding into the station, and a flood.

For more info about the 60th Anniversary celebration, click here.