Ashanti has officially confirmed she is pregnant and expecting her first child with her fiancé Nelly.

In an exclusive interview with Essence magazine, the 43-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer also confirmed she and the “Country Grammar” rapper are engaged.

This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation.

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.

Nelly and Ashanti sparked pregnancy rumors back in December at his 9th annual Black & White Ball when he rubbed her belly on stage.

US Weekly reported a source confirmed the pregnancy, but the couple remained tight-lipped about it.

By February 2024, it became pretty obvious Ashanti was expecting when she hit the stage performing in big pink Balenciaga shirt that doubled as designer maternity wear.

But, the couple still remained tight-lipped about the pregnancy as if we couldn’t clearly see Ashanti’s burgeoning baby bump.

On their own time, the expectant parents announced their exciting news in their own way.

Ashanti and Nelly exclusively shared with Essence that they’re co-owners of Proov, along with founder Amy Beckley, PhD.

Proov is a diagnostics company providing affordable at-home tests to aid individuals in their journey to conceive faster and more economically.

These medical-grade tests shed light on potential fertility issues, offering hope to those facing challenges in starting a family.

This venture marks a new chapter in the lives of these stars.

Notably, it signifies Ashanti’s first foray into motherhood and adds to Nelly’s role as a father, making it his fifth child.

Alongside his daughter Chanelle, and son Cornell Jr., Nelly also adopted Shawn and Sydney Thomas, his late sister Jackie Donahue’s children, after her battle with leukemia in 2005.

Congratulations to the expectant parents and the future Mr. and Mrs. Haynes.