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A Timeline of How Nelly and Ashanti Found Their Way Back to Each Other

Nelly and Ashanti are officially back together. Let's take a look at the couple's history.
Image via Getty/(Photo by Theo Wargo / WireImage for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation

Image via Getty/(Photo by Theo Wargo / WireImage for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation

Nelly and Ashanti had people talking when they wore matching outfits to the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia fight in Las Vegas earlier this month. Then, upping the ante, the former couple performed their 2008 hit “Body on Me” at a pool party together the very next day, and the entertainers danced on each other mid-segment, causing the crowd to go wild.

For those who don’t know, Nelly and Ashanti were one of the music couples that fans adored in the 2000s. They began dating in 2003, released music together, and were reportedly together on and off for a decade. There were also talks of a possible engagement in the future. However, the fairytale ended in 2013, and Ashanti revealed that she felt betrayed by the rapper. As the famous saying goes, time heals all. So much so that during Ashanti’s Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen appearance last December, she revealed that she was in a better place with her ex after they had a brief encounter at the Fat Joe and Ja Rule Verzuz in September 2021. 

After months of speculation, the two confirmed their rekindled relationship in September 2023. Let’s take a look back at their history and how they found their way back to each other.

 
 

Nelly and Ashanti meet

nelly and ashanti relationship timeline
Image via Getty/Photo by L. Busacca/WireImage


When: 2003

The two singers first met in 2003 at a Grammy Awards press conference. On a 2011 episode of Behind the Music, Ashanti recalled her initial experience with Nelly. “The first time I met Nelly he asked me for my autograph, but I think he was being sarcastic and I remember writing it down on the program,” Ashanti said. “For the record, it took him a long time to get my number.”

Ashanti and Nelly start dating

nelly and ashanti relationship timeline
Image via Getty/Photo by KMazur/WireImage


When: 2003

Everyone in the industry speculated that Ashanti and Nelly were an item although the two never confirmed it. Both of the entertainers were at the height of their careers at this time. Ashanti was enjoying the success of her first solo single “Foolish” spending 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Keeping the momentum going, she followed up with features on “What’s Luv?” and “Always on Time.”

As for Nelly, his debut single “Country Grammar” cemented him as a rapper to watch in the 2000s. His Country Grammar album sold over 10 million copies, earning an RIAA Diamond certification.

Nelly and Ashanti release music together
nelly and ashanti relationship timeline
Image via Getty/Photo by Jason Merritt/FilmMagic
 

When: 2008

Ashanti and Nelly released music together once they started dating, including “Body on Me” and “Switch.” Each of the songs seemingly hinted at details about the couple’s relationship, which they’ve notoriously remained tight-lipped about. 

In her 2007 single “Good Good,” Ashanti confidently sang about her man finding his way home. “When my man leave the house, I know he's coming right back. I got that good good,” she crooned. As for the music video, it featured none other than Nelly.

Nelly says he’s not ready to marry Ashanti
nelly and ashanti relationship timelineImage via Getty/Photo by Thomas Gannam/WireImage

When: 2010

During an interview with Rap-Up TV in 2010, Nelly spoke candidly about why he was hesitant to propose. He explained that he was focused on his career.

“I don’t know, right now we’re just friends,” he replied when asked about tying the knot with Ashanti. “I’m married to my work. I’m married to getting things into a certain situation. She’s married to getting things into a certain situation right now.”

He continued, “We enjoy each other’s company. We love it.” 

This appeared far off from Ashanti, who told People in 2008 that an engagement with Nelly was “definitely in the future.”

Ashanti and Nelly call it quits
nelly and ashanti relationship timelineImage via Getty/(Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation

When: 2013

After dating for a decade, the two called it quits on their relationship that the world knew little about. At the time, they didn’t announce the reason behind their split. A year later, Ashanti went on HOT 97 and told hosts that there was no beef between them despite what rumors might suggest.

Ashanti talks about Nelly split, says she’s been betrayed

nelly and ashanti relationship timelineImage via Getty/Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation

When: 2015

While appearing on The Meredith Vieira Show in 2015, Ashanti opened up about her breakup with Nelly.

After Vieira suggested that Ashanti and Nelly’s split was caused by trust issues, the singer elaborated further on the topic. “I think sometimes when people have their own insecurities it allows them to act out of character,” she said. “I’ve been betrayed.”

She continued, “Again, you just have to grow. You have to grow up and accept responsibility for the things that you do. I’m not a big fan of people being cowards. I think it’s really important to know yourself and understand what you want and get it. I’m in a different place right now.”

Nelly and longtime girlfriend split

nelly and ashanti relationship timelineImage via Getty/Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images

When: July 2021

Nelly’s longtime girlfriend Shantel Jackson announced in July 2021 that she and the rapper had split. The 37-year-old actor, who began dating Nelly in 2014, revealed the news in the comments section of an Instagram post after a fan asked if the two were still an item.

 "No we're not ….. Just friends," she replied

In October 2020, Nelly suggested that he and Jackson were working toward an engagement. "We have so much in common," Nelly told Entertainment Tonight. "She grew up in the inner city, she knows what it's like to go through certain things in life when you grow up in the inner city."

He added, "She's very driven, very passionate about the things she does and she doesn't accept anything but wanting to be better. And that's what I love. That's exactly what I love."

Nelly and Ashanti reunite at the Fat Joe and Ja Rule Verzuz


When: September 2021

During Fat Joe and Ja Rule’s Verzuz battle, the two exes reunited for the first time since their breakup. The former couple were invited on stage to perform their songs with the participants. At one point during the battle, Nelly walked across the stage to give Ashanti a hug. 

In an Instagram Live session after the Verzuz battle, Ashanti admitted that she was surprised to see her ex. “Now look, this is the crazy part: I had no idea he was gonna be there,” she revealed. “I haven’t seen him or spoken to him since we broke up. So, I didn’t know what to expect.”

She continued, “I seen his eyes get big and I didn’t know what was gonna happen. I didn’t know what to expect. It was positive.”

Nelly echoed a similar sentiment about their run-in, saying he “didn’t want any uncomfortable feeling.”

Irv Gotti says Ashanti left him for Nelly

Irv Gotti and Ashanti attend ART FOR LIFE benefit in 2004
Image via Getty

When: August 2022

Irv Gotti recalled the time he found out Nelly and Ashanti were dating during an August 2022 episode of Drink Champs. Ashanti was previously signed under Gotti’s label, Murder Inc., and was rumored to have dated the record executive at one point. She later denied those claims. 

“I was at home… Listen to this shit,” Gotti shared. “This was God wanting me to find out. Was at home… NBA package. I like watching sports. My God, what’s this commotion going on in the stadium? We just found out what the commotion is. Nelly has walked in with Ashanti.”

Gotti remembered being upset the moment he realized that Nelly and Ashanti were an item. “I could get past you wanting to be with Nelly,” he admitted. “Listen, at the time, it happens… Any man is hurt. The chick that you fuckin’ are in love with is with this n***a.”

Ashanti says she’s in a “better place” with Nelly

youtube.com

When: December 2022

In December 2022, Ashanti appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen and reflected on her recent performance with Nelly. A few days before, Nelly joined Ashanti onstage during Power 98.3 and 96.1's Under the Mistletoe concert in Arizona, where they performed their 2008 single “Body on Me.”

Ashanti explained that she was surprised by the outpouring of support from fans, and revealed where she stood with her ex-boyfriend. "My reaction was wow,” Ashanti said in reference to fans’ comments about their performance. “It was a lot of comments and a lot of people wanting that. What I will say is we're in a better place. You know, cause before, it was like [mimics fighting]. But we're cool now. Yeah, we have some conversations, you know. So it's cool."

Nelly opens up about Ashanti reunion

nelly

Image via Getty/Kelsey McNeal

When: February 2023

Nelly spoke with Entertainment Tonight in February about reconciling with his ex-girlfriend. "Time does wonders for a lot of different things," he told ET. "And time is one those things that allows you time to reflect on what's what, and you get a chance to see things in a different light and see your faults. So I think we both did that and it's cool that we just friends."
 

Ashanti and Nelly spotted multiple times together in Vegas

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

instagram.com

Nelly and Ashanti confirm their relationship

Paras Griffin / Getty Images

When: September 2023

After months of speculation, Nelly finally confirmed their relationship. The MC was featured on Philo TV’s Boss Moves with Rasheeda when he was put on the spot regarding his relationship status with Ashanti. He first laughed, saying, “No, warm up,” as he pondered the question. 

“Yeah, we cool again. We cool again. I think it surprised both of us, though,” he confirmed. “It wasn’t anything that was, like, I don’t think planned. I think we both was pretty much doing what we do. But sometimes, being separate, you understand one another more.”

He went on to mention that his end goal in life is marriage. “I think for me, because I’ve never been married, my goal is to die married. It’s not to have been married,” he said. 

Ashanti hosts Nelly’s surprise party

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by CORNELL HAYNES JR (@nelly)


Instagram: @nelly


When: October 2023

The pair celebrated the “Country Grammar” artist’s 49th birthday party at Frost Bistro & Bar in ATL. The night was full of star-studded attendees, including Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, T.I., and his family. According to People, they honored Nelly throughout the night, singing his legendary aughts hits during karaoke. 

Ashanti topped off the night with a major surprise for her boo. She gifted the rapper a custom old-school Impala. The singer posted his jaw-dropping reaction to her story. “Besides my kids, this is the best gift ever,” he said

Nelly showed off his new ride on Instagram, captioning his post, “Sometimes all you can say is ‘Thank You’ Best gift I ever received besides my kids!!!! You showed out shawty!!! Love you @ashanti.” 

She responded by seemingly wanting to go to “pound town” when she got home. “Ur welcome bighead! Your face was priceless! love u too! Pound town soon as I get back to the house,” she wrote underneath the post.

Nelly hints at baby-making with Ashanti

When: November 2023

Seemingly in love with his new ride, Nelly took to his Instagram to show off his custom-made car. The MC gave his followers a detailed glimpse of the vehicle in a video. “Wow I don’t think they understand…!!! #nipblue Bday Overkill.. !! @drinkmoshine,” he captioned. 

In the comment section, users raved over the Ashanti gift. “Get her pregnant @nelly TONIGHT.” 

In agreement, Nelly responded, “Already on it.”

Nelly has four children (two biological and two from his late sister, Jackie Donahue). As for Ashanti, she has been taking her time regarding children. But with the recent rekindling of their relationship, Nelly has seemingly hinted that the couple may be trying to get pregnant. 

Nelly and Ashanti are expecting first child together

When: December 2023

US Weekly confirmed that Ashanti is expecting her first child with Nelly. “Nelly and Ashanti are welcoming their first baby together,” a source told the outlet. 

The songstress sparked pregnancy rumors in early December after she and Nelly shared an inside joke on stage at Nelly’s Black and White Ball in St. Louis. According to TMZ, the singer put her hand on her belly, with Nelly doing the same. The two started laughing, seemingly hinting at the exciting news. 

The couple has yet to confirm the news.
 

Author: Editors Desk

Source: Complex

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