US music stars Ashanti and Nelly have announced their engagement and shared the joyous news that they are expecting their first child together. The award-winning performers, who first dated over 20 years ago, recently rekindled their romance.

Their love story began at the Grammy Awards in 2003, where they first met and eventually embarked on a decade-long relationship before going their separate ways. However, fate brought them back together, and they reignited their love last year.

Ashanti took to Instagram to share the exciting news, posting a video where she jokingly mentioned needing "about nine months" to prepare for her next big gig. Nelly also shared the post on his official Instagram feed with the caption, "Baby baby baby baby."

In the video, Ashanti's mother, Tina Douglas, playfully asks her daughter how much time she will need to get ready for the show. With a smile, Ashanti grabs a pregnancy test and disappears backstage before revealing, "I'm going to need about nine months."

This will be Ashanti's first child and Nelly's fifth. The rapper has a daughter and a son from his previous relationship with Channetta Valentine, as well as two children he adopted after his late sister, Jackie Donahue, passed away from leukaemia in 2005.

Nelly's family life was previously showcased in the reality TV show Nellyville in 2014, where viewers got a glimpse into his life alongside his then-girlfriend Shantel Jackson.

The happy couple's engagement and pregnancy announcement have been met with warm wishes and congratulations from fans and fellow celebrities alike, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their lives.

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