Singer Ashanti and rapper Nelly have welcomed their first child together, a baby boy named Kenai, after secretly tying the knot last December. The couple’s publicist shared the exciting news with People Magazine, stating, “Ashanti and Nelly welcomed their son, Kenai Heinz, into the world on July 18, 2024. They are both filled with pride and happiness, and are absolutely smitten with KK!”
This marks Ashanti’s first child, while Nelly already has two children, a 29-year-old daughter named Chanel and a 24-year-old son, Cornell Haynes III, from a previous relationship.
The 43-year-old singer took to Instagram to share her postpartum journey, candidly documenting her body’s changes four weeks after giving birth. “Funny thing about life plans, they never go as you expect… lol. I’ve been waiting to be a mommy for so long, but I wasn’t prepared for everything that comes with mommy life! Here’s my postpartum look. Comfy shorts are the priority. I’m so proud of my body for giving me this beautiful baby boy.”
The couple’s love story began at the 2003 Grammy Awards, where they met and began dating. However, their relationship ended in 2013. After a decade apart, they reunited in September 2023 and announced their marriage on December 27th of the same year.
Ashanti subtly hinted at her pregnancy in April of this year when she shared a video on Instagram of herself preparing for a performance, captioning it, “Baby baby baby baby…” When asked by her mother, Tina Douglas, how long the preparation would take, Ashanti replied with a smile, “About nine months.”
In an interview with Essence magazine, Ashanti expressed her joy about becoming a mother, saying, “I’ve been looking forward to motherhood for so long. It’s such a wonderful experience to be able to share this news with my family, my fiancé, and my loyal fans who have supported my career.”
