2003: Nelly and Ashanti Meet

Nelly and Ashanti meet for the first time at the Grammy Awards press conference in 2003. In a 2011 episode of VH1's Behind the Music, the "Foolish" singer reflected on that moment. “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,” she recalled. “That picture has been in so many publications as something else, but it all started out as a joke. For the record, it took him a long time to get my number.”

Nelly and Ashanti Begin Dating

However, it wasn't long after meeting that the two reportedly began dating.

2008: Ashanti Teases Future Engagement to Nelly

The couple kept their relationship relatively private. However, Ashanti did give some insight into their future plans. In an interview with People, the Grammy award-winning artist teased a possible engagement. “Oh no. Noooo! No engagement.” she said while responding to rumors of an upcoming wedding, “But definitely in the future. Ha! Ha!”

Nelly and Ashanti Collaborate on Music

Nelly and Ashanti collaborated on the song "Body On Me," and the "Dilemma" rapper also starred in the singer's video for "Good Good."

2010: Nelly Explains Why He Isn't Ready for Marriage

In an interview with Rap-Up TV, Nelly revealed why he has yet to propose to Ashanti. “I don’t know, right now we’re just friends,” he said. “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 concluded, “We enjoy each other’s company. We love it.”

2013: Nelly and Ashanti Break Up

In 2013, the couple reportedly split after a decade together.

2014: Ashanti Calls Nelly Her First Real Love

Talking to Sway in the Morning, Ashanti revealed that Nelly was her "first true love."

Nelly Begins Dating Shantel Jackson

That same year, Nelly began dating Shantel Jackson.

2015: Ashanti Said Nelly 'Betrayed' Her 

Ashanti opened up about her breakup with the diamond-selling artist on The Meredith Vieira Show. “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, “And I feel like, 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.”

2021: Nelly and Shantel Split Up

Shantel confirmed that she and Nelly broke up while replying to a fan on Instagram. "No we're not ….. Just friends," she said after being asked if they were still together.

Nelly and Ashanti's Verzuz Hug Goes Viral

In September 2021, the then-former couple made headlines when Nelly walked across the stage to hug Ashanti during Fat Joe and Ja Rule's Verzuz, which had fans hopeful for a reconciliation. Later, in an interview with Angie Martinez, the artist who is featured in the Guinness World Records book,revealed how she felt seeing him.

"It was very unexpected. I hadn't seen him in like six years or more. Spoken or seen," she said. "It was a little awkward." However, she said she wore "the perfect ex outfit."

Ashanti Denies Dating Flo Rida and Explains Why She Likes to Keep Her Love Life Private

During her December 2021 The Breakfast Club appearance, Ashanti cleared up rumors that she was dating rapper Flo Rida after photos of them vacationing together made their rounds on social media. "That's my brother. Me and Flo are super cool," she said.

She continued, "We've been going to each other's birthday parties for ten years, so I don't know why it's such a surprise now." The "Only U" artist also opened up about why she likes to keep her love life private. "I have never in my life posted a dude that I'm dealing with, ever. I mean, maybe Nelly on the fly or something like that. Like 100 years ago, but nothing like, 'oh, we're together, never." I like to keep things private.

"I like to be super low especially until things are like solid, solid," she explained. "There are at least two people super heavy in the industry, we dated and we never posted."

Nelly and Ashanti Perform Together

The two performed their hit song "Body On Me" together during Power 98.3 and 96.1's Under the Mistletoe concert in Arizona, thus sparking dating rumors.

February 2023: Nelly Addresses Ashanti Dating Rumors

Nelly opened up about his friendship with Ashanti in a February interview with Entertainment Tonight. "Time does wonders for a lot of different things, 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," he said. "So I think we both did that, and it's cool that we just friends."

​April 2023: Nelly and Ashanti Reunite Again

In April, the "Body On Me" collaborators further fueled rumors of them dating again after they were spotted holding hands at the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia fight. And in May 2023, they shared another steamy performance at the Palms Casino Resort during the singer's show with Ja Rule.

June 2023: Nelly and Ashanti Wear Matching Outfits

The following month, Nelly and Ashanti attended Pierre "P" Thomas' birthday party wearing matching outfits.

August 2023: Nelly and Ashanti Share a Video Singing Together

The couple posted a video of them singing to Usher's 1998 hit "Nice & Slow."

September 2023: Nelly and Ashanti Confirm They're Back Together

Let's hope they make the second time around count.

December 2023

The couple are reportedly expecting their first child together.

August 2024: Ashanti Gives Birth

Congratulations are in order as Ashanti revealed her postpartum body after giving birth to a baby boy with Nelly. In the video, she shared that she had the baby four weeks ago. "Four weeks postpartum. You have no idea what this body can do," she said. Their son's name is Kareem Kenkaide Haynes. Kenkaide is Ashanti's father's name.

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