Nelly and Ashanti Are Going to Be Parents! Relive Their Early 2000s Romance with These Throwback Photos
Before getting engaged and announcing their pregnancy in 2024, the musicians dated in the early aughts; see the iconic vintage pics
KMazur/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2003Nelly and Ashanti are a match made in 2000s heaven.
The musicians announced their pregnancy and engagement in April 2024, but their love story actually started long ago, when they dated from 2003 to 2013 before reuniting in 2023.
"I think it surprised both of us,” Nelly said of their rekindled romance on a 2023 appearance on Boss Moves with Rasheeda. “It wasn't anything that was planned."
What surprised us is how many incredible photos of their early romance are on the Internet! In celebration of their exciting baby and engagement news, look back on their 2003 love story with these 20 throwback photos.
2003
KMazur/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2003Superstars Nelly and Ashanti first met at a 2003 Grammys press conference (above). The rapper even asked for the singer's autograph — but not her number.
"For the record, it took him a long time to get my number," she said on an episode of VH1's Behind the Music.
2005
Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2005Nelly helped surprise his love at her 25th birthday party at N.Y.C.'s Glo in October of 2005.
2006
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2006The pair put their heads together in 2006 at a party celebrating Diddy's Unforgivable fragrance at N.Y.C.'s Stereo.
2006
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2006Ashanti was pretty in peach alongside a white-clad Nelly for the summer 2006 premiere of John Tucker Must Die in Los Angeles.
2006
Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty
Nelly and Ashanti in 2006Courtside at a Charlotte Bobcats vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game in North Carolina in 2006, the two had lots to laugh about.
2006
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2006The musicians brought their star power to the 2006 TAO anniversary party in N.Y.C.
2006
Frank Di Piazza/Getty
Nelly and Ashanti in 2006The pair traveled to Nelly's beloved St. Louis for the 2006 Black and White Ball that July.
2007
Chad Buchanan/Getty
Nelly and Ashanti in 2007Nelly and Ashanti made great dates for the 1st Annual Pre-BET Awards at L.A.'s Boulevard 3 in June 2007.
2007
Ethan Miller/Getty
Nelly and Ashanti in 2007The singers kept it cool for the Las Vegas premiere of Resident Evil: Extinction on Sept. 20, 2007.
2007
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2007The singer sparkled alongside her boyfriend at the September 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas.
2007
ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan via Getty
Nelly and Ashanti in 2007The couple was on the list for the 2007 Rolling Stone 40th anniversary bash at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.
2007
Matthew Simmons/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2007The stars only had eyes for each other in 2007 at Jermaine Dupri's BET afterparty at The Highlands in Los Angeles.
2007
Denise Truscello/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2007The couple looked young and in love at the Resident Evil: Extinction premiere afterparty at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas in 2007.
2007
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2007Nelly and Ashanti shared a cute moment at her birthday party at Atlanta's Cafe Dupri in October 2007.
2008
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2008The stars sat side-by-side during the 2008 Clive Davis Pre-GRAMMY party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
2008
Eric Charbonneau/Wireimage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2008Ashanti was the belle of the ball alongside her suit-clad love at the UMG Grammy Celebration in Los Angeles in 2008.
2008
Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Nelly and Ashanti in 2008The couple teamed up to perform their sexy collab "Body on Me" on an episode of The Tonight Show in L.A. in September 2008.
2008
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Nelly and Ashanti in 2008Nelly and Ashanti brought his-and-hers style to the 2008 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
2010
Matthew Simmons/WireImage
Nelly and Ashanti in 2010The stars kicked back in Las Vegas for New Year's Eve in 2010, celebrating at Haze Nightclub on Dec. 31 of that year.
2012
Rick Diamond/Getty
Nelly and Ashanti in 2012Before their 2013 breakup, the lovebirds raised their glasses during a surprise party he hosted for her at STK in Atlanta in October of 2012.
Cheers, you two!
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