Fantasia Barrino and Kendall Taylor’s love story began with a whirlwind courtship, leading to their marriage just three weeks after they met. While the rapid decision surprised some, it proved right for the couple, who have now enjoyed 11 years of marriage.
Despite their happy years together, Taylor never gave Barrino a formal proposal during their initial, quick courtship, leaving one detail unfinished.
However, during Barrino’s Valentine’s Day show, Taylor decided to make the evening unforgettable.
The entrepreneur came on stage, lovingly recounted their origin story, and explained to the cheering crowd and his emotional wife that he wanted to “make something right.” He then finally gave her the formal proposal she never had.
READ ALSO: Fantasia’s daughter, Zion, celebrates 90 days of being sober and addresses ICU rumors
“For 11 years, for many anniversaries, for many birthdays, Valentine’s, I shared my angel with you,” Taylor said to the crowd, as reported by Essence. “So give me some grace and share my wife back with me.”
“One thing I’ve learned is that a good woman desires a proposal. But a Godly woman, she deserves one,” Taylor added emotionally.
“For 11 years you woke up every morning and you chose me. For 11 years you’ve been an incredible mother to our children. For 11 years, we fasted, we prayed. So I’m a give you a karat for every year you stood by my side.”
Taylor replaced her original wedding band with a stunning new 11-karat diamond ring, kneeling to propose. The emotional surprise caused the 41-year-old singer to drop to the floor in delightful shock, as the surrounding crowd erupted in cheers.
The couple met in 2015, and their love story developed both quickly and unconventionally. They bypassed traditional expectations, marrying soon on a yacht in North Carolina after their first meeting.
READ ALSO: Fantasia Barrino: This Is “The Color Purple” Star’s Net Worth
Barrino told Billboard in 2016, “I just knew [he was the one]. I was getting ready to go on the road, and he got on his knees and said, ‘Can I pray for you? I just want to cover for you down the road. In the time I’d been fasting from relationships, I asked God for someone to pray for me—someone that could cover me and my kids and be the man of the house. That’s when I knew.”
Barrino and Taylor each had children from previous relationships when they married. Barrino’s children are her daughter Zion, born when the singer was 17, and her son Dallas, born in 2011 with Antwaun Cook. Taylor has an adult son, Trey, who has made the couple grandparents. The fusion of their families has been a significant part of their relationship, often showcased by Barrino on social media.
Barrino and Taylor welcomed a child, a daughter named Keziah, in 2021. Their journey to parenthood with Keziah was a difficult one, as they tried for three years and faced fertility challenges before her arrival. Keziah’s birth completed their blended family, making them a family of six.
READ ALSO: Fantasia says she and her son were kicked out by Airbnb host in racist incident
