After rekindling her romance with Nelly, Ashanti has shared some advice on giving love a second chance.
Speaking with REVOLT reporter Ty Cole, the 44-year-old opened up about what it takes to successfully reconnect with a past partner.
“Be true to yourself. You can’t force it,” she said. “What’s meant to be will always be—regardless of time, regardless of circumstances. When it’s meant to be, it’ll be. You have to trust that. Obviously, I’m a testament to that.”
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In 2023, Ashanti and Nelly tied the knot just a year after reconciling. The couple, who share an infant son, Kareem, had spent nearly a decade apart before finding their way back to each other.
Their journey toward reconciliation began in September 2021 when they shared a warm embrace during the Verzuz battle between Fat Joe and Ja Rule—sparking renewed interest in their relationship after years of dating other people.
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Now a wife and mother, Ashanti reflected on how her priorities have shifted.
“Family first—being married and having a child. My mind is thinking bigger, better, and more outside the box,” she said. “I wrote a children’s book, and now I want to dive into that space. I’ve always loved kids. I used to work at a daycare center, but now that love is amplified a million times over.”
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Looking back, she acknowledged how their time apart provided valuable perspective.
“We both moved on, dated other people,” Ashanti admitted. “But then you start to see things differently. Like, damn… maybe it wasn’t so bad.”
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she reflected on how unexpected their reunion was.
“Never in a million years did I think we’d be here,” she said. “Ten years ago? Maybe. But after our breakup? I didn’t think we’d even speak again.”
Love, it seems, has its own timing—and for Ashanti and Nelly, the right moment finally arrived.
