Whoa! Nelly and Ashanti tied the knot six months ago; they are already married

Later this year, the celebrities are expecting their first child together.

For six months, Nelly and Ashanti have been having a covert marriage!

On Wednesday, June 19, PEOPLE was able to get documentation that proved Ashanti, 43, and Nelly, 49, were married on December 27, 2023. The couple had not yet disclosed their wedding, but they had previously revealed their engagement and first child’s pregnancy. The first to report on their nuptials was TMZ.

Ashanti spoke with Entertainment Tonight earlier this week about the proposal and her ideal wedding.

Ashanti described the rapper’s proposal as a “beautiful, intimate moment” that took place at home. She made a joke about how her attire showed she was not at all anticipating it.

She affirmed, “I had one of his boxers and T-shirts.”

Ashanti celebrated her first Mother’s Day as a pregnant woman in May and posted pictures of the event to Instagram. She smiled and posed for pictures with Nelly and other family members holding her bump.

Ashanti wrote, “This Mother’s Day was so special,” as the post’s caption. It was wonderful to have our family together as we prepare to set out on such a fantastic journey. I’m wishing a wonderful Mother’s Day to all of the incredible mothers and mothers! 😆😆😆😆❤️🙏🏽🥳 #happiness 🙏🏽🥰

“Yeah yeah, I know I’m late,” she said. I get sidetracked by the abundance of food 🤣🤣 P.S. I had one plate, but 🤣🤣👀.”

Before splitting up in 2013, the couple had first started dating in the early 2000s. In 2023, after ten more years apart, they announced their engagement and impending baby almost a year later.

The “Hot in Herre” hitmaker stated, “I think it surprised both of us,” on the Boss Moves with Rasheeda program that aired on Philo in September.

In an interview with Essence, Ashanti highlighted the changes in her life when she revealed in April 2024 that she and her partner were expecting their first child together.

She told the source, “This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation.” “Being a mother is something I have long anticipated.”

The singer of “Foolish” also quietly revealed that she and Nelly were engaged when she called Nelly her “fiancé.”