Nelly has a dilemma when it comes to having a second baby with wife Ashanti.
The couple—who quietly married in December 2023—welcomed their first son, Kareem, 7 months, in July 2024. And Nelly had a priceless reaction to Ashanti revealing that she would be open to adding another addition to the family soon while they walked the red carpet at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles March 17.
“Must be getting another nanny,” the rapper quipped in an exclusive interview with E! News’ Francesca Amiker, after Ashanti mentioned in the joint interview that she liked the idea of having “one or two more.” (For more from Ashanti and Nelly, tune into E! News tomorrow, March 18, at 11 p.m.)
But that doesn’t mean Nelly isn’t enjoying being a dad. After all, Ashanti, 44, emphasized that Nelly has been a great partner in raising their son.
“You know, it’s just beautiful to see the love and the emotion,” she shared. “I mean, he has it with all his kids, but obviously, KK is the baby right now. So, it’s beautiful to see.”
In fact, the “Country Grammar” rapper shared that the best part has been sharing the parenting journey with Ashanti, who he dated on and off for 10 years before the couple rekindled their romance in 2022.
“It’s always great when you get a chance to share your life and all of that,” Nelly said. “But I think on this one, it’s just watching her get a chance to be a mom, and watching the joy in her face that she gets, just [from] her interaction with him.”
Nelly—who is also dad to Chanelle, 31, and Cornell, 26, from a past relationship and adopted his late sister’s kids Shawn and Sydney after she died of leukemia in March 2005—also noted that it’s extra special for Ashanti as it is her first child.
“She’s waited so long,” he shared. “Now she’s tackling motherhood with the best attention she could, anyone could give, and she’s killing it.”
For more celebs on the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards red carpet, read on.
Kelsea Ballerini
In Alexandre Vauthier.
Mariah Carey
FINNEAS & Billie Eilish
Doechii
JoJo Siwa
In Versace.
Bad Bunny
Gracie Abrams
In Khaite.
GloRilla
In Valdrin Sahiti.
Becky G
In The New Arrivals RE25.
Jenny McCarthy
In Genny.
Nikki Glaser
In Stella McCartney.
Benson Boone
Tori Spelling
Ashanti & Nelly
Ashanti in Balmain.
Victoria Monét
Brandi Cyrus
In Dolce & Gabbana.
Cheryl Burke
LL Cool J
Chanel West Coast
Madison Beer
Hair styled using OGX products.
Offset
AJ McLean
Daniel Wai & Ariana Madix
Ariana in Miraco jewelry.
Janet Caperna & Brittany Cartwright
James Charles
Joel McHale
Robin Thicke
Muni Long
Linkin Park’s Emily Armstrong, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda & Colin Brittain
Tori Kelly
