Veteran multi-award-winning singer Ashanti has revealed that her husband, fellow Hollywood icon Nelly, was fully responsible for naming their newborn son.
The news that the celebrity couple had welcomed their first child together quickly spread on social media on Wednesday, August 21, after Ashanti confirmed the exciting announcement while speaking with Entertainment Tonight.
She also posted a photo on her social media, celebrating her body just four weeks postpartum and marveling at the human ability to give life.
Discussing how they chose the name Kareem Kenkaide "KK" Haynes for their baby boy, the "Rock wit U" hitmaker shared, "Kenkaide is my dad's name, and my dad only has girls. The baby's middle name, Kareem, has Arabic origins and translates to 'generous, kind, and dignified.' His dad (Nelly) named him with a lot of pride and thought the name was 'really, really dope.'"
Reflecting on how her life has changed since becoming a mom, the 43-year-old Grammy-winning singer noted that her world now revolves around her son. "My son definitely dictates everything now. He is the priority above all, and I don't care what it will take or what I have to do; I'm just going to give everything and my all to my son. This little boy has my entire soul wrapped around his finger."
While her son is her top priority, Ashanti emphasized the importance of creating space for herself and embracing her identity beyond motherhood. Sharing advice with other moms, she candidly said, "Your child absolutely feels your energy. Make sure that the baby feels secure and safe, and you have to have space for yourself as well. Don't get too lost in the world of the baby. I think it's really important to create a balance."
Nelly and Ashanti got married on December 27, 2023. While this is their first child together, the 49-year-old "Dilemma" hitmaker has four other children: a 25-year-old son named Cornell III, aka Tre, and a 30-year-old daughter known as Chanelle, aka Nana. The other two are his niece, Sydney, and nephew, Shawn, whom he adopted following the death of his sister, Jackie Donahue, who passed away from leukemia in March 2005.
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