Ashanti and Nelly are engaged and expecting a baby

(CNN) —& Congratulations are in order for singer Ashanti and rapper Nelly. The& reunited couple& have gone public with both a pregnancy and their engagement. They shared the news exclusively with Essence magazine,& which posted an announcement Wednesday on social media. “This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope, and anticipation,” Ashanti, 43, said in a statement to the publication. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé, and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.” Ashanti had some fun with the news& on her own verified Instagram account, with a video in which she’s seen preparing for a performance. When her mother and manager Tina Y. Douglas asks her how much time she’s going to need in the clip, Ashanti quips, “I’m gonna need about nine months” as he mother gasps and the screen goes to a logo for Proov, an at-home fertility and hormone marker test. In a statement to CNN, the singer said, “As you know, I am so close with my mom and dad, so I am looking forward to being an amazing parent to...