- Rumor has it that Nelly and Ashanti are having a secret romance as friends of the artists have spilled the beans that they've been enjoying a string of low-key liaisons for almost four months. (February 19, 2004)
- Will head to the big screen for the first time in a supporting role in COACH CARTER, a fact-based basketball drama starring Samuel L. Jackson. (January 6, 2004)
- Is among the acts set to perform on New Year's Eve for Fox's America's Party celebration. (December 19, 2003)
- Fights domestic violence with mini-movie version of her video for Rain On Me. (October 22, 2003)
- Has just recorded Ashanti's Christmas, which is due out November 18. (October 8, 2003)
- Will be the subject of the next installation of VH-1's Driven, which will debut this Sunday (September 14) -- Driven will detail Ashanti's rise from a young child in Glen Cove, Long Island to super-stardom, including the eight years and various record deals before the singer scored her first hit, Foolish on Murder Inc. (September 13, 2003)
- Will open for R. Kelly during his upcoming, five-date tour in August. (July 30, 2003)
- Opens Chapter II of her career with high hopes that the new album surpasses or at least matches last year's storybook introduction - Ashanti, who writes all of her lyrics, already has a hit with Rock Wit U (Awww Baby), which was the fifth-most-popular song on radio last week. (July 2, 2003)
- Will release her sophomore set Chapter II on July 1 -- The set is the follow-up to the singer's self-titled debut which sold more than 3 million copies. (June 10, 2003)
- Was in Key Biscayne, Florida on Thursday and Friday (May 8 and 9), shooting the video for her latest single Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) with video director Paul Hunter -- The video includes footage of Ashanti riding an elephant on the beach as well as swimming alongside the creature. (May 13, 2003)
- Is among the diverse group of more than 120 international, national, and local artists scheduled to perform at Atlanta's 10th Anniversary Music Midtown Festival May 2nd through 4th. (March 13, 2003)
- Ja Rule and Ashanti performed their Grammy-nominated hit single Always On Time live during the halftime of the NFC Championship game featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. (January 20, 2003)
- Is looking forward to her role in a remake of the 1976 film SPARKLE, which will be helmed by first-time movie director Irv Gotti of Murder Inc., and will co-star rapper Ja Rule - Ashanti takes the title role, which was originally played by a pre-Fame Irene Cara. (January 10, 2003)
- Has inked to portray Dionne Warwick for "Silent Night," a Christmas-themed episode of NBC's period drama AMERICAN DREAMS. (November 13, 2002)
- More than 20,000 signatures have been gathered on an Internet petition denouncing a music show's decision to give its Lady of Soul entertainer of the year award to her. Her critics complain that she's not talented enough to deserve the entertainer of the year honor, especially since it is named after the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
- Has sold more than 2.3 million copies of her self-titled debut album, released in the early 2002.
- Nominated for 2 Grammy Awards including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (Rain On Me) and Best Contemporary R&B Album (Chapter II). (2004)
- Nominated for 5 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video, Best R&B Video, and Best New Artist (Foolish), Best Hip-Hop Video (What's Love with Fat Joe), and Best Hip-Hop Video (Always On Time with Ja Rule). (2003)
Quotes- "I'm the same old girl from high school.'' "
- "I think it's very important once people meet you and they see in real life, yeah, you're a real person, you're normal just like them.'' "
- To me it doesn't make sense to change who you are as a person because you got a little bit of fame.''
- "It's definitely an honor to just be recognized for such a prestigious award and I'm just so happy to be here with all my people who have been supporting me." (when receiving the awards at the 8th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards)
Awards- Grammy Awards: Best Contemporary R&B Album for Ashanti (2003)
- American Music Awards: Favorite new artist in pop/rock and hip-hop/R&B categories (2003)
- Teen Choice Award: Choice Breakout Artist (2002)
- Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards: Entertainer of the year and best new solo artist (2002)
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