United Kingdom, June 26 -- Ashanti never imagined she would rekindle her romance with Nelly.

The 44-year-old singer dated Nelly on and off from 2003 until 2013, and the celebrity duo began dating again in 2023 - but Ashanti never saw their reunion coming following an acrimonious break-up.

Speaking about their rekindled romance, Ashanti told Extra: "I'm a firm believer in what's meant to be will be, you know, and from the Verzuz hug to the phone call later to us talking and, you know, things just kind of organically, naturally happening, it's kinda like you gotta trust the process.

"I just never saw it coming ... When you put feelings away for a long time and then they kind of just creep back out and you're like, 'What happened? Why is ...