Nelly Gets a Sweet Surprise from Wife Ashanti Presenting Him With The Landmark Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Nelly received an unforgettable surprise from his wife, Ashanti, during the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 17. The 50-year-old rapper was honored with the prestigious Landmark Award at the star-studded event, held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

While Nelly knew Ashanti was in attendance, he had no idea she would be taking the stage to present him with the award. Ashanti playfully revealed she had “lied” earlier, claiming she was heading to the bathroom, only to surprise him in front of the audience.

In her heartfelt speech, Ashanti reflected on Nelly’s groundbreaking impact on the rap scene. “Back in the day, when people thought about rap, they thought about the east and west coast, but in 2000, a rapper emerged out of St. Louis who would change the game forever and put the Midwest on the map. That rapper was Nelly,” she shared. She also marked the 25th anniversary of his iconic album Country Grammar, which not only topped the charts for six consecutive weeks but also sold over 10 million units, cementing Nelly’s place in hip-hop history.

“I’m so proud to honor Country Grammar and the talented guy who made it — my soulmate, my husband, Nelly, with the iHeartRadio Landmark Award,” Ashanti added.

Later in the night, Nelly took the stage to perform a medley of his biggest hits, including “Country Grammar,” “Ride Wit Me,” “E.I.,” and “Hot in Herre,” sending the crowd into a frenzy with his timeless classics.