Ashanti to Re-Record 2002 Self-Titled Debut Album After Securing Her Masters

Ashanti Reflects on 20th Anniversary of Her Industry Debut (Excl…

Raven-Symoné Reacts to ‘That’s So Raven’s Social Media Fandom an…

Teddi Mellencamp Reflects on Skin Cancer Journey (Exclusive)

Wynonna Judd Reflects on Lisa Marie Presley's Death and Opens Up…

Michelle Yeoh Teases Golden Globes Dress and Reflects on Impact …

Golden Globes 2023 | Jeremy Allen White (Full Backstage)

Angela Bassett Reflects on 'Teachable Lesson' After Son's TikTok…

Austin Butler Reflects on ‘Elvis’ Experience and Being Called Be…

Anne Heche’s Best Friend Heather Duffy Reflects on the Late Actr…

Viola Davis on Filming in South Africa for ‘The Woman King’ & Ha…

Teddi Melencamp on Embracing the Haters in Her Post-'Real Housew…

Sherri Shepherd Recalls Barbara Walters Fighting to Cast Her on …

Jane Fonda Shares Heartfelt Message About Motherhood While Refle…

Lauren Ambrose on Joining 'Yellowjackets' and the End of 'Servan…

Wynonna Judd Spills on Celebrating Her Late Mom Naomi With ‘The …

Martha Stewart Shares Her Celebrity Crush and More in a Game of …

'The Last Of Us' Showrunner Craig Mazin on Plans After Season 1 …

Lisa Marie Presley’s Close Friend on Rumors of Graceland Court B…

'Teen Wolf' Cast on Whether Paramount+ Movie Is the End of Their…
Ashanti is taking a trip back to the aughts by re-recording her debut album.
The GRAMMY winner announced her plans to hit the studio during an appearance on the Tamron Hall Show, where she explained that she recently gained ownership of her masters and wanted to redo the self-titled album that was released in 2002.
"I have an amazing legal team, and I got my first record deal when I was 14 years old, so understanding and seeing how things have changed so much from then to now and conceptually understanding what you're singing is so imperative, it's so important nowadays," she told Hall about securing her masters after almost two decades since her debut.
The 40-year-old singer recalled creating the album in her basement and called the experience "humbling" and adding that she's grateful for the ability to do it over.
"It's such a blessing, you know, the fact that we are still here, we're living through a pandemic, and these blessings are still coming in, it just makes me so happy again, so humbled and such a believer," she added. "There's a higher power, and I think that just being as a person and praying and putting your heart into things you get that energy back, and I think that's so important. So, I'm just really, really happy."
The debut album Ashanti hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America by the end of the year. It featured several hit singles, including "Happy," "Baby" and the iconic record "Foolish," and went on to earn the singer Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2003 GRAMMY Awards.
Ashanti has more musical projects coming up, including the movie Honey Girls, which is based on the Build-A-Bear line of the same name. The singer stars as the international superstar triple-threat, Fancy G, hosting a talent competition to discover the next big pop star.
The film marks the feature debut of music video director Trey Fanjoy, who helmed Taylor Swift's "Love Story" among many, many more. Julia Michaels is on board as music supervisor, with original songs penned by Mark Nilan Jr. (who wrote several of Lady Gaga's songs in A Star Is Born, including "Why Did You Do That?" and "Hair Body Face").
"The music is super uplifting," Ashanti teased. "It's a completely different vibe from Ashanti. But it's cool and it's different and I feel like it's so important as an artist to continue to evolve. You have to continue to build the empire."
Honey Girls is available exclusively on DVD and digitally on Oct. 19.
RELATED CONTENT
Ashanti Reflects on 20th Anniversary of Her Industry Debut (Exclusive)
Ashanti Is Looking for the Next Big Pop Star in 'Honey Girls' Trailer
Ashanti's Sultry Look Steals the Show at Fat Joe's Birthday Party