By Clarice Burger
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She was discovered as a teenager by record producer Irv Gotti, and signed with his label Murder Inc. Records, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings in 2002. That same year, Ashanti guest appeared on the singles “What’s Luv?” by Fat Joe, and “Always on Time” by Ja Rule, which peaked at numbers two and one on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively; the latter, with her 2002 debut single “Foolish“, made her the first female artist to occupy the top two positions the chart simultaneously.
“Foolish” served as lead single for Ashanti’s eponymous debut album (2002). Despite mixed reviews, it debuted atop the Billboard 200, received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles “Happy” and “Baby“. She then co-wrote and provided background vocals for Jennifer Lopez‘s 2002 single “Ain’t It Funny (Murder Remix)“, which peaked the Billboard Hot 100. Her second album, Chapter II (2003), became her second to peak the Billboard 200 and received platinum certification by the RIAA. It received three nominations at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, while its lead singles, “Rock wit U (Awww Baby)” and “Rain on Me“, peaked at numbers two and seven on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Her third album, Ashanti’s Christmas, was released that same year as a Christmas album; it was met with a steep critical and commercial decline.
Ashanti’s fourth album, Concrete Rose (2004), debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 despite mixed critical response. Its lead single, “Only U“, peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart—her most successful song in that country. Its second single, “Don’t Let Them“, saw limited success due to Def Jam’s legal issues with Murder Inc. label head Irv Gotti. Her fifth album, The Declaration (2008), was met with moderate reception and became her final release on a major label; her sixth album, Braveheart (2014), was released independently. Ashanti has sold nearly 30 million records worldwide.
Ashanti has acted in several productions, debuting in the film Coach Carter and starring in the TV special The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (both 2005), the latter of which attracted nearly eight million viewers.[10] She also appeared in John Tucker Must Die (2006) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007).
Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas was born on October 13, 1980, in Glen Cove, New York. Her mother, Tina Douglas, is African American and a former dance teacher. Her father, Ken-Kaide Thomas Douglas, is also African American and a former singer. She is the oldest of her parents’ children, with a younger sister named Kenashia “Shia” Douglas. Ashanti’s mother named her after the Ashanti Empire in Ghana; in this nation, women had power and influence, and Tina wanted Ashanti to follow that model. Her grandfather, James, was a civil rights activist who was associated with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s.
Ashanti’s mother discovered her full singing potential when she overheard Ashanti singing Mary J. Blige‘s “Reminisce” at age 12 (after the song was released on Ashanti’s birthday).
Ashanti dated Nelly from 2003 to 2013 after meeting at the 2003 Grammy Awards. The two began dating again in 2023. In December 2023, it was reported that the couple were expecting their first child together and had married on December 27, 2023. In April 2024, Ashanti confirmed her pregnancy and the couple’s engagement in Essence magazine. On July 18, 2024, the couple welcomed their first child. In 2025, she and Nelly began starring in their own reality series, Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Thanksgiving Day in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October. The first Canadian Thanksgiving Day was observed on April 15, 1872, to celebrate the recovery of the prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day, observed in the United States on the second Monday in October, recognizes the culture, contributions, and history of Native Americans. Ways to celebrate include attending community events, supporting indigenous businesses and art, and expanding knowledge via museums and other resources. The holiday is celebrated in certain areas in lieu of Columbus Day (a federal holiday) because of the devastation that European exploration brought to indigenous peoples of the Americas. Learn more about Indigenous Peoples’ Day here.
On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the Bahamas, convinced that he had reached the East Indies. The anniversary of his landing in the New World was first formally celebrated in 1792, by the Columbian Order (Society of St. Tammany) in New York City. Now, it is celebrated nationally on the second Monday in October.
Question of the Day
When were zippers invented?
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Moon rides High/runs Low
Puzzle of the Day
Why is it hard to have a conversation with a goat around?
Born
- Mary McCauley (Molly Pitcher) –
- Theodore Gilmore Bilbo (politician) –
- Herbert Lawrence Block (editorial cartoonist) –
- Art Tatum (jazz pianist) –
- Cornel Wilde (actor) –
- Margaret Thatcher (former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) –
- Lenny Bruce (comedian) –
- Paul Simon (musician) –
- Sammy Hagar (musician) –
- Lacy J. Dalton (singer) –
- Marie Osmond (singer) –
- Nancy Kerrigan (figure skater) –
- Ashanti (singer) –
Died
- Milton Hershey (Chocolatier and founder of The Hershey Company; died in Hershey, Pennsylvania) –
- Ed Sullivan (television personality) –
- Stephen Ambrose (historian) –
Events
- Cornerstone of the White House was laid –
- The Jewish organization B’nai B’rith was founded –
- Several countries adopted the Greenwich longitude as the prime meridian –
- Boston Americans (now Red Sox) won first World Series –
- The Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series –
- William Golding’s novel, The Lord of the Flies, was published in New York –
- First World Series to end on a walk-off home run when the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Yankees –
- Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opened on Broadway –
- Expo 86 ended in Vancouver, British Columbia –
- The United States Navy Memorial was dedicated, Washington, D.C. –
- Stock market dropped 190.58 points in what was called the Friday the 13th mini-crash –
- A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck central Oklahoma –
- Thirty-three miners trapped underground for more than 2 months were rescued, Copiapo, Chile –
- Actor William Shatner became the oldest person, at age 90, to travel to space –
Weather
- A snowstorm hit New York City –
- Project Cirrus: 80 lbs. dry ice released onto hurricane –
- Up to 2 feet of snow blanketed Buffalo, New York, and surrounding areas –
- A storm that started Oct. 12 comes to an end, having dropped 22.6 inches of snow in Buffalo, New York. –
COURTESY www.almanac.com
