Grammy Award-winning R&B vocalist Ashanti performed a tribute to the classic fantasy film The Wizard of Oz on CBS’ Early Show on Thursday. The former First Lady of The Inc. has played Dorothy — a role originated by Judy Garland in the 1939 — in the Broadway production of The Wiz as well The Muppets Wizard of Oz.

Check out this video performance of Ashanti’s rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

Nelly and Ashanti have called it quits after nearly five years of dating.

The couple managed to keep their romance under wraps until Nelly confirmed that the pair were dating last November, but now the twosome has split amid claims that the rapper wasn’t ready to settle down with Ashanti.

According to The New York Daily News, Nelly has been nursing his broken heart by spending time with Canadian video model Melyssa Ford.

Broadway’s newest star, R&B singer Ashanti, performed the classic song “Home,” from the musical The Wiz, in a live performance on Regis & Kelly Tuesday, June 23.

Theater critics in New York City are easing on down the road for Grammy-winning singing star Ashanti’s revival of the Broadway musical, The Wiz. Featuring lively costumes and an outstanding score that helped make a star out R&B diva Stephanie Mills, was the most successful Black Broadway productions of the 1970s.

The show’s popularity even resulted in a film, starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

Variety has compiled a list of reviews for the urban reworking of L. Frank Baum’s classic fairy tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, starring Ashanti as Dorothy and Orlando Jones as the man himself.
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Feast your eyes on what you’ll get a taste of if you check out Grammy-winning singer Ashanti on Broadway this summer.

Here’s a video clip of the once self-proclaimed “Princess of R&B” performing “Home” — a song made famous by legendary powerhouses Diana Ross and Stephanie Mills — from the musical The Wiz at a press junket in Manhattan last week.

The Wiz opens June 12 — Ashanti has been cast in the role of Dorothy for a three week limited engagement.

Ashanti appeared on The TODAY Show Friday, where she promoted her buzzed-about Broadway debut in The Wiz, opening June 12.

Ashanti is about to be ass out at The Inc. Read the rest of this entry »

Ashanti is easing on down the Yellow Brick Road to Oz.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter will make her theatrical debut as Dorothy in a revival of The Wiz, the urbanized version of the classic story, The Wizard of Oz.

The musical will run June 12 through July 5 at New York City Center as part of its “Encores! Summer Stars” series.

Ashanti’s mama is a cock blocker.

After five years of low-profile dating, Nelly is ready to propose to Grammy Award-winning singer Ashanti. So what’s holding him back? Rumor has it it’s Ashanti’s mother, Tina Douglas. Read the rest of this entry »

Long Island’s own Ashanti is among the arsenal of celebs, including Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, in the GAP’s Holiday 2008 promotional campaign.