Ashanti awarded star on Hollywood Walk Of Fame and credits her mum for it
Ashanti has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and credited her mother for the “surreal” way she believes it came about.
The Baby singer, 41, told how her mum Tina Douglas had predicted the day would come more than 20 years ago.
Ms Douglas was so convinced she bought Ashanti an imitation plaque from a souvenir shop during her first trip to Los Angeles and has held on to it ever since.
Addressing the crowd at her induction ceremony in Hollywood on Thursday, which included collaborators Ja Rule and Tichina Arnold, she said: “She’s had this for over 20 years, from the first trip to LA when I was recording my album.
Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony for Ashanti
“My mum’s first trip to LA... she went in and bought one of the little fake Hollywood stars from the souvenir place and she got my name put on the star, and she came back and said ‘you’re gonna get one of these one day.’
“I said, ‘Ma, I don’t think we’re gonna get one of those!’”
She then invited Douglas on to the stage to show off the prized possession.
“I told her, ‘you are going to get one of these stars,’” the proud mother said.
Speaking to Billboard afterwards, Ashanti said: “It’s surreal... I’m shocked, stunned and over the top grateful.
“This is a staple in my career and the fact that it will be here forever is a big deal.”
“The fact that my mom spoke this into existence is surreal,” she continued.
“She really had that feeling as a mother to say, ‘My child is gonna get this.’ She manifested it and I’m forever grateful.”
The R’n’B star’s self-titled debut album was released in 2002 and sold more than six million copies globally.
It spawned the hits Foolish, Happy and Baby and saw her nominated for three Grammy Awards for Best New Artist, Best Female R B Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary R B Album, the latter of which she took home.
She has since released four more records, her most recent being 2014’s Braveheart.
