Ashanti Presents Her ‘Husband’ and ‘Soulmate’ Nelly with Landmark Award at 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards
The “Hot in Herre” rapper also performed at the show, marking the kick-off for his new tour

Nelly and Ashanti. Photo:
Michael Buckner/Billboard via Getty

Nelly is kicking off his new tour in the best way possible — by taking home a special award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards!

The “Hot in Herre” rapper, 50, received the Landmark Award at this year’s show, which honors “artists whose album releases have inspired and shaped culture over multiple decades,” per a press release.

Introduced by his wife Ashanti, she joked that he didn’t know she was walking on stage for the awards introduction. “He thought I just went to the bathroom,” she said.

“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 began.

Nelly performs onstage at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 17, 2025
Nelly in 2025.
Kevin Winter/Getty

“This year marks the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking album, Country Grammar. It topped the charge for six consecutive weeks and became one of the best selling Hip Hop records of all time, and sold over 10 million albums units.”

Ashanti, 44, said that Nelly “created a movement shaped the culture and made history, doing it.” “I’m so proud to honor Country Grammar and the talented guy who made it — my soulmate, my husband, Nelly, with the iHeart Radio Landmark Award.”

iHeartRadio Music Awards 2025: LL Cool J to Host as Performers Bad Bunny, GloRilla and More Revealed (Exclusive)
Nelly then took the stage to perform a medley that included “Country Grammar,” “Ride Wit Me,” “E.I.” and “Hot in Herre.” Ashanti then handed him his iHeartRadio trophy and Nelly replied, “Wow” and appeared to begin speaking as the show cut to commercial.

Nelly has sold over 20 million albums over his career, which began with his debut solo album Country Grammar in 2000. His most recent album, Heartland, came out in 2021.

His upcoming tour will see him play 50 shows across four continents in celebration of Country Grammar’s 25th anniversary.

Rapper Nelly attends the YWCA-GLA 2022 Phenomenal Women Award celebration honoring first responders at SoFi Stadium on June 14, 2022 in Inglewood, Calif.
Paul Archuleta/Getty

See Every Star Arriving on the Red Carpet at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards
His performance at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, which are hosted by LL Cool J, comes alongside sets from Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, GloRilla, Gracie Abrams, Kenny Chesney and Muni Long.

Other stars being honored include Taylor Swift, for Tour of the Century, Mariah Carey, who will receive the Icon Award, Lady Gaga, who will take home the Innovator Award, and Abrams, winner of the Breakthrough Artist of the Year prize.

Swift and Morgan Wallen lead the nominations, with 10 apiece. Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone and Sabrina Carpenter trail them with nine nominations each.

Ashanti Admits She’ll Need ‘Extra Hands’ Raising Her and Nelly’s Baby Son While Touring for the First Time as a Mom (Exclusive)
The iHeartRadio Music Awards celebrates musicians and songs that are the most played on radio stations throughout the past year. The awards show also gives fans a glimpse at what to expect the most popular music will be in 2025.

The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards air live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Fans can also tune in live to iHeartRadio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.