By Brooks Welch
The R&B Grammy-winning songstress Ashanti unveiled her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday. The award is to recognize men and women who have achieved notable success in Hollywood.
According to a press release from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Ashanti’s star is the 2,718th star to grace the Walk of Fame since its inception back in 1960.
As outlined by People, Ashanti’s first self-titled album was released 20 years ago in 2002, and the record shot to the top of the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, going on to charter for 55 weeks. She went on to release five more studio albums, winning the Grammy for best contemporary R&B album for Chapter II in 2004.
Taking her talents to both the small and the silver screens as an actress, she’s also starred in The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz, Disney’s animated series The Proud Family, Coach Carter and John Tucker Must Die, among others. The “Mesmerize” singer also served as executive producer for the films STUCK and Mothers and Daughters, and will begin filming The Plus One this month, which she’s also producing.
“It’s surreal,” Ashanti told Billboard at the ceremony. “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.”
“I’m not a super emotional person, so the fact that I cried a little bit today is a little weird for me,” the R&B singer and actress continued. “I’m so humbled and overjoyed to have friends, family and genuine people here supporting me that I love.”
As reported by Cosmopolitan, a highlight of the ceremony was the sweet retelling of a moment between her and her mother, Tina Douglas.
“My mom’s first trip to LA she walked on this very block, and went into one of the souvenir stores back when I was actually mixing my album ‘Ashanti‘ right here in LA,” Ashanti said. “It was her first time, and 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 she was like, ‘You’re gonna get one of these one day. You’re gonna get one of these stars one day!’ So, she had this for over 20 years, from the first trip to LA when I was recording my album, and I’m like, ‘Ma, I don’t think we’re gonna get one of those!’”
Tina then joined Ashanti on stage and said, “I told her, ‘you are going to get one of these stars.’”
“Ashanti is an award-winning singer, author, actress and executive producer. She has proven her talent in many different Hollywood industries and is an example for young girls who want to be in the ‘biz’ ” Hollywood Walk of Fame Producer Ana Martinez said in a recent press release.
Watch the full Walk of Fame Ceremony below:
