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ArchiveLesson #231Culture

Ashanti Talks Music and Life Lessons

Ashanti shares her excitement about re-recording her music and reflects on her career and family life.

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Standard version (B1-B2)

Standard: natural English

Ashanti is a well-known singer who is re-recording her classic song Foolish, which turns 25 this year. She wants to own her music rights, which is very to her. Ashanti feels grateful that her music still connects with fans. She loves and hearing the audience sing her lyrics. In her personal life, Ashanti talks about her husband, Nelly. She describes him as and kind. However, they sometimes disagree about the temperature in their home. Ashanti also shares a moment when a fan jumped on stage to hug her. When she arrives at hotels, she always wipes down the phone and remote with disinfectant wipes. Ashanti is looking forward to her upcoming tour in Australia.

Lesson audio

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Narration includes the headline and summary.

Adapted from The Guardian, 3 November 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.

Grammar in this story

“She wants to own her music rights, which is very important to her.”

Reporting verb + that-clause. Read the guide

Key vocabulary

  • generous adjective

    willing to give and share freely

    “My friend is very generous; she always shares her toys.”

  • excited adjective

    feeling very happy and enthusiastic

    “I am excited to go to the concert this weekend.”

  • important adjective

    having great significance or value

    “It is important to eat healthy food every day.”

  • memorable adjective

    worth remembering or easily remembered

    “The birthday party was a memorable event for everyone.”

  • perform verb

    to act or entertain in front of an audience

    “The students will perform a play for their parents.”

Quick quiz

01What is Ashanti re-recording?

02What does 'generous' mean in the text?

03How long has Ashanti been together with Nelly?

04What does Ashanti do when she arrives at a hotel?

Answered 0 of 4

Discussion

Ashanti talks about the importance of owning her music rights. How do you feel about artists taking control of their work? In your answer, use the words 'important' and 'control'.