Ashanti tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, forcing the postponement of a scheduled musical showcase with Keyshia Cole.
The 40-year-old singer, whose full name is Ashanti Douglas, was set to square off with Cole on Saturday night in a Verzuz battle where the two would play their best songs in a showdown format.
“I’m so mad because I was so ready,” Ashanti said in an Instagram post. “The momentum of Verzuz has been incredible.”
Ashanti said she got the virus from a family member, not from her recent travels, and is dealing with only minor symptoms. The Verzuz battle has been rescheduled for Jan. 9.
Verzuz was born as a DJ battle between hip-hop legends Timbaland and Swizz Beatz in the early days of the pandemic in the U.S. The initial battles were streamed over Instagram Live to thousands of viewers searching for whatever entertainment they could find during lockdown.
The series moved to in-person events over the summer as COVID restrictions were scaled back, with the physical get-togethers streamed over various platforms with more consistent sound quality.
