Fantasia Reveals Pregnancy, Says She Won’t Hide It

Early last month, The BoomBox was front and center at the Essence Music Festival, taking in the sights and sounds of R&B singer Fantasia, who looked visibly pregnant but failed to address whether or not she was expecting. Now, fans and critics no longer have to wonder if she'll be welcoming a new addition since she announced the news of her impending pregnancy at a charity concert in Jacksonville, Fla. on Sunday (July 31).

The 27-year-old songstress addressed the crowd, who erupted into cheers as she made reference to her growing belly. "You are the first person that I share this news with," Fantasia announced. "And I share this with you because I can relate to you. And for a while I walked around figuring out what will they say and what will they think about me. But now I tell you I don't live my life for folk. So this child that I carry, God has given me this child. And I don't have to hide it from none of ya'll."

The North Carolina native has been the subject of tabloid fodder recently due to rumors that the unborn child is fathered by Antwuan Cook. When pregnancy rumors began swirling this summer, Barrino's manager blamed the weight gain on her starring role in the biopic about New Orleans gospel queen Mahalia Jackson. Cook and Barrino were blasted across headlines last August after Cook's wife alleged that the two were having an affair.

Barrino's unborn child will be the second for the singer, who has a 10-year-old daughter named Zion Quari Barrino from a previous relationship.