Ashanti to Appear in the ABC Network's "The Muppets Wizard of Oz"  5/2/05

Dorothy in the ABC Television Network's "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz"

Hot off her feature film debut in the no. 1 box office hit, "Coach Carter," in which she co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson, Ashanti makes her telefilm debut helming "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz," opposite the equally legendary Miss Piggy and Kermit in May 2005.

Ashanti got her start on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," and portrayed Dionne Warwick on "American Dreams." She has performed on virtually every music awards show from the American Music Awards to the Grammys, the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Europe Awards, the Soul Train Awards and the Kids' Choice Awards. She can be seen as an Indian Songstress who sings in Hindi and English as she dances in the current independent film, "Bride & Prejudice."

A native of Glen Cove, Long Island, Ashanti burst onto the music scene with her 2002 eponymous debut album. It landed the no. 1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, selling a whopping 504,593 units in its first week. Her first-week showing set a Soundscan record as the most albums sold by any first-time female artist in the chart's history. Simultaneously, Ashanti also secured the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and the R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks Chart with her song, "Foolish." She made Billboard history by having her first three chart entries land in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. She is the first female to accomplish this feat and second only to the Beatles to do so. Her album "Ashanti" topped the Billboard Album Chart and also won the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. In addition that year she won two American Music Awards and the Soul Train Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year Award. Her follow-up release, "Chapter II," debuted in the no. 1 slot on the Billboard Album Chart and spawned two Top 10 singles.

Her other albums include "Ashanti's Christmas," and her newest release, "Concrete Rose," which has already gone platinum. In addition to her Grammy, she's also won an NAACP Image Award, numerous Soul Train Awards, a MOBO Award, Lady of Soul Awards, a Teen Choice Award and Nickelodeon's Kid Choice Award, along with many other nominations.

Ashanti has written her first book of poetry, published by Hyperion Books, Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love, which is currently in its sixth edition. She has secured an offer for a second book, to be published in fall 2005.

Ashanti resides in New York.