Princess Parent: 19-Year-Old 'American Idol' Finalist Paris Bennett is Pregnant

Posted Jun 28th 2008 2:27AM by Jawn Murray
Filed under: BV Buzz

By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

Season five 'American Idol' contestant Paris Bennett is pregnant.

The news that the 19-year-old granddaughter of R&B/Gospel singer Ann Nesby was with child was confirmed by 'Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune' columnist C.J.

Paris is expecting a baby girl come October and is planning to name her Egypt.

Her mother Jamecia Bennett spoke with C.J. about her daughter's pregnancy.

"This makes five generations," an overjoyed Jamecia told C.J. on Thursday.

Jamecia, a former Sounds of Blackness member who was once signed as a solo artist to Mercury Records, is excited about being a first-time grandmother.

"I'm proud of how she did it. I was 16 when I got pregnant," said Jamecia.

Paris' mother was mum on who the child's father is.

"He chooses not to be in the public eye," she offered. "I respect that."

She also wouldn't divulge what he does for a living.

"I can't tell," she said.

Paris, who goes by the nickname Princess P, is also engaged to the unidentified baby's daddy.

"She has a ring," said Jamecia, who's hopeful that she'll be planning a wedding for daughter.

She's expecting a celebrity-filled soiree when the baby shower takes place in August.

Celebrities like Queen Latifah are supposed to show.

"Latifah has made it clear that she plans to spoil this baby with gifts and that she won't be stopped. You're the princess but I'm the queen," Jamecia said Latifah told Paris .

Paris was a fifth place finalist on 'American Idol.' Taylor Hicks won that season.

Since 'Idol,' the singer released a solo CD called 'Princess P' on her uncle's independent label 306 Entertainment.

Paris was slated to release a new CD later this year; however plans to unveil the record have been postponed because of the pregnancy.

Paris Bennett Pictures

Patti Austin, CeCe Winans, Shirley Caesar, Jamia, Yolanda Adams, Paris Bennett and Ann Nesby backstage at the Songs of Soul and Inspiration Concert celebrating the 50th Anniversary of AARP on June 21, 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta Georgia..AARP Celebrates it's 50th Anniversary with "Songs of Soul and Inspiration".Philips Arena.Atlanta, GA United States.June 21, 2008.Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage.com..To license this image (15878649), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Paris Bennett backstage at the Songs of Soul and Inspiration Concert celebrating the 50th Anniversary of AARP on June 21, 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta Georgia..AARP Celebrates it's 50th Anniversary with "Songs of Soul and Inspiration".Philips Arena.Atlanta, GA United States.June 21, 2008.Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage.com..To license this image (15878638), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Patti Austin, Ann Nesby, Dionne Warwick, Shirley Caesar and Paris Bennett backstage at the Songs of Soul and Inspiration Concert celebrating the 50th Anniversary of AARP on June 21, 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta Georgia..AARP Celebrates it's 50th Anniversary with "Songs of Soul and Inspiration".Philips Arena.Atlanta, GA United States.June 21, 2008.Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage.com..To license this image (15878608), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Patti Austin, Ann Nesby, Dionne Warwick, Shirley Caesar, Paris Bennett and Jamia backstage at the Songs of Soul and Inspiration Concert celebrating the 50th Anniversary of AARP on June 21, 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta Georgia..AARP Celebrates it's 50th Anniversary with "Songs of Soul and Inspiration".Philips Arena.Atlanta, GA United States.June 21, 2008.Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage.com..To license this image (15878607), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Reader Comments

1. Congratulations Princess P, I do wish you all the best.

UGUESSWHO at 3:23AM on Jun 28th 2008

2. Congratulations, i wish u all the best with ur new born baby she's a blessing from above.

down to earth at 9:35AM on Jun 28th 2008

3. IT'S SUCH A CRYING SHAME PRINCESS'S MOM IS PROUD THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT AT 16, IF ANYTHING SHE SHOULD HAVE INSTILL IN HER DAUGHTER THAT MARRIAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST CHOICE INSTEAD OF BABY FIRST, WHEN WILL FOLKS GROW UP AND JUST STOP THAT STUPID CYCLE.

LORRAINE at 10:16AM on Jun 28th 2008

4. What cool names... Paris and Egypt.

Kristin at 11:17AM on Jun 28th 2008

5. Well she's pregnant now, what else can the mother say. I am sure any mother would want better for their child. In this day and age their are so many other opportunities for young women other than having a baby. It certainly ain't cute that this young girl is pregnant. No matter how sucessful or not this young lady is in her music career, it doesn't replace intelligence. Furthermore, the name "Princess P" does not fit go back to Paris.

Brenda at 11:29AM on Jun 28th 2008

6. This is so sad, so-so sad. How's about a new name "Pregnant P"? She killed her career before she even started. don't believe me, Ask Solange(Beyonce's sis).

hardcore at 11:47AM on Jun 28th 2008

7. This is a good thing Paris Bennett. All you negative commentators please forward your gifts by August.

IAM3IAM at 2:34PM on Jun 29th 2008

8. No, This is not positive. Life is both, Negative and Positive. Get a Grip. Sometimes Life is not all good.
Take the Bitter with the Sweet.

Lola at 4:45PM on Jun 29th 2008

9. Lol any of you actually think she might want this baby? She is making good money now and is an adult stop treating her like shes some washed out loser already and don't comment on the mom look at her kid now raised her pretty damn good if you ask me

Andrew at 6:43PM on Jun 29th 2008

10. I might be 10.

But i know that you should be married before you get busy.

antoinette at 7:01PM on Jun 29th 2008

11. Lorraine, if you would go back and read the article you will see the mother is not proud that she was 16 and pregnant. She's probably happy that her daughter is a little more stable than she was when she got pregnant with Paris. Also, who's to say she didn't instill the marriage before baby thing. Paris is an individual and she's old enough to make her own decisions just like she is old enough to deal with the consequences.

jen at 12:30AM on Jun 30th 2008

12. "This makes 5 generations"? What does it MEAN?

ed at 3:13AM on Jun 30th 2008

13. good job jamecia 5 generations of teenage moms you "god-fearing" bible thumpers slay me now go on and say how this is a blessing, quote the bible etc..... but still another black, unwed, teenage mother truly this "sounds of blackness" pun intended

WHATEV at 6:12AM on Jun 30th 2008

14. I had my first daughter when I was sixteen, I didn't know it at the time, but she was truly a blessing in disguise. My own grandmother raised me, but when my grandfather was shot and killed, my grandmother thought she didn't have a reason to live. Six months after the death of my grandfather, I delivere a healthy baby girl, and she was my grandmother's pride and joy. My grandmother had a reason to live again, she retired early to help me raise my daughter, while I worked and went to school. You know they say, the first six yrs of a child's life is the most crucial, I guess my grandmother felt as if she had done her part, cause she passed away just three months shy of my daughter's 6th birthday. Today, my daughter is a beautiful, compassionate, woman who is mentally and spiritually sound. She is 22, she has been married for a year...and she has no kids.
So, for all the negative comments....who knows, this child could be a blessing, this child could be the next Oprah or Obama. This child will have a voice in this world one day.

IPress at 9:29AM on Jun 30th 2008

15. Congratualations. I think she should have waited, but like it or not, baby has, already been conceived.

sherridina at 9:59AM on Jun 30th 2008

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