Ashanti's hometown is New York, but she'll be portraying a character with Southern charm on the new season of Army Wives. 

The series, which kicks off Sunday, stars Ashanti as mother of three Latasha Montclair, who is keeping her two sons and daughter in line while her husband, Quincy, is deployed.

Ashanti, whose acting credits include John Tucker Must Die, Coach Carter and American Dreams, is playing one of four new characters being introduced during this season of Army Wives.  Along with promoting the series, Ashanti is set to write material for the soundtrack of the upcoming movie Tupac, slated for release in fall 2014.  She's also working on her fifth studio album, Braveheart, which is due out this summer.

Season seven of Army Wives premieres Sunday at 9 p.m. E.T. on Lifetime.

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