One of the great mysteries surrounding this awards season – at which ceremony would Grammy and Oscar-nominated singer M.I.A. deliver her imminent baby – has been solved: she’s done it between shows, thank you very much.
The London-born Sri Lankan singer, 31, gave birth to a boy in Los Angeles on Wednesday, PEOPLE has confirmed.
On her MySpace Celebrity Blog, M.I.A. writes (in all capital letters) that on Sunday night, after the Grammys, “MY EARLY STAGE LABOUR KICKED IN AROUND 2 AM … MY BABY WAS BORN WEDNESDAY, HE IS HEALTHY, FINE, BEAUTIFUL AND THE MOST AMZING THING EVER ON THIS PLANET, OF COURSE IM HIS MUM!!!”
This is the first child for M.I.A., whose given name in Mathangi Arulpragasam, and her fiancé, Benjamin Brewer, lead singer and guitarist of The Exit. The pregnancy was announced last October.
Asked on the Grammys red carpet last Sunday what she most eagerly anticipated about being a new mom, M.I.A. told PEOPLE, “Everything. I think it’s going to be the best thing in the world!”
She then delivered a memorable performance of “Swagga Like Us” with Jay-Z, T.I., Lil Wayne and Kanye West.
Next Sunday, Feb. 22, M.I.A. is expected at the Academy Awards to perform “O Saya,” from Slumdog Millionaire – which is in the running for Best Song.