R&B singer Ashanti turns into tourism ambassador (AP)

The R&B singer was introduced Tuesday at a news conference as one of nine ambassadors who will promote tourism in Nassau County on Long Island.

County Executive Thomas Suozzi placed an orange blazer with a tourism patch over her white dress at the event at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, where 16 tourists were offered an all-expenses-paid tour of Nassau. Ashanti sang at Suozzi's two mayoral inaugurals in her native Glen Cove.

Ashanti says it's "amazing" to be asked to "give something back to the community." The singer recently released her fourth studio album, "The Declaration."

The tourism campaign pitches Nassau as "The Island Next Door" and is targeted at visitors to the city.