It was just five months ago (May 12) that Gwen Stefani was supporting her husband, Blake Shelton, as he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – a crowning achievement for anyone in the industry. Fast forward to Thursday (October 19) and the roles were reversed as Stefani received a star of her own.
As is tradition at a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, the honoree’s closest friends and loved ones often share a few words of encouragement, inspiration, love, support, and laughter. When it was Shelton’s turn to speak, he decided to tell the story of how he met his wife and how that day changed his life forever.
Blake Shelton honors Gwen Stefani at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony: "Being a mother is still the most important thing in her life. I gotta tell y'all, that's rare in this business." https://t.co/0zwkNauFRX pic.twitter.com/rayryzB3bl
— Variety (@Variety) October 19, 2023
That day came in 2014 and he described her as ‘unlike any other famous person that I had ever met before.’ He praised her for driving herself to work ‘in a black minivan with car seats in it.’ and rolling around without security – joking that walking around with a baby and two little boys is its own security.
“It was clear to me that she was a mother first and foremost over anything else in the world — that was her No. 1 job,” Blake Shelton said of Gwen Stefani. “And now, standing here almost 10 years later after I first met her, I can say without question that being a mother is still the most important thing in her life.”
He goes on to express how happy he is to see her life’s work honored on the biggest of stages – though he calls her superstar career a side gig to what’s most important (her children) – and praises Gwen for rising to the top ‘over and over again with her unique style that has made the world fall in love with her.’
“It’s that thing that she was just born with that will make you stop and go, ‘Wait. Who is that? What’s her name? What does she do? Why do I love her already? What the hell?'” Shelton continued in his speech. “That’s the thing that God gives you. And without question, God gave Gwen an extra scoop of it.”
He calls her his ‘all-time favorite songwriter’ and commends her for all she has done for the industry – referencing her work in music, movies, TV, and even shouting out her L.A.M.B. fashion brand. The 54-year-old has released four solo studio albums and has sold more than 10 million records worldwide.
Gwen Stefani Reacts to Blake Shelton Not Being on ‘The Voice’
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, which was published on Monday (Oct. 16), Gwen Stefani opened up about what it’s like filming The Voice without her husband, Blake Shelton, by her side. For those who haven’t been following along, Blake retired from the show at the conclusion of last season.
“Let’s face it. Blake, he’s such a huge part of this show. I mean, he is The Voice in so many ways, so it does definitely feel weird to be back without him,” she told ET ahead of the battle rounds. “It feels kind of like my first season, before I knew he existed. It’s kind of weird, but it’s also like, I’m having so much fun.”
One of the first thoughts that popped into her head when she heard he was leaving the show was, “Who will you be if you’re not the guy on The Voice?” – alluding to just how good he was as a coach. “Ends up, he’s still the same guy and I get to hang out with him every day. Sorry, guys, I’m lucky,” she joked.
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Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani have been together for nearly eight years. They started bonding in 2015 on The Voice – they were both going through a divorce at the time. They got engaged five years later and got married on July 3, 2021 in the same chapel he proposed in. They’ve been deeply in love ever since.