True story: I love Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton’s duet “Nobody But You.” I listen to it a lot while I’m working out. It’s just a nice country love song and I’m surprised by how well Gwen and Blake’s voices sound together. That song was the third collaboration over the course of their five-year relationship,and it’s the song I’ve enjoyed the most. Well, they have another duet called “Happy Anywhere” and it’s about… being in lockdown together on Blake’s Oklahoma ranch. Never in my life did I think the California-cool rock girl was going to end up an Oklahoma ranch wife.
Nearly five years into his relationship with Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton is as smitten as ever. The cute couple have teamed up for their fourth duet together, titled “Happy Anywhere”, and the country star, 44, tells PEOPLE it reflects how he’s been feeling with his rocker girlfriend, 50, amid the pandemic.
“An Okie boy and a California girl look on paper like an unlikely match, but what matters is she’s a great human being,” says Shelton. “She is the most understanding, kind-hearted person I’ve ever met and I learn something from her every day.”
Over the last few months, the Voice coaches have been holed up in Shelton’s cherished Tishomingo ranch — and they’ve been taking advantage of a little more free time in their schedules. “The simple pleasure of being together in one place for an extended period of time has been a real gift,” says Shelton. “We cook, we clean, we ride four-wheelers and we just enjoy being with each other and with family.”
The couple’s down-home music video for “Happy Anywhere” was shot in Oklahoma, and Shelton says it’s a peek at their everyday life together. “There was a camera shooting the things we do every day,” he says. “We make biscuits, fish, sing together, spend time with family … just a day in life!”
Shelton and Stefani’s sweet new song marks their fourth time collaborating together, and Shelton says having his girlfriend on the song was a no-brainer. “‘Nobody But You’ was a big song for us, but we actually recorded ‘Happy Anywhere’ before that. We were waiting for the right time to release it, and I knew that time was now,” he says. “We’re all still socially distancing, so there’s no better time to be happy anywhere with the person or people you love. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are — as long as you’re with them, you’re happy.”
“We make biscuits, fish, sing together, spend time with family…” Again, I was around for the ‘90s. I never would have thought that the lead singer of No Doubt would end up with a country singer who gives interviews to People Magazine about how they go fishing together and make biscuits. I’ve heard a lot of random gossip that people in Oklahoma love Gwen though, that she’s really low-key around town and that it’s clear that Blake adores her sons and they’re quite the happy family.
Here’s the video for “Happy Together,” which is what Blake was promoting. The song isn’t as good as “Nobody But You” but the video is legitimately cute. Blake and Gwen look like they’re having a (country) ball together.
Photos courtesy of Getty, Backgrid, WENN, social media.
I loved Stefani in No Doubt, but never really got into her music as a solo artist. Blake just seems blah to me but they do seem genuinely loved up. It does feel like they’ve been together for longer than 5 years though.
I unabashedly love Gwen. I always have & I want only happiness for her. I don’t get his allure but she seems happy & after all Gavin put her through she deserves it.
However, she looks best in red lipstick. I started wearing it back when I saw her in concert (it was no doubt, goo goo dolls & Bush) & have never stopped!!
Gwen has always come off as very down to earth and sweet. I do wish the best for her. I remember the No Doubt, Goo Goo Dolls, and Bush tour!!!! I love, love, love, the Goo Goo Dolls. I felt like Johnny Rzenick was writing songs just for me!!! I also like Bush when they first came out. Sixteen Stone is a good album. I knew Gwen and Gavin were dating back then, but before that, she was still in love with Tony Kanal. I think he broke it off between them because he wanted to keep it professional as they were both in No Doubt. I thought that was sad. They were a cute couple and you can tell she really loved him from some of the interviews she gave.
@mireille, it’s so funny you said that because I remember thinking that night the Goo Goo Dolls were the best & they looked like they were having so much fun!! I think you are 100% right about Gwen & Tony, too
For the longest time I didn’t think they were a real couple. I thought it was PR. They seem really happy and honestly, it’s nice to see. Always liked her and she deserved better than Gavin.
I always found them to the the oddest-seeming couple but this is sweet. They seem legit happy.
They do seem genuinely happy. He adores her kids which is super important. It’s interesting that some coup,es break up in quarantine and some thrive. I mean, if they can survive this as a couple, they must be solid.
I am glad that they’re so happy. That’s lovely.
I do, however, take issue with the camo worn in the first photo. Probably because I’ve had a lot of British Army friends serving first in Iraq, then Afghan; Navy friends too. Just don’t like to see noncoms wearing camo. Is it just me? (Don’t be too snippy: I’m having a fragile day today.)
I believe they’re wearing hunting camo, not combat camo.
That is hunting camo not military.
My dad was a hunter. He used to wear neon orange coat so another hunter didn’t mistake him for a deer and shoot him
Hunting cammo makes no sense to me
Outside of military or hunting, I don’t know understand why camo is even considered a style. My nephew loves it, but I find it so unappealing to wear on clothes. Also not a fan of animal prints on clothes. Just don’t get it.
I hope your day gets better. For me, I am having a blah morning, blah week, blah month, and rough year.
Oh I hate animal print too!!
Me, too! Camo, animal print – especially that fluoro pink, green, purple etc. leopard/zebra print. And when toddler and little girls are dressed in it. Vile, filthy stuff. Ugh.
I am so glad I am not alone in hating camo print and animal prints. They are just so busy.
I love animal prints! My grandma was flashy! She wore costume jewelry, high-heeled boots, bold nail polish, and animal prints. She would get speeding tickets. Her car beeped when she reversed but we joked she needed one when she was in drive too. She dyed her hair black until she became ill. I inherited her love of animal prints.
I’m not a fan of camo but Gwen pulls it off. They look cute and happy. Genuinely happy.
I hate camo but LOVE animal prints, always faux fur though!
I absolutely loathe camo as fashion, hate it with a passion. Animal prints are are close second.
A lot of country people wear camouflage. Its typically used for hunting clothes but they wear them even when they’re not hunting. I personally don’t care for the look.
It’s definitely some red neck sh!t. I don’t get wanting to walk around looking like you just killed Bambi.
In some places, it’s hip to wear matching camo with your SO (a la Gwen and Blake). I went to a mall in Port Huron Michigan last year, and there was camo lined up at Mrs. Field’s, camo at the post office, camo walking out of Victoria Secrets…a sea of camo.
Years ago I got a cute puffer jacket from her line with Burton and it has camouflage.I also have purses of hers from L.A.M.B. with camouflage.Very rare because they sold out so fast.I use them and I always get complaints on all of them.
I cannot stand this pairing.
They’ve grown on me! I used to think they were so extra but they’ve been together for awhile now and Gwen in particular seems so happy. I feel like Blake appreciates her in a different way, he talks about her like he can’t believe his luck whereas with Gavin it always seemed like she was trying so hard to impress him. I’m not a big country fan but the song is cute.
Full marks to you, ab, because I just couldn’t listen to it. Not a big country music fan… no, sorry, I hate it. I’m with you on the coupling, though, and did wonder how they’d fare, because from memory, they got together very quickly after their marriages ended. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Rossdale seemed to think he was the bigger star so should treated as such, whereas this guy seems to be much more respectful, as if there’s no star (or they’re both stars) in their romantic life. She seems more relaxed now. Good for them.
If she wasn’t baking biscuits and camping and fishing before she met him, that means she’s given up doing some things she likes to make room for doing all of these things with him.
Not that she’s not enjoying “cooking and cleaning and riding 4wheelers” but notably it isn’t “and Blake has really taken to her interest in fashion”.
Yes, self isolating has changed certain behaviors for many people, but it is really easy for a guy to seem over the moon when the woman re-imagines herself to be his fantasy partner.
Oh, I know girl. I recently stopped dating a guy who had suggestions on how I would look so hot in sexier clothes, my nails are too long. Talked about how he showed his ex how he liked his stuff cooked, I said or you could cook? I got tired of it. I’m done with men for awhile. Second one I’ve been with that assumes his opinion is so important.
THANK YOU AlsoAli, this is exactly what I felt as I was reading the article. Just a tinge of sadness because it seems like she is just doing and acting like whatever he loves. She is however 50 years old and by this time maybe she’s just happy being happy. We shouldn’t think too hard about it.
I’ve always gotten the impression that Gwen is a chameleon and changes to suit whomever she’s with. I wonder if she even really knows who she is “underneath it all”. (Ugh. I’ll see myself out).
We also know from interviews that she has gotten him looking through fashion magazines/shows with her, she sends him clips of dancers when they’re auditioning for her, and that they’ve lounged in bed watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. Just because it’s not as public as this doesn’t mean it’s not a two way street. She may not have baked ~biscuits~ specifically, but she still enjoyed the kitchen; she just didn’t get to use it as much because Gavin felt it was his realm, whereas she and Blake enjoy cooking together and experimenting. You can expand your circle of interest without giving things up.
In general, I agree. Though as with all celebrity couplings, we really don’t know the whole story. There are glimpses in the video that make it seem that Gwen hasn’t completely given up the California-girl vibe … the scenes at the water, especially the one where Gwen is wearing the shell necklace and ‘surf’ shirt, show that Gwen hasn’t given up her roots. I also like that it seems that Gwen hasn’t given up her love of fashion and “glam-ing” up her looks.
It could be that they have pushed the narrative of ‘Gwen has taken to country life’ so that Blake’s fans will accept her and not push away Blake as a sell-out, especially as they put out new music. Just a thought.
Yep! She’s also a glorified backup singer in this song, which is probably what she is in his life, too.
i feel like a part of me died there, reading this article…that fearless, energetic ska punk rocker girl is now sounding domesticated, making biscuits, fishing et al. life has definitely changed drastically
Newsflash. She became domesticated when she had children, because she became a mom. She had her tour since she met him, which he followed her around a lot on. Kids with her. She had the Vegas residency show off and on for two years, which was cut short because of Covid-19. She flies to one-off gigs.
She gave an LA radio show in-person interview when Apollo was just four months old (while still with Gavin) promoting her new upcoming gig on The Voice. They talked career and music a little, but Gwen was just over the moon in love with her baby, and that’s what she talked about most. It was very sweet. She definitely was in complete mommy mode People evolve as their life becomes about family. Blake has said that the most striking thing about Gwen when he became involved with her was how down to earth she was, just very family-oriented, and in her off time all about being home with her family.
As for fishing, lol. Blake has said the boys love it. Gwen is bored in a few minutes and ready to move on. He did say they love to float out in the lake and just talk; that is when they are happiest, just hanging together.
Mothers can still be rockstars. She still was one for a long time. Now she’s just someone else’s girl.
They spend a lot of time in Oklahoma, but it’s not one-sided. Cooking is a family activity for them. Gavin said in interviews that he cooked because Gwen couldn’t or she was terrible at it. Now Gwen/Blake/kids look up recipes to make. Gwen posted IG stories of her and Blake cooking for the holidays, Zuma and Blake making the Cheetos turkey and Kingston making drinks. It’s well documented that Blake has made changes at his Oklahoma properties for Gwen and the kids. The 4 wheelers/ATV are for the kids. Kingston just got his boating license and someone posted Blake buying him a used wave runner.
It seems like Blake has the family life he wanted and Gwen has a man who respects her.
Bingo. Gwen has a full career, still a glam girl, and he moved into her wild Gwenesque pop art mansion and looked about as out of place there as you could get, except for the fact Gwen’s home is filled with children, parents and siblings over all the time with their children, and just a lot of love and laughter in her home, adding in Blake’s dog Betty, Gwen’s dog, Gwen’s bird. He has embraced her kids and family completely. Takes her kids to school in LA traffic. LOL. She the same with his life in Oklahoma.
On paper, they should not work, but five years later it’s evident they do. And it could not work if both weren’t selfless in many respects. He fell in love with a woman with three children who is devoted to them. Most men coming out of a divorce would have run from Gwen’s complicated life. He never did. Her nieces and nephews call him uncle. They have recently bought a new home in California. And Blake said they are in the process of building a home on his ranch. You can see evidence of that in their Nobody But You video.
She’s still basically a vegetarian. She isn’t much of a cook, but always tries out a dish at family get-togethers: an Italian dish, bread. And is now cooking more with Blake.
I thought this would end after a year. The differences too great. But they clearly adore and respect one another after five years. I expect a wedding will happen by the end of the year. He always has her back. Something she did not have with Gavin.
This isn’t really a duet-it’s him singing, with her singing the backup chorus-which seems apropos for their relationship: It looks like they’re doing “his” thing and she’s along for it. But, they both look really happy-so that’s great.
Here in Sweden.
I love to see their love shine throw.
Keep on
I want Gwen to be happy.
I’ve always liked her, and Gavin done her wrong, wrong, dammit!
Blake seems a nice guy, he treats her well, seems to love her kids and be a non drama kinda guy. Good deal for everybody.
Kids need stability, kindness, adults who care and show them love.
Gavin, aka “he who cheats with the nanny” strikes me as an overgrown man child.
A loving partner, calm home love is a great way to raise kids, IMO.
It’s not so much Gwen is molding herself into Blakes interests, IMO, in a long term relationship including kids people naturally start to do hobbies/interests together.
When I was in my 20-30’s I was a city/shopping/girly-girl, you could not have paid me enough money to spend a day in the country. Country? Ugh, no. The country is hot, sweating messes up my hair and make up, bugs, dirt, etc. = No.
Now? I am on the edge of the country/farmland (because I can’t afford to buy a bigger place), had a daughter, got a dog, haven’t worn makeup in 15 years, no longer give one hot damn what others think of me..yeah, it’s been good. Late bloomer, me. 🙂
Have a relaxing Sunday everybody.
Good for you!
Never bought the story of the nanny.It is a pretty well known fact that Gavin is bi sexual.I think that is what broke up their marriage.I don’t think she would have left if not for that.He was known to cheat on her for years with other women but something happened that was so terrible for her she left him.And I am sure he was sick of being Mr.Stefani.
She said she’s vegan… How would a vegan take lives of other animals? Very disappointing
Gwen isn’t vegan. Her diet includes fish.
Anne Helen Peterson did a great article on how Gwen Stefani always presented as free spirited but was fundamentally conservative for years. She suggests she was the man-friendly anecdote to all the punk female bands of the 90s. It’s a great article.
I was initially worried that she was changing to suit her partner, but then I realized how unfeminist it felt to put her in a box.
She can be a glam rocker in camo. She can kick butt and take names as a mom. And there is nothing more California chill than fishing!
Women need to guard against the external pressure to change for male validation, but we also have to give each other space to change and grow.
As a Jersey girl who married a rural Pennsylvania boy, I can say this pairing does work! And can we just be in awe for a minute that she’s 50?
My Aunt and her boyfriend have a lake house not far from Blake’s ranch. They usually see Blake and Gwen out on their boat and at bars/restaurants around the lake during holiday weekends. By all accounts they’re very relaxed and the locals all enjoy having them there.
I thought it was a weird pairing too at first, but people change as they age and that includes what we look for in a partner. Looks like they’re happy together!
I don’t live that far from where they live and no one says much about them. It’s not exactly a huge town though. I do hear she’s easier to deal with than his ex was. Not that Miranda was mean, just not all that invested in the area.
I think I like Happy Anywhere more than Nobody But You – more fun