Gwen Stafani Speaks About Unexpected Journey In Oklahoma And Rediscovering Life Beyond The Spotlight
Imagine a time when Gwen Stefani, the iconic rocker, vowed never to have a tree at her house. Well, times have certainly changed, and Gwen Stefani herself can’t quite believe it. Today, she’s turned into her parents, finding solace in tending to her garden at her Oklahoma home near Tishomingo.
“When I was young, I’d walk home from school and see my mom in her shorts doing her gardening, and my dad would be cutting the trees and make me pick up the branches. I’d be like, ‘I’m never having a tree at my house,'” she recounted, speaking to PEOPLE.
But now, alongside her husband Blake Shelton, Gwen is nurturing more than just a solitary tree. They’ve embraced the beauty of nature with sunflowers, zinnias, and even plots of corn. Now 53, the singer proudly calls herself a “garden flower nerd” and can’t help but beam as she discusses her incredible dahlias.
“When we get to Oklahoma, we’re constantly working — and it’s a different kind of work. It’s probably what my mom was doing back in the day, and now I get it!”
For Gweni, life has taken an unexpected turn as it has decidedly veered from the usual Hollywood path over the past decade. In 2021, she married country superstar Blake, and it was a love story she never saw coming.
“I didn’t see any of this coming with Blake. This was just a big old ‘What?’ It was an amazing gift to experience love like that for the first time,” she said, reflecting on her journey from meeting Blake in 2014 on the set of The Voice.
“He’s changed my life … when I [started dating] Blake, that’s when I felt home, like, ‘Oh, this is where I’m supposed to be, with this guy.”
Blake, a loving stepdad, introduced Gwen and her boys (Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo) to a world far removed from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
“I am not really a dirt person, a bug person, I don’t like that much humidity,” Gwen humorously admits. “But it’s so beautiful [in Oklahoma], and you kind of feel like you’re going into this vortex. Nature — and God — is all right there.”
This newfound peace in her life has reignited Gwen’s passion for music and creativity. In her younger years, she tirelessly pursued a career in music, from leading the rock band No Doubt to going solo and embarking on international tours while raising her boys.
“I took Kingston on a world tour [when he was 9 months old]. I would have to nurse him, then get onstage, come off, and he would twirl my ponytail,” she recalled, acknowledging the emotional toll of those days.
“That time is so precious, and you don’t want to miss anything,” she added.
But now, Gwen can savor these moments with her children, thanks to a personal goal she set for herself. “When my kids were teenagers, I really wanted to make sure that I was home for them — and here we are,” she says.
Blake’s decision to step away from The Voice after 23 seasons was a family choice that Gwen supports wholeheartedly. “I am happy for him because he has space to do all these other hobbies and things he wants to do.”
As for her own career, Gwen is making strides. She initially felt uncertain about coaching on The Voice without Blake but has discovered immense joy in mentoring talented individuals.
