19. Unfortunate Events
Gwen Stefani had always been surrounded by music. Her brother Eric, who loved playing music became her inspiration in order to start her music career. In 1986 Eric decided to put together his own band with the name No Doubt and he made her a backing singer. So that’s how she started reaching for the spotlight. Click next to see how Gwen started her career!
Sadly, in 1987 John Spence, who was then the band’s co-founder and lead singer, killed himself and his place took the trumpeter as a lead singer who later on left the band. Then Gwen became the lead singer of No Doubt. However, the band wasn’t very famous at that time because the most popular sound then was grunge in contrast to the band’s ska-inspired sound. Do you want to know Gwen’s source of inspiration? Click next!
18. A Turning Point
Even though the band’s second album, The Beacon Street Collection, became more popular than the first it wasn’t enough. Finally their third album, Tragic Kingdom, which included “Just a Girl” and “Don’t Speak,” turned out to be a turning point for Gwen’s career. Moreover, most of her songs were inspired by her relationship with Tony Kanal, the bassist of the band.
17. Huge Success
Their third album brought them huge success and the band was even nominated for two Grammys which were Best Rock Album and Best New Artist. Along with the success Gwen found love, too. She met Gavin Rossdale who was front-man for the band Bush and inspired of their relationship she wrote their fourth album, Return of Saturn in 2000.
16. Nominated Twice
However, the biggest success of No Doubt came in 2001 with the album Rock Steady, which contained their biggest hits as “Underneath It All,” “Hey Baby,” “Underneath It All” and “Let Me Blow Ya Mind.” They got nominated with Grammys for this album, too.
15. Solo Career
Along with the huge success, Gwen decided to marry Rossdale in 2002. After her wedding, she felt ready to follow a solo career and in November 2004 she released her first album, called Love. Angel. Music. Baby. This album was inspired by her concerns on her new beginning as a solo artist along with her will of having a family.
14. Number One Hit
Along with many other hits, in Love. Angel. Music. Baby., there was her number one hit “Hollaback Girl,” which managed to sell about one million downloads in the U.S. It started to seem like Gwen’s career would be a success.
13. Creating A Family
At that time, Gwen also fulfilled her dream of creating a family with Rossdale and on May 26, 2006, she gave birth to their three beautiful sons, Kingston James McGregor. Meanwhile, Gwen released another solo album which nominated with a Grammy, The Sweet Escape. Moreover, in August 2008 She gave birth to two more baby boys, Zuma Nesta and in February 2014 to one more boy, Apollo Bowie Flynn.
12. Best Friends
Along with her success, Gwen made many famous friends and one of them was Ellen DeGeneres, who claimed that she was the first one to listen one of Gwen’s biggest hit that was released in August of 2015 when she and Rossdale announced their break up due to Rossdale’s unfaithfulness. The song was called “Used to Love You.”
11. Parents First
However, even if the couple had split both of them wanted the best for their children and made an agreement. “While the two of us have come to the mutual decision that we will no longer be partners in marriage, we remain partners in parenthood and are committed to jointly raising our three sons in a happy and healthy environment.” after three years of the break up, Gwen appeared on Ellen’s Show discussing how the singer had shared with Ellen her song in a bathroom.
10.Words From The Heart
Gwen also discussed her emotional bond with Ellen. “You know what? I will always be so grateful for those conversations with you. Let’s get serious here for a second… I’ll always remember that moment,” she said. And Ellen didn’t hesitate a second to respond to her. “Gwen, you know, she deserves everything she has. She deserves this love,” Ellen said to her audience.
9. Words Of Appreciation
“She deserves the life that she has and the career because she went through a lot,” Ellen continued. These words made Gwen feel so grateful for her friend and tears filled her eyes. “Now I’m crying on TV!” said the singer. However, Ellen wanted to say more to her. “I mean it. I love you, and I hated to see what you were going through, and you didn’t deserve it,” she said, words that made Gwen more emotional than before. Before Ellen went on with her humorous show, she wanted to tell Gwen a final thing. “That’s why I love her so much because she doesn’t even understand how great [she is],” she said.
8. Trying New Things
Fortunately, after her divorce in March 2016, Gwen started feeling more awaken and that’s when she released her third solo album, called This Is What the Truth Feels Like. Moreover, she decided to become a coach on a TV show, called The Voice.
7. The Beginning Of Something New
On the TV show The Voice, Gwen started a friendship with Blake Shelton which became ore flirtatious by the time. After both getting a divorce from their former significant others, their chemistry was all over the place. In October 2015, they appeared together on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where everyone noticed their chemistry. A month after that, the rumors of them dating were confirmed.
6. Compatible
Gwen and Blake seemed to get along really good and in November 2015 Gwen told to Ryan Seacrest that they were very compatible. “To be super honest, it is kind of crazy we both went through the same thing at the same time,” she confessed. Even after two years of this interview, the couple seemed really in love.
5. A Romantic Collaboration
The couple also decided to collaborate in December 2017 and they released Gwen’s fourth solo named You Make It Feel Like Christmas. However, even though the couple seemed really happy together, many people wanted to know if they were ready to move to the next level and get married.
4. Trying To Spill The Tea
In the same interview where Ellen said so many good things about Gwen, she also tried to find out if Gwen and Blake are planning to get married. “So, Blake told me that y’ all are engaged now,” said Ellen. “No, he didn’t. No, we’re not,” Stefani said. “He told me you’re engaged. So let’s talk about that,” Said Ellen trying to trap Gwen. However, Gwen just laughed. “What are you talking about? she replied.
3. Clearing Things Up
However, Gwen wanted to clear things up. “We’re not. We’re not engaged, and we’re not married. And he’s my boyfriend still,” she claimed. Moreover, when she posted on Instagram a post of their collaboration on Christmas Day 2018, she referred to him as her boyfriend and not as her husband.
2. New Interests
After leaving The Voice, Gwen stated working on Zappos Theater in Las Vegas, where she had scheduled to perform for a 46-date stretch from 2018 through to 2019.
1. Remembering The Past
“Life just goes by so fast. You have this career where it doesn’t feel like work, but you work hard and the passion is driving you,” she said remembering her days in No Doubt after having achieved so many other things in her life!