In the world of celebrity relationships, where high-profile romances often flicker out under the intense scrutiny of the public eye, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton stand out as a beacon of enduring love. The couple, who first met as coaches on The Voice in 2014 and tied the knot in 2021, have captivated fans with their unlikely pairing—a pop-punk icon from California and a country music superstar from Oklahoma. On October 2, 2024, during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Stefani, now 55, revealed the heartwarming secret to their lasting happiness: Shelton’s daily habit of making her laugh. This simple yet profound act, she says, is the cornerstone of their marriage, a revelation that offers a glimpse into the couple’s dynamic and the values that keep their bond strong.
Stefani and Shelton’s love story began at a time of personal turmoil for both. In 2014, Stefani was married to rocker Gavin Rossdale, with whom she shares three sons—Kingston, now 18, Zuma, 16, and Apollo, 11—while Shelton was married to country singer Miranda Lambert. By 2015, both marriages had ended in divorce, and the two found solace in each other, bonding over their shared experiences of heartbreak. “We had just met, and it was chaos. Both of our lives were in complete turmoil,” Stefani recalled in a December 2024 interview with People. Their connection deepened over time, leading to a romance that took the world by surprise. They went public in November 2015, and after five years of dating, they married in an intimate ceremony at Shelton’s Oklahoma ranch on July 3, 2021, officiated by The Voice host Carson Daly.
The couple’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Early on, Stefani admitted to People that she nearly ended things with Shelton, overwhelmed by the timing of their relationship amidst her divorce. “There was a point where I was like, ‘I can’t even talk to you. This is insane. I already have enough problems. This is not happening anymore,’” she said. But music brought them back together, with Shelton writing the duet “Go Ahead and Break My Heart” and asking for her help to finish it over text—a moment that marked the beginning of their creative partnership. Since then, they’ve collaborated on several songs, including “Nobody But You,” “Happy Anywhere,” and their most recent duet, “Purple Irises,” from Stefani’s 2024 album Bouquet.
On The Jennifer Hudson Show, Stefani opened up about what keeps their marriage thriving nearly a decade into their relationship. “The thing about Blake is that you’ll never get through a day without laughing,” she told Hudson with a smile, her voice warm with affection. “You know what I mean?” This daily dose of laughter, she explained, is what reminds her why she fell in love with Shelton in the first place. It’s a sentiment that resonates deeply, especially given the couple’s history of navigating public scrutiny, divorce rumors, and the pressures of blending their families. Laughter, as Stefani’s revelation suggests, has become their anchor, a way to reduce stress and strengthen their bond in the face of life’s challenges.
Shelton, 48, has echoed this sentiment in his own way. In an April 2024 interview with Access Hollywood at his Ole Red bar in Nashville, he shared that the key to their marriage is their friendship. “She’s my best friend; that’s the best way I know to say it, and it’s not something that we have to really think about—it’s just there,” he said. “We have fun with it—maybe that’s the key. We have so much fun together.” Shelton’s words highlight a dynamic where humor and joy are effortless, a natural part of their daily interactions, whether they’re having a cup of coffee in the morning, watching a movie, or performing together on stage.
The couple’s ability to find joy in the everyday is reflected in their lifestyle choices. Since Shelton stepped down from The Voice after its 23rd season in 2023, he has prioritized family life, focusing on his role as a stepfather to Stefani’s sons. “I think the only way for me to really do [being a stepdad] right is to step away from being committed to something like The Voice that demands a lot of your time,” he told Access in 2024. This decision allowed them to spend more time at their Oklahoma ranch in Tishomingo, a place that has become a sanctuary for the family. There, they’ve embraced a slower pace of life, gardening together and cultivating flower fields—a passion that inspired “Purple Irises.” Stefani, who grew up in Orange County, California, where her “nature was the beach,” as she told Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2020, has fully embraced this country lifestyle, finding a sense of home with Shelton that she never expected.
Their shared faith also plays a significant role in their marriage, a detail Stefani highlighted during an April 2025 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. When asked for the best advice she’d received about love, she pointed to the sky and said, “Make sure you have a third party,” referring to God. As a devout Catholic, Stefani has been open about how her faith guides her, a value she shares with Shelton. This spiritual connection has been a source of strength, helping them navigate the insecurities that occasionally surface in their relationship. In an April 2024 interview with Nylon, Stefani admitted to moments of self-doubt, saying, “In my own relationship, even though I know the truth of what’s happening today, you still create drama in your own mind about your insecurities and what might happen.” Shelton, too, acknowledged these fears, noting to Nylon that they’ve had conversations about aging and acceptance, asking, “Are you still going to love me when I’m old or if I forget who I am?”
Despite these insecurities, the couple’s commitment to keeping things light and fun has been their saving grace. Stefani’s ideal date night, as she shared on The Drew Barrymore Show, is a cozy evening at home, complete with “couch, blanket, cookies, chips,” and their dogs, with her and Shelton sitting on separate couches, playfully greeting each other with a “Hi!” This preference for intimate, low-key moments over extravagant outings speaks to their grounded nature, a quality that has endeared them to fans. “I would sit next to him, but he’s gigantic, and we don’t fit anywhere,” Stefani quipped, her laughter filling the studio.
Their ability to find humor in the mundane extends to their family life. In early April 2025, the couple took Zuma and Apollo on a spring break trip to Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozark Mountains, a luxurious retreat near Branson, Missouri. Stefani documented the getaway on Instagram, sharing a reel set to “Purple Irises” that captured their adventures—from exploring the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail in a golf cart to dining at the resort’s Osage Restaurant with custom menus featuring their faces. The video also showcased the natural beauty of the Ozarks, with rolling hills, stone buildings, and vibrant flowers that Stefani praised in her caption: “The flowers, the food, the family memories. Thank u for making it all so special.” The trip was a testament to their focus on creating lasting memories with their children, a priority that has deepened their bond as a couple.
Shelton’s daily habit of making Stefani laugh isn’t just a charming anecdote—it’s a reflection of a broader truth about their relationship. Laughter, as experts note, can reduce stress, strengthen emotional bonds, and even improve physical health, making it a powerful tool for maintaining a happy marriage. For Stefani and Shelton, this daily dose of humor has helped them weather the storms of public scrutiny, from tabloid rumors of divorce to the challenges of blending their families. In a September 2024 interview with Nylon, Stefani addressed these rumors head-on, saying, “The truth is I am in love with my best friend, and all this shit I’m thinking of in my brain, that’s all it is—I’m overthinking.” Her words underscore the resilience of their relationship, built on a foundation of friendship, faith, and fun.
As they approach their fourth wedding anniversary in July 2025, Stefani and Shelton continue to inspire fans with their authenticity. Shelton’s upcoming album, For Recreational Use Only, set to release on May 9, features another duet with Stefani, “Hangin’ On,” a testament to their ongoing creative partnership. Meanwhile, Stefani’s embrace of her faith, including her promotion of the Catholic prayer app Hallow, has sparked both support and criticism, with some fans accusing her of aligning with conservative values due to her marriage to Shelton, who has expressed mixed feelings about politics in the past. Yet, the couple remains unfazed, focusing on what matters most: their love for each other and their family.
In a world where celebrity marriages often falter, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton have found a recipe for success in the simplest of acts—laughter. Shelton’s daily commitment to keeping Stefani smiling has not only sustained their relationship but also deepened their connection, proving that even amidst the chaos of fame, love can thrive with a little humor and a lot of heart. As Stefani put it, it’s the laughter that reminds her why she fell for Shelton, a reminder that their love story is as beautiful as the purple irises they’ve nurtured together.
