Blake Shelton Celebrates Gwen Stefani's Birthday: A Timeline of Their Romance

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Happy birthday, Gwen Stefani!

The Voice coach and iconic performer celebrates her 54th birthday on Tuesday, and it's "no doubt" that she'll be celebrating alongside husband Blake Shelton on her special day.

Shelton took to Instagram to celebrate his wife's big day, sharing a sweet black and white photo of them gazing into each other's eyes with huge smiles on their faces.

"Happy Birthday to my favorite all time person ever born in any time period in the history of mankind!!!!! I love you @gwenstefani!!!!!!!!!!" he captioned the post, on which Voice coach Carson Daly commented, "Get a room..🤢."

While the couple's whirlwind romance took everyone by surprise when it first began, the duo defied the odds and announced their engagement in October 2020 after five years together. 

Stefani and Shelton, 47, first met on the set of The Voice in 2014, and it didn’t take long before their friendship grew into something more. 

After officially announcing their relationship in 2015, Shelton and Stefani made their red carpet debut during a Vanity Fair Oscar party, where they were snapped holding hands and cuddling up next to each other. 

Through the years, the couple has shared more red carpet outings and challenged each other as rival Voice coaches. They've released hit singles together and split their time between Stefani's native Southern California and Shelton's beloved Oklahoma ranch. Despite being one of Hollywood's least-expected A-list couples, they seem happier than ever. 

Here's a full deep dive into the pair's romance, from The Voice, to the wedding day, to their future together.

HOW IT STARTED:

July 14, 2014 -- Gwen Brings Gavin Rossdale Into the Voice Fold

Stefani, who at this point has been married to her Bush frontman husband for 12 years, enlists him as her team's mentor, writing, "It's official! So excited to have @GavinRossdale on #TeamGwen," with him writing, "This fall, honored to be part of #TheVoice w/ the lovely & talented @gwenstefani."

And from here, all the Voice coaches really start to hit it off.

Nov. 25, 2014 -- Friendships Form

Shelton and Stefani, along with Pharrell Williams and Adam Levine, are really starting to bond on The Voice. Shelton and Stefani happily take part in a lip sync battle with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in September, and shortly thereafter, Stefani posts playful pics with her fellow coaches on Instagram. While Stefani will not take part in the following season of The Voice, with Christina Aguilera returning, she will be back next fall.

July 20, 2015 -- Blake and Miranda Lambert Divorce

Just one of the many shocking splits of the summer, country music's king and queen call it quits after four years of marriage.

"This is not the future we envisioned," reps for the couple say in a statement to the Associated Press. "And it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately. We are real people, with real lives, with real families, friends and colleagues. Therefore, we kindly ask for privacy and compassion concerning this very personal matter."

After reeling from this heartbreak, we discover that the summer is still far from over.

Aug. 3, 2015 -- Gwen Announces Her Split

After 13 years together, the rocker couple calls it quits.

By late October, they will settle their divorce, with joint custody of their three young children, Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo -- though Rossdale will have them more given Stefani’s touring schedule.

In a statement to ET, the couple says: "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."

But what does all this have to do with Stefani and Shelton? Well, everything up to this point is all background. The heat doesn't actually start until...

Sept. 8, 2015 -- Trying Circumstances

Going through an understandably tough time, the Voice coaches band together and support each other.

"I haven't met one coach that's been on this show that I wouldn't consider at this point a really good friend," Shelton tells ET. "Any of the coaches that I've worked with on this show, I can call at any moment and talk to."

Stefani echoes these sentiments, saying The Voice has helped her through an otherwise sad summer.

"It's so amazing!" she tells ET. "Honestly, I've had so much fun so far, and it's so motivating. I think this is the funnest thing I've ever done in my whole life work-wise."

Oct. 7, 2015 -- Rumors Blow Blake's Mind

Headlines start to appear suggesting Shelton and Stefani are getting flirty. Shelton goes on a mini-Twitter rant, writing, "The stuff I read about myself blows my mind. Shouldn't I get to do all these things since I'm already accused of them?" continuing, "I literally just got back from FAR northern Quebec chasing caribou and now read about all the crazy stuff I've been doing lately?!! #WTF."

"Just watch and see how these tweets I just sent get spun," he concludes.

Oct. 17, 2015 -- Gwen Laughs Off Dating Rumors

Around the time her heartbreaking single, "Used to Love You," gets a video premiere, Stefani finds herself shaking off the dating rumors with laughter.

"It seems like the cowboy is really happy on the show," she tells ET, referring to Shelton. "We're all having so much fun on that show. Everybody is in such a good place."

As for the rumors that she and Shelton are an item, she jokes, "Have you read the news?"

Oct. 25, 2015 -- Oklahoma

Stefani, Shelton and Levine head off to Oklahoma together. Stefani and Shelton Instagram the adorable photo above, with the hashtag, #family.

But Stefani also tweets out a pic of Levine cropped out to Shelton, writing, "Hi @blakeshelton."

Hi, indeed.

Oct. 31, 2015 -- Those Halloween Nights...

The pair is spotted out on Halloween night, where they literally can't seem to stop smiling. An eyewitness tells ET that the two leave Jared Leto's party together in the same hired car.

Of her wild night with Shelton, Stefani says, "We're just trying to have fun, you know?"

"I was literally that party girl that you hear about when their life blows up," she adds. "And you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m going out! Watch me!’"

Nov. 3, 2015 -- Connection

Stefani appears on L.A.'s 102.7 KIIS FM radio show, On Air With Ryan Seacrest, where she all but confirms the sparks, saying, "To be super honest, it is kind of crazy we both went through the same thing at the same time,” in reference to their respective splits.

Nov. 4, 2015 -- It's Official

A rep for Shelton confirms to ET these two are an item. Additionally, a rep for Stefani confirms the news, saying, "Gwen and Blake are longtime friends who have very recently started dating."

Meanwhile, the two head to Nashville for a country music awards show, which Lambert, Shelton's ex, is also attending. The country queen hits the red carpet looking fantastic in a revenge dress and pink hair. Despite putting on a brave face, however, an eyewitness tells ET it's a tough night for Lambert.

"Miranda tried to seem happy, but you could tell she was hurting," the eyewitness says. "It was a great night for her because she won an award, but still hard for her."

Nov. 6, 2015 -- All right, let's move along, everybody...

After their relationship news sent the media into a frenzy, Shelton is ready for the talk of his love life to cool off.

"I love @blakeshelton, but OMG, the media needs to chill out with his dating life," user @janine_janocik tweets. "The guy is moving on. #findsomethingelsetotalkabout."

Just minutes after it was posted, Shelton retweets the message, adding, "Amen!!!!!!!! Let's all move along now!!"

Sorry, Blake! Love is a beautiful thing.


HOW IT EVOLVED:

Dec. 7, 2015 -- PDA

The pair shares some adorable PDA in a selfie Stefani posts to Twitter to promote her role on The Voice. In the pic, Shelton playfully bites his girlfriend's shoulder -- although the cute moment loses some of its steamy romance with fellow Voice coaches Williams and Levine peering out behind them.

Feb. 16, 2016 -- You Probably Think This Song Is About You

Stefani reveals her new song, "Make Me Like You," is about Shelton while sitting down with Jimmy Kimmel. 

"I will admit that that song is about that guy," Stefani says.

"That song is about Blake Shelton?" Kimmel asks, clarifying her remark.

"It is, actually, yeah!" Stefani confirms, making fans of their romance swoon.

Feb. 29, 2016 -- Post-Oscars Glow

Getty Images

The couple made their official red carpet debut when they attend the Vanity Fair Oscar party together, looking stunning, with Stefani rocking a fiery red dress and Shelton dressing up for the occasion in a black blazer and dark jeans.

They later pose together for a portrait photo at the event, and the results are stunning.

May 22, 2016 -- BBMA Fireworks

The cute couple brings their romantic duet, "Go Ahead and Break My Heart," to the Billboard Music Awards stage. The performance comes a month after the pair sang the duet on The Voice, although it marks a milestone for the couple when it comes to supporting one another musically.

June 2, 2016 -- Nope!

Engagement rumors have already started swirling, but Stefani makes sure to shut them down during an interview on 94.7 Fresh FM’s The Tommy Show.

“Can you imagine the amount of gossipy, weird stories people make up?” she says with a laugh after the host asks her if she would be sporting an engagement ring on her upcoming tour. “To me, it makes me laugh every day. I actually do Google my name just so I can see the next one that will happen. It’s gotten so out of control. The best part about it is that it’s hilarious. The worst part about it is that some people actually believe that stuff, that’s what’s funny."

"Let’s just look at the last year. Let’s just take it one day at a time," Stefani says when pressed on the rumors. "Everything’s crazy right now, so no, absolutely not, are you crazy?"

Feb. 16, 2017 -- Potential Deal Breaker

Stefani sits down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, and gets candid about her romance with Shelton -- and jokes that she found out something about him that was almost a deal breaker when they went to Disneyland together.

"He won’t do the roller coasters,” she reveals. “That was literally, like, that was almost a deal breaker for me. I was like, ‘I don’t know.’”

She explains that part of the reason Shelton isn’t a fan of the thrill rides is due to his sheer size. “He doesn’t fit in anything,” Stefani says of her tall man. “We did go on the Matterhorn, he did. But he barely fit inside the little thing. His knees were up like this."

Nov. 14, 2017 -- Almost Too Sexy

Shelton is named People's new Sexiest Man Alive. In his cover story, Shelton reveals that it was his girlfriend who convinced him to embrace the honor, despite his trepidation.

"She goes, ‘Listen to me, you’re going to regret this for the rest of your life if you don’t take this gift and just live in the moment,'” he says. 

Stefani speaks with ET the next day and opens up about how she feels about the news.

"I heard that [he might be the Sexiest Man Alive] and I was like, 'Let me think about this.' That makes me look pretty rad," she jokes.

April 10, 2018 -- Warming Up to the Idea

Speaking with Ellen DeGeneres, Stefani once again addresses swirling marriage rumors, but this time doesn't seem quite so quick to shoot down the possibility.

"It's weird because, I get nervous when you talk to me about him," she admits. "I don't know why, but for some reason, the cameras are rolling and I shouldn't say something. So if I say, 'We are [getting married],' then we are, and if I say, 'No, we're not,' then that would be sad, too."

Dec. 14, 2018 -- Christmas Romance

The country crooner appears on Today and reveals just how special his relationship with Stefani is to him.

"Gwen and I aren't just dating," he says. "This is something that I feel like is meant to be."

"I've learned more from Gwen Stefani as a human being and how to grow as a human being than I have from anybody ever in my life. Anybody," he continues gleefully. "She's everything that you could hope a human being could be. That's what Gwen is."

April 27, 2019 -- Red Carpet Family

gwen stefani and blake shelton with her kids
Steve Granitz/WireImage

The pop singer attends the UglyDolls premiere at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live in Los Angeles with Shelton and her three sons.

The outing marks the first time the five of them have made a red carpet appearance together, and they couldn't look more adorable as a happy family.

Dec. 12, 2019 -- Divine Intervention

The country superstar sits down with ET at his album release party at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank, California, and reflects on how his connection to Stefani felt like it was destined.

"Both of us know that the timing, and the way she and I met and came together, it just felt like home, that's not an accident," Shelton says. "I think that the way that she and I were able to save each other's lives and get ourselves through that time, it was evidence to us that God had a hand in it."

He also addresses the persistent marriage rumors, and while he denies them, he also embraces the thought.

"I love the rumors. Those rumors are great," Shelton shares. "Anybody that thinks I am married to Gwen already, I love it. My god, who wouldn't want to be married to Gwen Stefani?"

April 13, 2020 -- Close Quarters

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Shelton and Stefani decide to self-quarantine for their own well-being at his ranch home in Oklahoma.

During a video chat interview on The Tonight Show, Stefani surprises Fallon when she joins the interview, and explains that she was booked to give him a haircut and they aren't going to change plans just for a talk show chat.

"Gwen's learned how to bake bread really good, sourdough bread," Shelton says of their time on the ranch during lockdown. "Literally, it's like Little House on the Prairie out here. She bakes bread, I've been building a fence and gardening. We're pretty self-sufficient out here."

July 2020 -- "Happy Anywhere"

While in quarantine, the couple teams up for a romantic country-tinged duet, "Happy Anywhere."

"Even though Gwen and I just had a single out we decided that, under the circumstances, this year… man, there’s never been a better time for 'Happy Anywhere,'" Shelton says in a press release for the song. "We’ve all been in quarantine and lockdown, and hopefully we’ve been doing that with somebody that we really love and enjoy being around. That’s what happened with Gwen and me this summer -- and this entire year."

During a livestream in support of the track, the country star gushes about his life and work.

"I have the easiest job at this point in my life and it's a blast to be a country singer and do what I do," Shelton says. "It's hilarious that listening to the radio the last couple of years that Gwen Stefani is going to be singing the 'countriest' song to come out of Nashville... It's ironic. It's funny."

Sept. 22, 2020 -- A Place of Their Own

ET learns that the "Don't Speak" singer and the country crooner closed escrow on their first home together -- a 13,000-square-foot nest in Encino, California -- earlier in the year.

The $13.2 million estate features three full floors, a four-car garage, a state-of-the-art home theater, a pool with inset spa and a cabana offering a full wet bar and outdoor kitchen.

Oct. 27, 2020 -- Pop the Question

After five years of dating -- and four years of denying that they are secretly married -- Shelton and Stefani announce they are engaged.

"“@blakeshelton yes please!” Stefani writes on Instagram alongside a photo of the ring.

Shelton also shares the same pic to his Instagram account alongside the caption, “@gwenstefanit pop star captioned a ring photo, which her country star hubby-to-be thanks for saving my 2020…And the rest of my life..I love you. I heard a YES!”

ET learns that the pair got engaged in Oklahoma on the weekend of Oct. 17.

Nov. 16, 2020 -- Stunning Sparkler

Gwen Stefani
Instagram

The singer gives her fans the first look at her engagement ring in a cute Instagram Story post, in which she flashes the sizable sparkler.

Stefani shoots the video while she and Shelton are on their way to the People's Choice Awards, and explains that while she can't get out of the car due to COVID, she is there to support him in case he wins an award.

April 23, 2021 -- Nice and Simple

Stefani shares some details about her wedding plans while talking with Seth Meyers during an episode of Late Night.

"We're keeping it very simple. Really simple," the singer says. "I think the guest list will not have a lot of musicians. It'll be like my mom and my dad. It's literally going to be just family. We are looking forward to that, though."

"It's going to be fun," Stefani continues. "We're going to make it really fun, but it's not going to be a big [event]. It's not like the queen and king are getting married or something like that."

June 11, 2021 -- Sweet Showers

The singer is celebrated, congratulated and showered with love as her family comes together for an intimate bridal party.

"I got kidnapped by family to celebrate that I’m getting married!" Stefani says in a video post she shares to her Instagram Stories, adding in another post that she's "feeling loved, feeling blessed."


HOW IT'S GOING:

July 3, 2021 -- Tying the Knot

The couple ties the knot on a day described as a "fairy-tale experience." A source tells ET, "It was absolutely a picture-perfect intimate wedding with family. Everyone at the wedding was so thrilled to see Gwen and Blake finally get married."

Officiated by Carson Daly at Shelton's Oklahoma ranch the source adds, "They have been talking about a wedding for so long and wanted nothing more than to officially call themselves a family. It was a fairy-tale experience even for the guests."

"Everyone who attended the ceremony was talking about Gwen and Blake's love for one another," the source continues. "They have been so careful because they've had their hearts broken and this wedding made everyone feel like dreams do really come true. They have both been through a lot and deserved to find each other. They were meant to be a couple in every way."

Later, on the Today show, Daly reveals that Shelton performed a song during his vows to his new wife. The Voice host shared that he initially suggested the couple write their own vows and while they were "reluctant" at first, Shelton and Stefani agreed to writing them.

The country crooner took on Daly's challenge, telling the crowd, "Gwen has always given me a hard time about not writing enough songs, so I wrote a song."

"Guitar comes in, stool, next thing you know, he wrote her a song, and he sings her a song -- while he's crying -- that he wrote specifically for her. 'Reach the Star,' I think it was called," Daly shares. "Not a dry eye in the house. That was a highlight."

March 2022 -- Blake Says He's 'Fallen in Love' With Stepdad Life

Shelton has frequently opened up about his bond with Stefani's boys, and does so once again during a talk at the Country Radio Seminar in March 2022.

"I think Gwen thought, when we first started seeing each other, that it was just gonna be a moment in time because of that," he says (via People) of his wife's concern that he wouldn't be ready to have her sons in his life. 

Shelton notes that seeing his father parent his late brother, Richie, who was a baby and not his biological son when his parents got together, served as an example to him. 

"He took Richie on and raised him from the time he was a one-year-old, and my brother never thought of my dad as anything other than his dad," he explains. "The example that my dad set for me was that [child] was not even a consideration. You got three boys? Awesome! My dad did it. My dad raised me. I could do this." 

Shelton adds that while his role has gone beyond what he initially expected, he loves Stefani's sons very much. 

"I didn't know what I was signing up for, but I was all about signing up for it," he says. "And every day I've fallen in love with the boys as much as I do with Gwen."

July 3, 2022 -- First Anniversary

Shelton takes to Instagram to share a photo from their wedding on the couple's first anniversary, revealing that it has been the best year of his life. 

The country crooner writes, "Happy anniversary to the woman that makes my world go round.. @gwenstefani, because of you, this year has been the best year of my life. I love you!!!! Thank you for saying yes!" 

Stefani also shares wedding footage to celebrate the milestone, writing, "1 year down, forever to go @blakeshelton ❤️" She shares a series of clips from the ceremony while Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” played in the background. 

December 2022 -- Blake Prepares to Leave The Voice

By the season 22 finale of The Voice, Shelton has already announced his plans to depart the show after season 23 -- which has Stefani getting emotional when she spoke to ET during their final season together.

"The hardest part is just knowing that it's Blake and my last season together on the show, which is, I can't even say the words 'cause it's so--" she shares. "Incredible miracles came out of being on the show for me, so I feel so blessed that I got this whole experience and I got that guy!"

"He's brought so much joy. He's so talented," Stefani tells ET in another interview during their last season. "I know people just wait around to laugh and watch him on TV, so I feel sorry for everybody [that] he's gonna be gone."

Shelton tells ET during the season 22 finale that he almost didn't realize just how emotional the night would be for him and his wife. He admits that he was "so wrapped up in the finale tonight," and his performances alongside his three finalists and famous friend Kane Brown, that the gravity of the moment didn't hit him until after the show was over.

"I walked over to Gwen's chair after the cameras went off and she's over there literally sobbing," he tells ET. "She was like, 'This is our last time that we're going to do this together.'"

May 12, 2023 -- Blake's Walk of Fame

Stefani gives an emotional tribute during Shelton's ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, calling her husband her "dream come true."

"It blows my mind to be here today on the Hollywood Walk of Fame celebrating my husband," she begins. "You are so deserving of this honor and the boys and I and all of your family, your friends and colleagues, could not be more proud... From barely graduating from high school to roofing houses and then moving to Nashville by himself at 17 years old to chase the only thing he ever wanted to do in his life -- be a country singer."

Stefani adds, "There is nobody like him, he is a one-of-a-kind guy, and the audiences all fall in love with him. He's humble, he's genuine, and, trust me, wherever we go, everybody feels like they know Blake Shelton."

She concludes her speech by telling her husband, "You are part of the country dream, the Hollywood dream, and you are part of the American dream, and everyone knows you are my dream come true."

 Zuma Rossdale, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Apollo Rossdale, and Kingston Rossdale attend Blake Shelton's Star Ceremony on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame on May 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

May 23, 2023 -- Blake's Last Voice

Stefani can't be at the season 23 live finale -- which marks Shelton's final episode of The Voice -- but she shares an emotional message for her husband in a pre-taped package.

"Who would have thought that this Orange County girl and this country guy from Oklahoma would find each other on the set of The Voice," Stefani marvels, sharing how meeting and falling in love with Shelton changed her life.

"When I first came on the show, our lives were having this parallel destruction happening," she adds, referring to their separate divorces, "and then next thing you know, Blake and I start becoming besties, and falling in love."

Stefani even tears up, as she shares what it means to her "to find my soulmate, it's hard for me to even talk about it without getting super emotional." 

And she can't help but share a proud message, noting, "The Voice is gonna go on, but Blake's legacy will be there forever."

Stefani later shows up to the finale after-party, where she and her husband dance the night away, sharing sweet PDA as they celebrate his career milestone.

July 3, 2023 -- Anniversary No. 2

The couple takes to Instagram to celebrate their second wedding anniversary with sweet photos and messages.

Shelton posts a photo from the wedding of the two kissing in front of their cake, saying, "Happy anniversary @gwenstefani!!!! Every day has been the best day since I met you."

Stefani shares a video montage with cute moments the couple has shared, set to her song, "True Babe." The mother of three captions the post, "happy anniversary @blakeshelton i love u 🥰!!!"

Sept. 25, 2023 -- Gwen Pays Tribute to Blake on The Voice Premiere

Season 24 marks the first-ever season premiere of The Voice without Shelton in his signature spinning chair, but Stefani makes sure he is remembered!

As seen in the season's first sneak peek, Stefani dons her beloved "Shelton" and "Stefani" necklaces for the big night, keeping her husband of two years close to her heart as she hears the first Blind Auditions of The Voice season 24.

This isn't the first time that Stefani has rocked the necklaces on the show, but it is the first time without Shelton by her side -- with Reba McEntire taking over Shelton's seat in her first season as a coach.

gwen stefani the voice season 24 premiere
Tyler Golden/NBC via Getty Images

Sept. 27, 2023 -- Gwen Opens Up

In an interview with People, Stefani admits how blindsided she was by her romance with Shelton.

"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," Stefani says of her relationship with the country superstar. "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.'"

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