Gwen Stefani bio, age, net worth, height, kids, husband, career path 2024

Gwen Stefani Biography

Gwen Stefani is an American singer, actress, frontwoman of the band No Doubt, which she formed with her brother, as well as a producer and designer. Her 2004 album "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." marked a brilliant beginning to her solo career, with the artist becoming a three-time Grammy winner. She has been recognized as one of the top 100 greatest women in music by VH1 and frequently topped the charts. In 2023, the artist was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Childhood, Youth, Family

Gwen Renée Stefani was born in the fall of 1969 to Dennis James Stefani and Patti Flynn in Anaheim, a town near Los Angeles, California. Through her father, Gwen has Italian roots, and through her mother, she has Irish and Scottish origins.

Her parents were high school sweethearts and got married as soon as possible. Dennis worked in the marketing and motorcycle research department for Yamaha, while Patti initially was an accountant, but after having four children, she became a stay-at-home mom. Gwen has an older brother named Eric and a younger brother Todd and sister Jill.

Reflecting on her childhood, the singer said:

I was very spoiled compared to many people. We weren't rich, but we definitely had everything we wanted. My parents were into Bob Dylan and were big folk music fans. I remember giving my dad a demo of a song I wrote called End It on This and he listened to it on his way to work and played it for people. I remember two things he said to me. One of them was: 'Everybody's saying that your songwriting is really good and you should just keep going.' And the second was: 'Don't ever take lessons, because your voice is really unique. There's just something about it.'

Her parents regularly took the children to concerts and musicals. Gwen believes that the musical "The Sound of Music" changed her life forever, and she learned the musical "Evita" by heart. As a girl, she passionately collected photographs of famous actresses and played the flute in the school orchestra.

She also participated in a talent show with the song On My Radio by her favorite ska band 'The Selecter'. "My older brother brought the music home... The first record was 'Madness', thanks to which I started listening to ska. And then there were 'The Selecter' with Pauline Black's vocals. She was one of a kind. Everything in my style, I copied from her style at the time. So yes, I'm a huge fan, and I definitely wouldn't be here without 'The Selecter'", Gwen shared.

However, Gwen Stefani wouldn't be who she is today without her mother's tailoring talent. It was her mother who taught Gwen cutting, sewing, and embroidery, and the girl passionately modified her outfits, gradually developing her unique style.

After graduating from Loara High School, Gwen enrolled in art courses at Fullerton College. To earn money for further education, she worked as a waitress at a fast-food restaurant, and then got a job in the perfume and cosmetic department of a department store on Broadway.

No Doubt

After finishing college, she enrolled in California State University, Fullerton. Concurrently, the young woman served as the lead vocalist for the band No Doubt, formed by her brother Eric and his friend John Spence in 1986. Later, bassist Tony Kanal joined the group.

Initially, the band performed ska music. Stefani was invited to join the group as a backup vocalist but soon began to take solo parts. Performing at small local venues did not bring much success. A year later, Spence ended his life. Unexpectedly, Stefani found herself in the spotlight, although, by her own admission, she had no particular ambitions. However, it was the songs she composed that brought the band its initial popularity.

No Doubt – Don't Speak

The breakthrough came in the early nineties when the band signed a contract with Jimmy Iovine and his label, Interscope Records. The band's first two albums didn't enjoy much success with the audience, but the third - Tragic Kingdom - brought the band real fame.

No Doubt - Just A Girl

The standout compositions Don’t Speak and Just a Girl, which were quite different from the rest of the band's work, were written by Stefani. The album went platinum, was nominated for a Grammy, and Stefani earned the title of "Outstanding Female Vocalist" at the California Music Awards.

Solo Career

Starting in 2000, Stefani began her initial attempts to work solo, recording collaborative tracks with Prince, Moby, Eve, and in 2004, she released her debut album 'Love. Angel. Music. Baby'. The album featured contributions from rapper Andre 3000, composer and former member of '4 Non Blondes', Linda Perry, and producer Pharrell Williams. The tracks quickly gained popularity, especially 'Hollaback Girl', which was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl

Two years later, Gwen released her second album, which she named 'The Sweet Escape'. Her third solo album didn't come out until 2016. During this period, the singer had the chance to work with Eminem, Maroon 5, Blake Shelton, Justin Tranter, and other artists.

Her album 'This Is What The Truth Feels Like' debuted as No. 1 on the Billboard 200. In discussions about the album, Stefani confessed that all her songs are almost autobiographical, which is why listeners immediately sense their sincerity:

I can't write music any other way: I write about my life and what I feel in different situations. I always keep a diary: I record what happens to me, and these records are the basis of all my songs. I am still amazed at how music can transform personal emotions into a powerful story that can touch many. We like those songs that remind us of what we experienced when we first heard them, songs that give value to our memories.

Her most recent studio album is 'You Make It Feel Like Christmas'. To support it, she appeared on a TV show and then went on a concert tour, which lasted until the lockdown due to Covid. Later, to mark the 25th anniversary of the single 'Don’t Speak', the singer posted a video on social media in which she recreated her former stage persona.

Cinema, Television, Business

The artist has showcased her talents not only in music. Fans were delighted by her cameo in the comedy "Zoolander" with Ben Stiller in the lead role, and then admired the character of Jean Harlow, which Gwen created in Martin Scorsese's biographical drama "The Aviator". Her role was secondary, but Stefani did not get lost against the backdrop of the main characters played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett. The singer's hits were featured in dozens of films, and she often made cameo appearances in them.

Since 2014, Stefani has periodically served as a member of the jury of the show "The Voice", replacing first Christina Aguilera, and then Adam Levine, the frontman of Maroon 5. In the nineteenth season, a performer from her team, Carter Rubin, won. In 2021, Gwen gave up her seat on the jury to Nick Jonas.

The singer's fame also came from her clothing brand L.A.M.B., which later expanded to include footwear, handbags, various accessories, and perfumes. The brand was not only appreciated by Stefani's fans, but also by celebrities: items from L.A.M.B. were added to the wardrobes of Nicole Kidman, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton.

Gwen Stefani at the show of her brand L.A.M.B.

In 2022, the singer also started producing cosmetics, presenting a vegan collection of eight products named GXVE to a discerning audience.

Gwen Stefani advertises her GXVE cosmetics

Personal Life of Gwen Stefani

The first serious emotion struck the girl when she became the lead singer of the band No Doubt. She fell in love with bass guitarist Tony Kanal and their relationship lasted more than seven years. The breakup was so hard for Gwen that she wrote several poignant songs that later topped the charts.

Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal in their youth

For some time, the singer was alone, then she met the frontman of the Bush band, Gavin Rossdale. The couple dated for over five years. In 2002, Gwen and Gavin delighted their fans with a lavish wedding. In the happy family, as Stefani and Rossdale were considered, three sons were born - Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo.

The wedding of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale

A year after the birth of the youngest son, the singer filed for divorce, which came as a surprise to many. Much later in an interview, Gwen admitted that she simply couldn't show in public how much pain and hardship she was going through because of the betrayal of the person she had spent so many years with:

I constantly asked myself: 'Why? What did I do wrong in my marriage? What did I do to deserve suffering?' Until I finally realized that everyone has their own destiny. My friend Sophie Muller helped me. But even in front of her, I felt constrained. I didn't want to sit and complain like 'Why?' It's different to express yourself through creativity, then they would have said about me: 'How cool she is!'... Maybe it's a bad motivation. But I needed the album not only to look great in the eyes of others. I decided to tell about what is happening to me. I remember driving down Santa Monica Boulevard and thinking: 'What have I done? If I also sing about my sufferings, I will feel really bad.' But I wrote You Don't Know Me. I felt better. I didn't know how to survive a divorce, but I realized that I can share my pain.

In addition to the newly found faith in herself, Stefani also found a new lover. She met musician Blake Shelton on "The Voice". The man had just divorced and understood Gwen's experiences like no one else. Soon they started dating.

After five years, Blake dared to propose to the woman he loved, having previously discussed it with her father and sons. In the summer of 2021, the lovers got married. The singer notes that if she didn't have a single joint song with her first husband, it appeared almost immediately with Shelton - it's the song Go Ahead and Break My Heart.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani - Go Ahead and Break My Heart

Gwen Stefani Now

The main event of 2023 for Stefani was the news that she had received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The opening ceremony took place in October. Stefani's husband and sons, as well as colleagues Irving Azoff and Jimmy Iovine, came to celebrate with Gwen at the event.

Gwen Stefani with her family at the opening of the star on the Walk of Fame

"Who would have thought that this simple girl from Anaheim would have her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Thank you for walking this path with me and singing along with me all these years!" Gwen shared her joy with her followers.

A few months earlier, Stefani's husband Blake Shelton was awarded a similar star. Gwen admits that she is currently experiencing a happy period in her life that she is fully enjoying. Although the couple prefers a secluded lifestyle, they can sometimes be seen at events, for example, at the main American award in the field of country music.

Interesting Facts

In her teenage years, Gwen Stefani was infatuated with Marilyn Monroe, and her whole room was plastered with posters of the actress. It was Monroe, and then Michelle Pfeiffer, who portrayed Elvira Hancock in "Scarface", that eventually inspired Stefani to make a radical image change. The singer turned into a bright blonde with red lipstick.

Gwen always does her makeup herself, without resorting to makeup artists.

Stefani likes to help people in need. For instance, she donated a million dollars to children affected by the earthquake in Japan in 2011. In addition to that, Gwen occasionally organizes auctions to sell her own collections and designer dresses. The proceeds are donated to charity.

Gwen has often admitted that she comes from a family of tailors on her mother's side:

My great-grandmother would start on New Year's Day, which was her birthday, and she'd sew each member of her family a patchwork quilt and something like flannel pajamas, and you'd get it the next Christmas. Her daughter, my mom's mom, sewed everything my mom wore to such an extent that she didn't have the option to choose her clothes until she was engaged. And then my mom sewed our clothes. I used to be a bit upset. Like, 'Can't I go to the mall?'

Important Life Events

1986: Became the lead singer of the band No Doubt.
1992: Released the album No Doubt with the band.
1995: Released the albums The Beacon Street Collection and Tragic Kingdom with the band.
2000: Released the album Return of Saturn with the band.
2001: Released the album Rock Steady with the band. Starred in the movie "Zoolander".
2002: Married musician Gavin Rossdale.
2004: Starred in the movie "The Aviator". Released debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
2006: Son Kingston was born. Released the album The Sweet Escape.
2009: Son Zuma was born.
2014: Son Apollo was born. Became a judge on the TV show "The Voice".
2015: Filed for divorce from Gavin Rossdale. Became a judge on the TV show "The Voice".
2016: Released the album This Is What The Truth Feels Like.
2017: Released the album You Make It Feel Like Christmas.
2019: Became a judge on the TV show "The Voice".
2021: Married musician Blake Shelton.
2023: Honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.