Gwen Stefani facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gwen Stefani
Stefani in October 2016
Born	Gwen Renée Stefani (1969-10-03) October 3, 1969 (age 55) Fullerton, California, U.S.
Other names	Gwen Rossdale Gwen Shelton
Education	California State University, Fullerton
Occupation	Singer-songwriter record producer fashion designer actress
Years active	1986–present
Organization	L.A.M.B.
Spouse(s)	Gavin Rossdale ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2016)​ Blake Shelton ​ (m. 2021)​
Partner(s)	Tony Kanal (1987–1994)
Children	3
Relatives	Eric Stefani (brother)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop pop rock ska punk alternative rock R&B electro ska new wave
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Interscope Polydor
Signature

Gwen Stefani (born October 3, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, and fashion designer. She is famous as the lead singer of the band No Doubt. Some of their biggest songs include "Just a Girl", "Don't Speak", and "Hey Baby".

Gwen Stefani also has a very successful solo career. Her first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., came out in 2004. It had hit songs like "Hollaback Girl", which was the first US song downloaded over one million times. She has won three Grammy Awards and many other music awards. In 2023, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Besides music, Gwen Stefani has her own clothing lines, L.A.M.B. and Harajuku Lovers. She has sold over 60 million records around the world.

Early Life and School Days

Gwen Stefani was born on October 3, 1969, in Fullerton, California. She grew up in Anaheim, California. Her parents loved folk music, and they introduced her to artists like Bob Dylan. Gwen has two younger siblings and an older brother, Eric. Eric was the keyboard player for No Doubt before he left to work on The Simpsons as an animator.

Gwen went to Loara High School and finished in 1987. After high school, she briefly attended Fullerton College and then California State University, Fullerton. However, she left college in 1987 to focus on her music career.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with No Doubt (1986–2004)

Stefani performing with No Doubt in 2002

Gwen's brother Eric asked her to join his new band, No Doubt, in 1986. She became the lead singer. In 1991, the band signed with Interscope Records. Their first album came out in 1992, but it wasn't very popular at first.

No Doubt's third album, Tragic Kingdom (1995), became a huge success. It took over three years to make. Five hit songs came from this album, including "Don't Speak". This album was nominated for a Grammy and sold over 16 million copies worldwide. During this time, Gwen also sang on songs with other artists like Moby and Eve.

The band released Return of Saturn in 2000 and Rock Steady in 2001. Rock Steady had Grammy-winning songs like "Hey Baby" and "Underneath It All". In 2003, they released a collection of their greatest hits called The Singles 1992–2003.

Solo Music Journey (2004–2006)

Stefani performing "What You Waiting For?" during the Harajuku Lovers Tour in 2005

Gwen Stefani released her first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., on November 12, 2004. She wanted to create music inspired by the 1980s pop songs she loved. The album was a big hit and sold many copies.

The first song from the album was "What You Waiting For?". The second single, "Rich Girl", was a duet with rapper Eve. The third single, "Hollaback Girl", became Gwen's first number-one song in the US. It was also the first song to sell over one million digital copies in the United States. "Cool" was another popular song from the album. Its music video showed Gwen's past relationship with her bandmate, Tony Kanal.

In 2004, Gwen also tried acting. She played Jean Harlow in the movie The Aviator. She also lent her voice to a video game character.

More Solo Success and No Doubt's Return (2006–2013)

Stefani performing "Wind It Up" during The Sweet Escape Tour in 2007

Gwen's second solo album, The Sweet Escape, came out on December 1, 2006. This album had more electronic and dance music. The first song, "Wind It Up", used yodeling and a part from The Sound of Music. The title song, "The Sweet Escape", was a top 10 hit in many countries. Gwen went on a worldwide tour to promote the album.

After her solo tours, No Doubt started working on a new album together. Their album, Push and Shove, was released on September 25, 2012. The first single was "Settle Down".

New Music and TV Appearances (2014–Present)

Stefani in 2014

In 2014, Gwen Stefani joined The Voice as a coach. She also worked on new music. She released songs like "Baby Don't Lie" and "Spark the Fire". She also sang with Maroon 5 on their song "My Heart Is Open".

In 2015, Gwen released "Used to Love You", a song about her personal life. This song was on her third solo album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, which came out in 2016. This album was her first solo album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. She also voiced DJ Suki in the animated movie Trolls.

In 2017, Gwen released her first Christmas album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas. The title song featured her husband, Blake Shelton. She also had a Christmas TV special.

Stefani at her Las Vegas residency concert in 2019

From 2018 to 2021, Gwen had a concert series in Las Vegas called Just a Girl: Las Vegas. Part of the money from these shows went to a charity called Cure4Kids. She continued to be a coach on The Voice and won for the first time with her finalist, Carter Rubin, in season 19.

Gwen has also released several songs with Blake Shelton, including "Nobody but You" and "Happy Anywhere". In 2024, she released her fifth studio album, Bouquet.

Other Projects and Ventures

Gwen Stefani has always been interested in fashion. She used to make many of her own clothes for No Doubt's performances. In 2004, she started her own fashion line called L.A.M.B.. This line is inspired by different styles, including Japanese and Jamaican fashion. Many celebrities wear her designs.

In 2005, she launched a more affordable clothing line called Harajuku Lovers. This line also includes fun products like cameras and phone charms. She also released a limited edition line of dolls based on her and the Harajuku Girls.

Gwen has also created perfumes, including "L" from her L.A.M.B. collection and a Harajuku Lovers fragrance line. She has worked with beauty brands like L'Oréal Paris and Urban Decay. She also designs eyewear under her L.A.M.B. and GX labels.

In 2014, Gwen announced an animated series called Kuu Kuu Harajuku. It features her and the Harajuku Girls as a band called HJ5, who fight evil while trying to make music. In 2022, she launched her own makeup brand called GXVE Beauty.

Music Style and Influences

Gwen Stefani is known for her powerful voice. Critics have described her vocals as unique and strong.

Her first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., was influenced by many 1980s music styles. These included electropop, new wave, and hip hop. Gwen has said that artists like Madonna, Prince, and New Order inspired her. Her songs often have dance beats.

Her later albums, like The Sweet Escape and This Is What the Truth Feels Like, continued to explore pop music. They also included elements of reggae, disco, and dancehall. Her lyrics often talk about her personal experiences, like her relationships.

Awards and Recognition

Gwen Stefani's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Gwen Stefani has won many awards throughout her career. As a solo artist, she has won a Grammy Award, four MTV Video Music Awards, an American Music Award, a Brit Award, and two Billboard Music Awards. With No Doubt, she has won two Grammy Awards.

In 2014, she received the Style Icon Award at the People Magazine Awards. In 2016, she was given a Hero Award at the Radio Disney Music Awards for her charity work. In 2023, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Many artists and musicians have said that Gwen Stefani and No Doubt have influenced their music. These include Hayley Williams from Paramore, Katy Perry, and Dua Lipa. Her song "Hollaback Girl" was a huge success, becoming the first song to sell over one million digital copies in the US.

Giving Back to the Community

Gwen Stefani is also involved in charity work. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, she donated $1 million to Save the Children's relief fund. She also held an online auction, selling clothes from her own wardrobe to raise money for the cause.

In 2011, at a charity event, Gwen auctioned off a dress she wore, raising over $125,000. In 2012, she hosted a fundraiser with Michelle Obama, who was the First Lady at the time.

Personal Life

Gwen Stefani dated her bandmate Tony Kanal when they were starting out. Their breakup inspired many songs on No Doubt's album Tragic Kingdom, like "Don't Speak". They later became good friends, and Gwen wrote the song "Cool" about their friendship.

Gwen met Gavin Rossdale, the lead singer of the band Bush, in 1995. They got married on September 14, 2002. Gwen and Gavin have three sons. They divorced in 2016.

Stefani and Blake Shelton in 2016

In November 2015, Gwen Stefani announced her relationship with country music artist Blake Shelton. They are both coaches on The Voice. They have sung many songs together, including "Nobody But You" and "Happy Anywhere". They also sang "You Make It Feel Like Christmas" for Gwen's holiday album. Gwen and Blake got engaged in October 2020 and married on July 3, 2021.

In 2020, Gwen was diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning difference that affects reading.

Gwen has spoken about her connection to Japanese culture. Her father traveled to Japan for work for many years, which introduced her to its traditions and art. She has visited Harajuku in Japan and calls herself a "super fan" of Japanese culture.

Discography

Solo Albums

• Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004)
• The Sweet Escape (2006)
• This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016)
• You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017)
• Bouquet (2024)

No Doubt Albums

• No Doubt (1992)
• The Beacon Street Collection (1995)
• Tragic Kingdom (1995)
• Return of Saturn (2000)
• Rock Steady (2001)
• Push and Shove (2012)

Tours

Headlining Tours

• Harajuku Lovers Tour (2005)
• The Sweet Escape Tour (2007)
• This Is What the Truth Feels Like Tour (2016)

Las Vegas Residency

• Gwen Stefani – Just a Girl (2018–2021)

Film and TV Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Gwen Stefani para niños