How long have Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani been married? Relationship timeline explored as couple goes through "real challenges" and "strain"

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani got married four years ago in 2021. However, the star couple had been dating for quite some time before they tied the knot. Recently, according to exclusive reports from The Sun UK, it seems like there has been trouble in paradise for the two lovebirds. However, like every relationship and marriage, there are highs and lows, and the couple is currently navigating a rough patch at the moment.

Fans have been wondering if the couple had split after Shelton released a breakup song earlier this Spring. The rumors were fueled by the couple's absence from the CMA Awards, especially since Blake Shelton was nominated for his song Pour Me a Drink with Post Malone.

An insider source who is close to the couple explained the couple's situation to The Sun UK. They said:

"They've gone through real challenges, nothing manufactured... There were times when the tension was high enough that people close to them quietly wondered if the relationship could take the strain... It wasn't drama, it was the reality of blending two totally different worlds."

They elaborated:

"Blake is as country as it gets, and Gwen grew up in Los Angeles... Those lifestyles don't automatically sync. They had to learn from each other... They asked for help, and they nearly reached a point where things could have gone either way... But they showed up for each other instead of checking out."

Keep reading to learn more about Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's relationship.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's relationship timeline

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani met years ago before they tied the knot in 2021. The pair met for the first time on the NBC singing reality competition television series, The Voice (season 7), more than a decade ago. Stefani and Shelton were both judges on the panel in 2014. At the time, Gwen was married to Gavin Rossdale, and Blake was married to Miranda Lambert.

A year later, both Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton were dealing with their own divorces and found comfort in their friendship.

During an interview with Howard Stern in 2016, she shared how she felt when Shelton announced his split from his wife. She said:

"I was in shock, because I felt like he was exposing me. I just couldn't even wrap my head around it... I didn't want anyone to know what was going on with me … I had this huge weight on me and nobody but my parents and obviously everybody involved knew."

She also shared how she told Blake Shelton about her own marriage ending. She recalled:

"It was during that time, he came up to my chair … I never saw him look so upset. So then I was like, 'I gotta talk to you.'"

Stefani clarified that she "wasn't trying to start a relationship," but it was:

"unbelievable that God would put us in a position to have each other at that moment, in the same exact moment."

By November 2015, the pair had started dating. They made it exclusive through a statement via an insider source to PEOPLE. It read:

"Blake and Gwen have begun dating... They've been supporting each other through a difficult time, and they're really happy together."

A few months into their relationship, Blake showed Gwen his romantic side with a hint of cowboy by buying himself and her horses. He told Entertainment Tonight:

"Gwen, she loves riding and she loves horses. It's actually so funny that people are so shocked by that, but … name me one girl on the planet that doesn't love horses or just think that they are beautiful."

The pair finally made their red carpet debut in 2016 at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. An attendee who saw the couple that night said:

"They acted like giddy teenagers at a high school dance... They were holding hands the whole night and didn't leave each other's sides. I don't think either of them stopped smiling the entire time they were there."

Blake Shelton has also spoken about how Gwen played an important role in his life, especially while he was going through his divorce. In an interview with Billboard, he said:

"Gwen saved my life. Who else on earth could understand going through a high-profile divorce from another musician? You can't even imagine the similarities in our divorces."

Despite already working together as co-judges on The Voice, the couple also collaborated on a Christmas song in 2017, titled You Make It Feel Like Christmas. The following year, Blake Shelton was seen supporting Stefani's Las Vegas residency in Planet Hollywood's Zappos Theater.

The Hollaback Girl singer said on stage:

"I see a lot of admiring eyes on my sparkles. I know, it's ridiculous... You don't know what it's like to wear a cowgirl costume right in front of Blake Shelton. It's like my fantasy come true."

Another romantic and humorous onstage moment was when a fan threw a Gwen Stefani album on stage, where Blake was performing. He picked it up and gave it a long kiss, saying:

"She is awesome! And hot! I haven't seen her in a couple weeks, so..."

After a short break from The Voice, Gwen Stefani decided to come back as a judge, and Blake Shelton expressed how happy he was to have her back. He said that her being back makes his day "100 percent better."

Four years into the relationship and people have started asking questions about marriage. An insider spoke to PEOPLE and shared what the situation was like between Blake and Gwen. They said:

"They're still madly in love and beyond inseparable. Blake has wanted to take his time with marriage, but he is absolutely committed to Gwen. They both feel they've found their true partner in life and plan to be together forever... He still thinks he is so lucky that she wants to be with him and thinks she is the most beautiful woman in the world."

After working on one Christmas love song together, the couple decided to team up again for another track. This time, the couple shared Nobody But You, on Blake's Fully Loaded: God's Country album in 2019. They collaborated on another song called Happy Anywhere the following year.

Blake Shelton has been in Stefani's life for a couple of years and has built a relationship with her three sons. He spoke about it, saying:

"That's a scary moment for me because it's one thing for me to be with the kids all the time and be their buddy, but you do have to consider after a while that they start to listen to things that you say. There's a lot of responsibility that comes with that."

Finally, after five years together, they shared the wonderful news of their engagement on Instagram. Gwen took to her social media to post a photo of the two of them sharing a kiss, and wrote:

"@blakeshelton yes please! 💍🙏🏻 gx"

Blake Shelton also wrote in a separate post:

"Hey @gwenstefani thanks for saving my 2020... And the rest of my life." he wrote. "I love you. I heard a YES!"

Blake and Gwen were not in a rush when it came to their engagement and marriage. During an interview with Today, she revealed what has been going on behind the scenes. Stefani said:

"I think there was a lot to consider when you have so many people involved. Children, and their hearts, and everybody in my family [and] his family, we all went through a lot together... So I think in a romantic way, when you fall in love so hard and so unexpectedly — and so late in your life — you think 'I want to marry you!' That's the first romantic reaction, like, 'Let's get married.'"

She continued:

So we always talked about it, of course, and I think that as the years were going by, it didn't need to happen. There was a lot of healing to do."

The singers tied the knot eight months after their engagement at Blake Shelton's Tishomingo ranch during the Fourth of July weekend.

Almost a year after being married to Gwen, the country singer is still gushing about her. During an interview with PEOPLE, he said:

"I wish everybody could have a chance to meet and talk to Gwen Stefani at some point in their life because you'll just be a better person for it, is the only way I know to say it... She's just a magical person to be around."

The couple also publicly celebrated their first anniversary. Stefani took to Instagram to post a video montage of their wedding. She captioned it:

"1 year down, forever to go @blakeshelton ❤️"

The couple has been seen at numerous events and red carpet events, supporting each other in every way they can. Gwen Stefani calls Blake Shelton her "best friend" during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show.

They have also performed together several times, at venues including the Grand Ole Opry, at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting, and more. The couple also celebrated each other's milestones and achievements, including getting their own stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are facing a tough phase in their marriage after years of being strong together. Reports say they have had real challenges, but they are trying to work through their differences.

Also read: How many children does Gwen Stefani have? All about the singer's family as she celebrates son Zuma's birthday

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