Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani tied the knot in 2021, officially making Shelton a stepfather to Stefani’s three sons, Kingston, 17, Zuma, 15, and Apollo, 9, who she shares with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale. During a recent appearance on the CMT Hot 20 Countdown, the 47-year-old country superstar spoke with host Cody Alan about being a stepparent, admitting that “it’s tough” to choose his favorite thing about the role.

Step Parenting Is Very Important To Blake Shelton

“I take enjoyment in all of it, I also stress out a lot about it,” he said. “It is important to me, and I don’t want to be the guy that advised them to do the wrong thing somehow.” Shelton then went on to reveal why he takes step parenting “serious.”

“I take that stuff, it’s about the only thing I do take pretty serious in my life,” Shelton continued. “Obviously, everybody out there watching that’s got a kid knows what I’m talking about. “There’s not that one thing that I can put my finger on, there’s things every day.”

Opened Up About Stepson Kingston’s Musical Debut

Shelton and Alan had previously been discussing Kingston’s debut musical performance at Shelton’s Ole Red location in Tishomingo, Oklahoma in August, which the 47-year-old called “probably the most nerve-wracking music experience I’ve had in 20 years, and I would say for Gwen also.”

Shelton explained that he and Stefani are aware of Kingston’s musical ambitions, and while he has been writing “incredible music,” he hadn’t yet performed in a live setting. The couple figured the Tishomingo bar would be a good under-the-radar spot for a first performance, but social media had other plans.

“It just takes that one person there with their phone, which is totally fine, by the way, it just got a lot more attention than we thought it would,” Shelton said. “But, thank God, he did a great job.”

Made Him Realize He’s More Than Just A Country superstar

The country star told PEOPLE in December 2022 that Kingston, Zuma and Apollo have helped him unlock a whole new side of himself.

“They’ve taught me something about myself that I never knew: I’m more than just a country singer or a goofy guy,” Shelton shared. “I’m someone they actually lean on, and that’s not a responsibility that I ever had and not something that I ever considered even being into.”

“It’s a different kind of self-worth,” he added. “Maybe it’s the opposite of self-worth because you put yourself way down on the rung, and they move up ahead of you.”

Stefani’s Kids Changed Shelton’s Life

While he appreciates the accomplishments he’s made in his career, Shelton revealed that he wanted to put the focus on his family moving forward.

“You don’t know what your regrets are going to be until you look back one day,” he mused. “I feel like my regrets would be, if I stayed on this path, that I am missing out on some more important things in life — and for now, that’s our kids.”

Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani Wedding; Photo Courtesy Jeremy Bustos/Studio This Is

Credits Stefani’s Kids For Success Of Their Relationship

Shelton and Stefani began dating in 2015, and Shelton noted that with her kids involved, the success of the relationship was pretty much always a sure thing.

“It got to a point quickly with Gwen and I’s relationship that there was never a time where I thought, ‘Well, I wonder if this doesn’t work out.’ That never crossed my mind, and I don’t think it did with her either,” he recalled. “Having kids, it truly does make you go, ‘Oh whoa. Wait a minute.’ This isn’t about me anymore and never will be again.’ If you don’t say that to yourself, I think you’re only hurting yourself because you’re going to miss out.”

“I’ve accomplished more than anything I would ever imagine and made plenty of money, but you can’t buy time back,” he added. “[Family] is what I want to invest in now.”