Gwen Stefani’s musical journey has taken many unexpected and exciting turns—from fronting the iconic punk-pop band No Doubt to becoming a global pop superstar, and most recently, embracing country music alongside her husband Blake Shelton. One moment in particular stands out as a milestone that even surprised Stefani herself: winning a CMT Award for Collaborative Video of the Year for their 2020 duet, “Nobody But You.”

Reflecting on this achievement during an October 2020 interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Stefani expressed genuine amazement at how far her career has evolved. “When you say that, I get shocked,” she told Meyers, referencing her unexpected shift into the country genre. “I also think about this a lot; I love to play this game with myself where I picture myself in my Voice chair, right? Because I didn’t know Blake Shelton existed before I went on that show.”

Indeed, before joining The Voice as a coach, Stefani had no idea who Shelton was, despite his massive success as one of country music’s biggest stars. “So, I just always like to picture myself and think about before I knew him and that person I didn’t know at all. And then imagine that now, he’s my boyfriend, and I won [a country song award]. It’s inconceivable that we would even know each other and be friends, let alone do music together,” she said. Yet, she emphasized how natural their connection feels, both personally and musically, despite their different backgrounds.

Stefani and Shelton’s relationship, which officially culminated in marriage in 2021, has been marked by deep mutual support. Shelton recently opened up about how Stefani “saved” him during a difficult period in his life. In an interview with The Good Dish, he said, “We found each other at a very low point in each other’s lives. She kept me from going to the absolute bottom, you know? It was like literally falling off a cliff and a hand reached out and caught me is what it feels like.”

He added, “I’ve never had that with somebody where it just felt like, no matter what, she has my back. It’s the greatest feeling ever.”

From separate worlds of punk-pop and country to becoming collaborators and life partners, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton’s journey continues to inspire fans with its unexpected milestones and heartfelt authenticity. Winning a CMT Award together may have seemed “inconceivable” once, but now it’s just one of many cherished highlights in their extraordinary story.