Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton have become one of music’s most beloved couples, sharing nearly a decade together filled with love, collaboration, and mutual support. But as Stefani recently revealed, their romance once seemed “inconceivable”—a surprising notion given their very different musical worlds and career paths.

In a resurfaced interview with Seth Meyers reflecting on her 2020 CMT Award win for the duet “Nobody But You,” Stefani admitted she was “shocked” to find herself singing country music alongside Shelton. “I also think about this a lot; I love to play this game with myself where I picture myself in my Voice chair,” she said. “Because I didn’t know Blake Shelton existed before I went on that show.”

At the time of the award, the couple had been dating for about five years. Stefani described their initial connection as “inconceivable,” saying, “It was inconceivable that we would even know each other and be friends, let alone do music together.” Despite the differences in their musical genres and backgrounds, she noted, “We have so many things that come together, and we’re the same even with music.”

Stefani and Shelton first crossed paths in 2014 as coaches on NBC’s The Voice. Both experienced major personal changes shortly after—going through divorces from their former spouses. Their relationship blossomed, and by November 2015, they confirmed they were dating. The couple sealed their bond with marriage in 2021.

Today, their partnership is a testament to how seemingly unlikely connections can flourish into enduring love, blending pop and country in both music and life. Gwen Stefani’s reflections remind us that sometimes the most unexpected romances are the ones that surprise us the most—and endure the longest.