Ive been waiting and wanting to, but its just not that easy.
That makes me scared when you say it like that, she says.
That truth involved a lot of healing, a major theme of her new music.
Photo: Ellen von Unwerth
She and Shelton then married in Oklahoma in 2021.
I describe it like being in a cul-de-sac, Stefani says now.
Youre driving and then you just hit this circle and youre like, somethings not right.
Photo: Ellen von Unwerth
Whats the song supposed to say and how will the music support that?
For better or worse, she had a lot to write about.
Vogue: You say that you did a lot of healing over the past decade.
Photo: Ellen von Unwerth
Did the music propel that healing, or is it a result of it?
Everything in my life crumbled.
It was literally the most devastating, like watching a childhood dream just be completely broken.
It is so painful and it never goes away.
You dont know what youre missing.
So theres a lot of healing, like you said.
And a lot of loving.
When did you discover that in yourself?
I must have had it [from the beginning].
Its not conceited to say its a gift that was handed to me and I received it.
And thats how each one of these songs have been.
Its not like I come up with the songI received the song through the spirit.
The next thing you know, it happens.
Its the most miraculous feeling when its happening and you are getting the song and its coming through.
Its like giving birth, it is so beautiful.
Ill tell you something.
When I was in my middle-20s, my brother Eric was the one that wrote all the music.
Hes an absolute genius, like, he lives in a different world than we do.
He was my hero and my best friend.
Back then, I was passive.
I didnt have any motivations or anything when I was little.
I didnt even dream.
For me, once I wrote my first song, it was kind of like,What?
I have wings?I didnt even know I had them.
Thats how shocked I was that I could write a song.
It weirdly ended up on Obamas playlist at one point.
Its one of those unifying songs.
But we all have to suffer, so what are you going to do with that suffering?
How are you going to use that as fuel to do something good?
It wasnt untilTragic Kingdomthat everything aligned.
Without those struggles, do you think you would have had the same success?
But we had to have those struggles.
We were looking for another singer to sing with me, but we just never found them.
You hit all of these obstacles, but just kept on going.
Im assuming youd agree that its given you a special perspective onThe Voice?
Kids come on there and they have no idea of my history.
Im always sitting there going, I lived your dream.
I can take some of the pain for you.
It sounds like its all come full-circle.
Looking at my past discography, an album likeLove.
Baby.I cant repeat that again.
It would be like double-dipping or triple-dipping.
Ive got to move forward.
This has got to be from my heart.
Im not competing with myself.
It was very organic.
It was very loose.
I think one of the best things is when Im collaborating with someone with that much talent.
Every time I listen to songs, I think about them.
Were all in this together, and someone like Scott is taking a chance on me.
I could cry thinking about it, its just crazy and its beautiful.
What firesyouup before you hit the stage or go out?
Oh my God, Im going to be so boring.
Im there to give them what they deserve, which is love back for loving me.
So its an exchange of love.
Thats kind of how I prepare to go out there.
This conversation has been edited and condensed.
