(Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press)
Country music star Blake Shelton couldn’t contain his excitement in a recent video shared with fans, where he proudly introduced a new addition to his family. Captioning the video with “Meet the newest member of the family,” Shelton’s joy was evident as he made the big reveal on his sprawling Oklahoma ranch.
While it wasn’t a new baby or an adorable kitten, the enthusiasm he showed made it clear that this addition brought him immense happiness. Blake and his wife, Gwen Stefani, split their time between Los Angeles and Oklahoma, along with her three sons—Apollo, 10, Zuma, 16, and Kingston, 18.
The boys, having spent most of their lives in LA, initially found it a shock to adjust to the rural life in Oklahoma. However, they soon grew to love the great outdoors, thanks in large part to Blake’s influence. In a 2022 interview with Country Radio Seminar, Blake reflected on the culture shock the boys experienced. “The two of them were like, ‘Well, what do we do now?'” Blake recounted about the two oldest boys, reported HELLO!.
“I go, ‘Go out that door and don’t come back till you’re too tired to go any further.'” He encouraged them to explore nature, from fishing to turning over rocks or driving around in a buggy. However, this newfound love for the outdoors came with some unexpected challenges, as Blake jokingly added, “When it comes to burning things, starting fires, and throwing hatchets, you better get out of the way!”
Gwen Stefani, too, had to adapt to life in Oklahoma, a far cry from the idyllic beaches and blue skies of California. Speaking with Jimmy Kimmel, she admitted, “It’s pretty magic, I have to say. I had no idea that it was such an amazing place. And I get to be face-to-face with Blake Shelton every day. You should see those eyes under the Oklahoma stars.”
Blake has fully embraced his role as a stepdad to Gwen’s boys, a role that has profoundly impacted him. In an interview with People, he shared, “The kids have taught me something about myself that I never knew. I’m more than just a country singer or a goofy guy. 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.”
Reflecting on this new chapter in his life, he added, “It’s a different kind of self-worth. Maybe it’s the opposite of self-worth because you put yourself way down on the rung, and they move up ahead of you.” The addition to the family, coupled with the joys of raising Gwen’s sons, has clearly brought a new dimension of happiness and fulfillment to Blake Shelton’s life.
