Gwen Stefani turns 56: The No Doubt singer’s transformation over the years
As Gwen Stefani celebrates her 56th birthday, pop star-turned-fashion and beauty mogul says she’s “more and more” hungry for success.
Pop icon Gwen Stefani turns 56 on Friday, having amassed a reported $160 million fortune throughout a four-decade career that has seen the California native branch out into fashion and acting.
From No Doubt to solo success
Stefani rose to prominence as the lead singer of No Doubt - a rock band that formed in 1986, but had to wait until the mid-1990s before it found fame. Notably, the group enjoyed major hits with songs such as “Don’t Speak” and “Just a Girl”.
Stefani later embarked on a solo career whose highlight so far has been her 2005 smash “Hollaback Girl”. The track spent four weeks at number one in Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, and became the first ever song to rack up a million legal downloads.
On top of her six studio albums with No Doubt, the singer has released a further five as a solo artist - most recently Bouquet, which came out in November 2024.
Multi Grammy winner
Across her career as a solo performer and a member of No Doubt, Stefani has amassed 18 Grammy Award nominations, winning three times.
She has also appeared regularly as a coach on the NBC reality-TV show The Voice, a singing contest that has launched the careers of major musicians such as the multiple Grammy-nominated Morgan Wallen.
“On my musical journey, I think the longer I get to be part of the world and try to fulfil the purpose of making songs - because that’s all I’m good at - it almost gets like you want it more and more,” Stefani told a Q&A on NBC’s Today show this year. “Because it’s got to be over soon.”
Despite Stefani’s suggestion that her talents lie solely in music, she has also made her mark in other fields.
In the fashion business, she launched her clothing label L.A.M.B. in 2003, before adding the Harajuku Lovers fragrance brand and, most recently, the makeup line GXVE Beauty.
In film, meanwhile, Stefani was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for her performance as Jean Harlow in Martin Scorsese’s 2004 epic The Aviator.
“A mega talent”
In 2023, Stefani was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “Gwen Stefani is the pride and joy of California!” said Ana Martinez, the Walk of Fame’s producer. “Not only is she an acclaimed singer/songwriter and performer, Gwen is also a talented fashion designer and cosmetics mogul.
“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is ready to welcome not just a girl but a mega talent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame!”
“The greatest gift of all”
In 2021, Stefani married the country singer Blake Shelton, five years after her divorce from Bush guitarist Gavin Rossdale. Stefani shares three sons with Rossdale: Kingston, 19, Zuma, 17, and Apollo, 11.
Speaking at her Walk of Fame induction ceremony, Stefani said of her children: “The greatest gift of all is to be a mom. You are my biggest blessings. I can’t believe that I get to be your mom. I’m so proud of you guys - it is literally the biggest joy my life.”
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