History of Gwen Stefani in Timeline
Gwen Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer, best known as the lead vocalist of the band No Doubt. No Doubt gained fame with hits like "Just a Girl" and "Don't Speak." During No Doubt's hiatus, Stefani launched a successful solo pop career in 2004 with her album Love. Angel. Music. Baby., which was inspired by 1980s pop music. The album produced several hit singles, including "Hollaback Girl," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first US download to sell one million copies. Stefani is known for her distinctive voice, fashion sense, and contributions to pop culture.
1966: Walk Away Renee
In 1966, The Left Banke released the song "Walk Away Renée".
1967: Middle Name Origin
In 1967, Gwen Stefani's middle name, Renée, comes from the Four Tops' 1967 version of the Left Banke's 1966 song "Walk Away Renée".
1968: Name origin
In 1968, Gwen Stefani was named after a stewardess in the 1968 novel Airport.
October 3, 1969: Gwen Stefani's Birth
On October 3, 1969, Gwen Renée Stefani was born in Fullerton, California.
1983: Release of Scarface
In 1983, the film Scarface was released, and the character Elvira Hancock played by Michelle Pfeiffer inspired Gwen Stefani's image modification in 2006.
1986: Joining No Doubt
In 1986, Gwen Stefani was invited by her brother Eric to provide vocals for No Doubt, a ska band he was forming.
December 1987: John Spence's death
In December 1987, John Spence, singer of No Doubt, died. Gwen Stefani then became the sole lead singer.
1987: High School Graduation
In 1987, Gwen Stefani graduated from Loara High School.
1991: Signing with Interscope Records
In 1991, No Doubt was signed to Interscope Records, marking a significant step in their professional music career.
1992: Debut Album Release
In 1992, No Doubt released its self-titled debut album, but its ska-pop sound was unsuccessful.
1994: Collaboration with Sublime
In 1994, Gwen Stefani contributed guest vocals to "Saw Red" on Sublime's album Robbin' the Hood.
1994: Platinum Blonde Hair Transformation
Since late 1994, Gwen Stefani has typically had platinum blonde hair. This transformation was discussed in her song "Platinum Blonde Life".
1995: Meeting Gavin Rossdale
In 1995, Gwen Stefani met Bush lead singer and guitarist Gavin Rossdale when No Doubt and Bush performed at a holiday concert for radio station KROQ.
1995: Release of Tragic Kingdom
In 1995, No Doubt released their studio album Tragic Kingdom, which included hit singles like "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs", and "Don't Speak".
1995: Popularizing the Bindi
In 1995, after attending family gatherings with Tony Kanal, who is of Indian heritage, Gwen Stefani began wearing a bindi. She wore this forehead decoration in several No Doubt music videos and briefly popularized it as an accessory. She also became known for her midriff exposure since the "Just a Girl" music video.
1997: "Don't Speak" Tops Charts
In 1997, the single "Don't Speak" from Tragic Kingdom led the Hot 100 Airplay year-end chart.
1999: Pink Hair Appearance
In 1999, Gwen Stefani dyed her hair pink and appeared on the cover of Return of Saturn with pink hair.
2000: Billboard ranking
Billboard magazine ranked Gwen Stefani the 54th most successful artist of the 2000 decade.
2000: Billboard's Decade-End Charts
From 2000 to 2009, the song "Hollaback Girl" peaked at number forty-one on Billboard's decade-end charts.
2000: Singles released
In 2000, No Doubt released Return of Saturn which focused on Gwen Stefani's relationship with Gavin Rossdale. During this time, Stefani collaborated on the singles "You're the Boss" with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, "South Side" with Moby.
2000: Queen of Confessional Pop
In late 2000, Rolling Stone magazine named Gwen Stefani "the Queen of Confessional Pop".
2001: Release of Rock Steady
In 2001, No Doubt released the album Rock Steady, which explored more reggae and dancehall sounds.
September 14, 2002: Marriage to Gavin Rossdale
On September 14, 2002, Gwen Stefani married Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale at St Paul's, Covent Garden in London.
2002: Grammy Award Win
In 2002, Eve and Gwen Stefani won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Let Me Blow Ya Mind".
2003: Marilyn Monroe-inspired photo shoot
In 2003, Gwen Stefani appeared in a Marilyn Monroe-inspired photo shoot for Teen Vogue, which caught the attention of Martin Scorsese.
2003: Launch of L.A.M.B. clothing line
In 2003, Gwen Stefani debuted her clothing line L.A.M.B., marking her entry into the fashion industry.
2003: Release of 'The Singles 1992–2003'
In 2003, No Doubt released a greatest hits collection, The Singles 1992–2003, which included a cover of Talk Talk's "It's My Life".
November 12, 2004: Release of 'Love. Angel. Music. Baby.'
On November 12, 2004, Gwen Stefani's debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., was released, featuring collaborations with various producers and artists.
2004: Album sales of Tragic Kingdom
By 2004, Tragic Kingdom had sold more than 16 million copies worldwide.
2004: "What You Waiting For?" Ranked by Pitchfork
In 2004, "What You Waiting For?", the lead single from Love. Angel. Music. Baby., was considered by Pitchfork to be one of Gwen Stefani's best singles, and would later place it at number sixteen on their "Top 50 Singles of 2004" list.
2004: Solo Pop Career Launch
In 2004, Gwen Stefani began her solo pop career by releasing her debut studio album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
2004: Co-writing "Cool" About Friendship with Tony Kanal
In 2004, Gwen Stefani co-wrote her song "Cool" about her friendship with Tony Kanal for her debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
2004: Film Debut in 'The Aviator'
In 2004, Gwen Stefani made her film debut playing Jean Harlow in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator. She also lent her voice to the title character of the 2004 video game Malice.
2004: Portrayal of Jean Harlow in The Aviator
In 2004, Gwen Stefani played original blonde bombshell Jean Harlow in the biopic The Aviator.
2005: Launch of Harajuku Lovers line
In 2005, Gwen Stefani expanded her collection with the Harajuku Lovers line, inspired by Japanese culture and fashion.
2005: Investment in Tony Kanal Relationship
In 2005, Gwen Stefani stated she was heavily invested in her relationship with Tony Kanal, wanting to have a baby with him.
2005: Rolling Stone Feature
In 2005, Rolling Stone called Gwen Stefani "the only true female rock star left on radio or MTV" and featured her on the magazine's cover.
2005: "Hollaback Girl" as Stefani's Signature Song
Since its release in 2005, "Hollaback Girl" has been called Gwen Stefani's "signature song" by Rolling Stone.
2005: Success of Hollaback Girl
Throughout 2005, "Hollaback Girl" remained popular and was the first US music download to sell more than one million copies.
January 2006: Release of "Crash"
In January 2006, "Crash" was released as the sixth single from Love. Angel. Music. Baby., after Stefani postponed the album's sequel due to her pregnancy.
May 26, 2006: Birth of Kingston James McGregor Rossdale
On May 26, 2006, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale's first son, Kingston James McGregor Rossdale, was born.
December 1, 2006: Release of 'The Sweet Escape'
On December 1, 2006, Gwen Stefani's second studio album, The Sweet Escape, was released.
2006: Image Modification Inspired by Scarface
In 2006, Gwen Stefani modified her image, drawing inspiration from Michelle Pfeiffer's character Elvira Hancock in the 1983 film Scarface. This included a double 'G' symbol used in the promotion of The Sweet Escape.
2006: Release of 'The Sweet Escape'
In 2006, Gwen Stefani released her second studio album, The Sweet Escape, which featured the singles "Wind It Up" and the title track.
January 2007: Concerns About Rapid Weight Loss
In January 2007, Gwen Stefani raised concerns about her rapid weight loss following her pregnancy, later revealing she had been dieting since the sixth grade.
June 2007: Earnings Reported by Forbes Magazine
Between June 2007 and June 2008, Forbes magazine reported that Gwen Stefani earned $27 million from her tour, fashion line, and commercials.
2007: 'The Sweet Escape' success
In 2007, the single "The Sweet Escape" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart.
March 2008: New album process
In March 2008, No Doubt started posting about their new album.
March 28, 2008: Songwriting update
On March 28, 2008, Gwen Stefani posted that songwriting for a new No Doubt album had commenced but was slow due to her pregnancy.
June 2008: Earnings Reported by Forbes Magazine
Between June 2007 and June 2008, Forbes magazine reported that Gwen Stefani earned $27 million from her tour, fashion line, and commercials.
August 21, 2008: Birth of Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale
On August 21, 2008, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale's second son, Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale, was born.
December 9, 2008: Release on Rock Band 2
On December 9, 2008, The Singles 1992–2003 became available on Rock Band 2.
May 2009: Bamboozle Festival
In May 2009, No Doubt headlined the Bamboozle 2009 festival along with Fall Out Boy.
2009: Billboard ranking
Billboard magazine ranked Gwen Stefani the 37th most successful Hot 100 artist of the 2000–2009 decade.
2009: Billboard's Decade-End Charts
From 2000 to 2009, the song "Hollaback Girl" peaked at number forty-one on Billboard's decade-end charts.
September 22, 2010: Wax Figure Unveiling at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas
On September 22, 2010, a wax figure of Gwen Stefani was unveiled at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at The Venetian.
June 6, 2011: No plans for solo work
In an interview on June 6, 2011, Gwen Stefani stated that she had no plans to continue work as a solo artist.
June 7, 2011: Harajuku-Themed Tea Party
On June 7, 2011, Gwen Stefani hosted a private Harajuku-themed tea party at Royal/T in Los Angeles, with proceeds from an eBay auction benefiting Save the Children's relief effort following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
2011: Auctioning Dress for Charity
In 2011, at the amfAR gala during the Cannes Film Festival, Gwen Stefani auctioned off the lacy black dress she wore at the event for charity, raising over $125,000.
August 2012: Fundraiser with Michelle Obama
In August 2012, Gwen Stefani hosted a fundraiser with First Lady Michelle Obama at her Beverly Hills home.
November 3, 2012: "Looking Hot" music video controversy
On November 3, 2012, No Doubt pulled its music video "Looking Hot" from the Internet after receiving complaints that it was insensitive towards Native Americans.
2012: VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music List
In 2012, VH1 listed Gwen Stefani at number thirteen on their list of "100 Greatest Women in Music".
2012: VH1 ranking
In 2012, VH1 ranked Gwen Stefani 13th on their "100 Greatest Women in Music" list.
January 2013: Cameo Appearance in Portlandia
In January 2013, No Doubt made a cameo appearance in a hot air balloon for the third season of Portlandia.
February 28, 2014: Birth of Apollo Bowie Flynn Rossdale
On February 28, 2014, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale's third son, Apollo Bowie Flynn Rossdale, was born.
2014: Style Icon Award
In 2014, Gwen Stefani received the Style Icon Award at the first People Magazine Awards.
August 3, 2015: Filing for Divorce from Gavin Rossdale
On August 3, 2015, Gwen Stefani filed for divorce from Gavin Rossdale, citing "irreconcilable differences".
November 2015: Announcement of Relationship with Blake Shelton
In November 2015, Gwen Stefani announced her relationship with Blake Shelton, a country music artist and co-star on The Voice.
April 8, 2016: Finalization of Divorce from Gavin Rossdale
On April 8, 2016, Gwen Stefani's divorce from Gavin Rossdale was finalized, with Rossdale agreeing to the "unequal split" of their assets.
2016: Release of "If I'm Honest" featuring "Go Ahead and Break My Heart"
In 2016, Blake Shelton's album "If I'm Honest" was released featuring the song "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" co-written by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton.
2016: Release of 'This Is What the Truth Feels Like'
In 2016, Gwen Stefani released her third solo album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, which became her first solo album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
2016: Hero Award at Radio Disney Music Awards
In 2016, Gwen Stefani was honored at the Radio Disney Music Awards with a Hero Award for her charitable contributions.
2017: Collaboration on "You Make It Feel Like Christmas"
In 2017, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton collaborated on the song "You Make It Feel Like Christmas", featured on Stefani's holiday album of the same name.
2017: Release of 'You Make It Feel Like Christmas'
In 2017, Gwen Stefani released her fourth solo album and first full-length Christmas album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas, which had 19 tracks on Billboard's Holiday Digital Song Sales chart.
2019: Support for LGBTQ Community
In a 2019 Pride Source interview, Gwen Stefani expressed her support for the LGBTQ community, stating she would be blessed with a gay son and wants her children to be healthy and happy.
October 27, 2020: Engagement Announcement
On October 27, 2020, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton announced their engagement.
2020: Release of 'Nobody but You'
In 2020, Gwen Stefani released several singles with husband Blake Shelton, including "Nobody but You", which reached number 18 in the US.
2020: Diagnosis of Dyslexia
In 2020, Gwen Stefani was diagnosed with dyslexia.
July 3, 2021: Marriage to Blake Shelton
On July 3, 2021, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton married at a chapel on Shelton's Oklahoma ranch.
2023: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Induction into Orange County Hall of Fame
In 2023, Gwen Stefani received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the inaugural Orange County Hall of Fame.
2023: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2023, Gwen Stefani received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing her contributions to music and fashion.
2023: Cultural Appropriation Criticism
In 2023, an Allure magazine interview with Gwen Stefani sparked criticism of cultural appropriation after she stated she was Japanese and identified with Hispanic and Latin communities of Anaheim, California. Interviewers clarified that Stefani is not Japanese.
2024: Release of 'Bouquet'
In 2024, Gwen Stefani released her fifth studio album Bouquet.
2025: Billboard Ranking on Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century
In 2025, Billboard ranked Gwen Stefani as a soloist at number 32 on its "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" list and as part of No Doubt, which was listed at number 59.
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