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. The band achieved mainstream success with hits like "Just a Girl" and "Don't Speak" from their album *Tragic Kingdom*. During No Doubt's hiatus, Stefani launched a successful solo pop career in 2004 with her debut album *Love. Angel. Music. Baby.*, which drew inspiration from 1980s pop. The album spawned multiple hit singles, including "Hollaback Girl," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first US download to sell a million copies.
1966: Original "Walk Away Renée" Song
In 1966, The Left Banke originally released the song "Walk Away Renée", which later inspired Gwen Stefani's middle name.
1967: Inspiration for Gwen's Middle Name
In 1967, the Four Tops' version of "Walk Away Renée" inspired Gwen Stefani's middle name, Renée.
1968: Inspiration for Gwen's Name
In 1968, the novel Airport inspired the name Gwen for Gwen Stefani, as she was named after a stewardess in the book.
October 3, 1969: Gwen Stefani Born
On October 3, 1969, Gwen Renée Stefani Shelton was born in Fullerton, California.
1983: Inspiration from Elvira Hancock in 'Scarface'
In 1983, the film Scarface, featuring Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira Hancock, was released. This character later inspired Gwen Stefani's image modification in 2006.
1986: Joins 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, the 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: Signed with Interscope Records
In 1991, No Doubt was signed to Interscope Records.
1992: Debut Album Release
In 1992, No Doubt released its self-titled debut album, but it was unsuccessful.
1992: The Singles 1992-2003
The singles 1992-2003, which includes a cover of Talk Talk's "It's My Life", was released in 2003.
1994: Guest Vocals on Sublime's Album
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 usually had platinum blonde hair, which she discussed in the song "Platinum Blonde Life" on Rock Steady.
1995: Meeting Gavin Rossdale
In 1995, Gwen Stefani met Gavin Rossdale when No Doubt and Bush performed at a holiday concert for radio station KROQ.
1995: Popularizing the Bindi
In 1995, Gwen Stefani, after attending family gatherings with Tony Kanal, began wearing a bindi and popularized it as an accessory in No Doubt's music videos. Since the 1995 music video for "Just a Girl", Stefani has been known for her midriff and frequently wears tops that expose it.
1995: Tragic Kingdom Released
In 1995, No Doubt released their album "Tragic Kingdom", featuring the hit singles "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs", and "Don't Speak".
1997: "Don't Speak" Tops Charts
In 1997, "Don't Speak" from the album Tragic Kingdom led the Hot 100 Airplay year-end chart.
1999: Pink Hair Dye and Album Cover Appearance
In 1999, Gwen Stefani dyed her hair pink, and she appeared on the cover of the Return of Saturn album with pink hair.
2000: Billboard ranking
Between 2000 and 2009, Billboard magazine ranked Gwen Stefani the 54th most successful artist.
2000: "Hollaback Girl" on Billboard Charts
From 2000-2009, "Hollaback Girl" from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. peaked at number forty-one on Billboard's decade-end charts.
2000: Return of Saturn Release
In 2000, No Doubt released "Return of Saturn", which expanded on the new wave influences of "Tragic Kingdom" and focused on Gwen Stefani's relationship with Gavin Rossdale.
2000: "Queen of Confessional Pop"
In late 2000, Rolling Stone magazine named Gwen Stefani "the Queen of Confessional Pop".
2001: Rock Steady Album Release
In 2001, No Doubt released "Rock Steady", an album that explored more reggae and dancehall sounds while maintaining the band's new wave influences.
September 14, 2002: Wedding to Gavin Rossdale in London
On September 14, 2002, Gwen Stefani married Gavin Rossdale at St Paul's, Covent Garden in London.
2002: Grammy Award for "Let Me Blow Ya Mind"
In 2002, Eve and Gwen Stefani won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Let Me Blow Ya Mind".
2003: L.A.M.B. Clothing Line Debut
In 2003, Gwen Stefani debuted her clothing line called L.A.M.B.
2003: Teen Vogue Photo Shoot
In 2003, Gwen Stefani had a Marilyn Monroe-inspired photo shoot for Teen Vogue, which led to Martin Scorsese casting her in "The Aviator".
2003: The Singles 1992-2003
The singles 1992-2003, which includes a cover of Talk Talk's "It's My Life", was released in 2003.
November 12, 2004: Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Album Release
On November 12, 2004, Gwen Stefani released her debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. The album features collaborations with producers and artists and takes influence from music styles of the 1980s and early 1990s.
2004: Album Sales
By 2004, the album Tragic Kingdom had sold more than 16 million copies worldwide.
2004: "What You Waiting For?" Ranked Among Top Singles
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, placing it at number sixteen on their "Top 50 Singles of 2004" list.
2004: Co-Writing "Cool" About Tony Kanal Relationship
In 2004, Gwen Stefani co-wrote her song "Cool" about her relationship as friends 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 voiced the title character in the video game Malice, although her voice wasn't used.
2004: Playing Jean Harlow in 'The Aviator'
In 2004, Gwen Stefani played original blonde bombshell Jean Harlow in the biopic The Aviator.
2004: Solo Career Debut
In 2004, Gwen Stefani started her solo pop career by releasing her debut studio album "Love. Angel. Music. Baby.".
2005: Harajuku Lovers Line Expansion
In 2005, Gwen Stefani expanded her collection with the Harajuku Lovers line, which was inspired by Japanese culture and fashion.
2005: Relationship with Tony Kanal
In 2005, Gwen Stefani reflected on her past relationship with Tony Kanal, stating she heavily invested in it and hoped to have a baby with him. The band nearly split when Kanal ended the relationship.
2005: Rolling Stone Cover
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" Called Signature Song
Since its release in 2005, "Hollaback Girl" has been called Gwen Stefani's "signature song" by Rolling Stone.
2005: "Hollaback Girl" Success
Throughout 2005, Gwen Stefani's song "Hollaback Girl" remained popular, becoming the first US music download to sell more than one million copies.
January 2006: "Crash" Single Release
In January 2006, Gwen Stefani released "Crash" as the sixth single from Love. Angel. Music. Baby., postponing the album's sequel due to her pregnancy.
May 26, 2006: Birth of Son 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: The Sweet Escape Album Release
On December 1, 2006, Gwen Stefani's second studio album, The Sweet Escape, was released, coinciding with the DVD release of her first tour, Harajuku Lovers Live.
2006: Image Modification Inspired by 'Scarface'
In 2006, Gwen Stefani modified her image, inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer's character Elvira Hancock in the 1983 film Scarface. This included a symbol of two back-to-back 'G's on a diamond-encrusted key.
2006: The Sweet Escape Album Release
In 2006, Gwen Stefani released her second studio album, "The Sweet Escape", featuring the singles "Wind It Up" and the title track.
January 2007: Concerns About Weight Loss Following Pregnancy
In January 2007, Gwen Stefani raised concerns about her rapid weight loss following her pregnancy. She later revealed she had been dieting since the sixth grade to fit into size 4 clothing.
June 2007: Earnings Reported by Forbes Magazine
From June 2007 to June 2008, Forbes magazine reported that Gwen Stefani earned $27 million from her tour, fashion line, and commercials, making her the world's 10th highest-paid music personality at the time.
2007: "The Sweet Escape" on Billboard Hot 100
In 2007, the single "The Sweet Escape" from Gwen Stefani's album "The Sweet Escape" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart.
March 2008: Work on new album
In March 2008, No Doubt began work on a new album without Gwen Stefani, planning to complete it after her Sweet Escape Tour.
March 28, 2008: Songwriting Slowed by Pregnancy
On March 28, 2008, Gwen Stefani posted that songwriting for No Doubt's new album had commenced but was slow due to her pregnancy with her second child.
June 2008: Earnings Reported by Forbes Magazine
From June 2007 to June 2008, Forbes magazine reported that Gwen Stefani earned $27 million from her tour, fashion line, and commercials, making her the world's 10th highest-paid music personality at the time.
August 21, 2008: Birth of Son 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: The Singles 1992–2003 in Rock Band 2
On December 9, 2008, The Singles 1992–2003 became available for the video game Rock Band 2.
May 2009: Bamboozle Festival Headlining
In May 2009, No Doubt headlined the Bamboozle 2009 festival along with Fall Out Boy.
2009: Billboard ranking
Between 2000 and 2009, Billboard magazine ranked Gwen Stefani the 37th most successful Hot 100 artist.
2009: "Hollaback Girl" on Billboard Charts
From 2000-2009, "Hollaback Girl" from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. peaked at number forty-one on Billboard's decade-end charts.
September 22, 2010: Wax Figure Unveiled 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 with Entertainment Weekly on June 6, 2011, Gwen Stefani stated that she had no plans to continue working 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 Los Angeles' first Japanese-style maid café and pop art space, Royal/T, with proceeds from the auction going to Save the Children's relief effort following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
2011: Auction at amfAR Gala
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 the singer's Beverly Hills home.
November 3, 2012: "Looking Hot" Music Video Pulled
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
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 on 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 Son 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 at People Magazine Awards
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: Relationship with Blake Shelton Announced
In November 2015, Gwen Stefani announced her relationship with Blake Shelton, a country music artist and The Voice co-star.
April 8, 2016: Divorce from Gavin Rossdale Finalized
On April 8, 2016, Gwen Stefani's divorce from Gavin Rossdale was finalized, with Rossdale agreeing to an "unequal split" of their assets.
2016: Collaboration on 'If I'm Honest' Album
In 2016, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton co-wrote the song "Go Ahead and Break My Heart", which was featured on Shelton's album, "If I'm Honest".
2016: Hero Award at Radio Disney Music Awards
In 2016, Gwen Stefani was honored at the Radio Disney Music Awards with a Hero Award, which is given to artists based on their personal contributions to various charitable works.
2016: This Is What the Truth Feels Like Album Release
In 2016, Gwen Stefani's third solo album, "This Is What the Truth Feels Like", was released and became her first solo album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
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: You Make It Feel Like Christmas Album Release
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 chart on Billboard's Holiday Digital Song Sales component chart in the United States.
2019: Support for the LGBTQ Community
In a 2019 Pride Source interview, Gwen Stefani stated that she would be blessed with a gay son and expressed her desire for her children to be healthy and happy, asking God to guide her to be a good mother.
October 27, 2020: Engagement to Blake Shelton
On October 27, 2020, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton announced their engagement.
2020: "Nobody but You" Single Release
In 2020, Gwen Stefani released the single "Nobody but You" with Blake Shelton, which reached number 18 in the US.
2020: Diagnosis with 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
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: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In 2023, Gwen Stefani received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2023: Cultural Appropriation Criticism
In a 2023 interview with Allure magazine, Gwen Stefani described herself as a "super fan" of Japanese culture. Her comments have garnered criticism of cultural appropriation.
2024: Bouquet Album Release
In 2024, Gwen Stefani released her fifth studio album titled "Bouquet".
2025: Billboard's 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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