Blake Shelton says being a stepfather to Gwen Stefani’s sons has changed him

Blake Shelton is enjoying life as a stepfather to his wife Gwen Stefani’s three sons.

In a recent interview with Entertainment tonightShelton opened up about his role as stepfather to Kingston, 17, Zuma, 15, and Apollo, 10, who Stefani shares with her ex, rocker Gavin Rossdale.

“If I could have a repeat of the last 10 years, that would be perfect,” he said of what the future holds for the family. “Next month we have an 18-year-old – and I’m surprised that’s happened already. And in a few years we’ll have another 18-year-old. And that’s… it’s I think it’s a lot more time for myself will be, and I’m not mad about that either.”

“But we still have Apollo,” Shelton added, “so we still have almost ten years before we can throw him out, so it should be a lot of fun.”

Stefani and Shelton married in 2021 but have been linked since 2014 when they met as co-judges on The voice. In the 10 years that Stefani and her sons have been in his life, the country singer told the outlet that Kingston, Zuma and Apollo have changed him “in every way.”

That requires a new mentality.

“I learned quickly, not because anything happened, but just, you know, when you read the room you really (think) ‘I have to take a step back,'” he shared Entertainment tonight. “When people say it’s not about you anymore when you have a kid…I think if you do it right, it’s not about you anymore. That’s true.”

Shelton said he hopes the time spent on his farm in Oklahoma has changed the boys, too.

“I get to teach them the country, you know, and I love that,” he said. “Whether it’s music, whether it’s literally going out there, putting your hands in the dirt or being on the ranch, seeing the animals, whatever, you know? I absolutely love being the person that they introduce you to things like that.”

In many ways, the role of stepfather was the role Shetlon was born to play. The crooner, who grew up in a mixed family, often talks about how his own stepfather is “one of his heroes” and how much he respects him as a father figure.

“There’s absolutely nothing easy about it. I don’t know if it’s as hard or harder or not as hard as being a real birth parent,” Shelton said in a 2021 interview with KFROG 95.1. “I have a stepfather in my life who is one of my heroes. I love my stepfather and I look up to him, and he is like a father to me, so I have a good inspiration in my life on how to do this and the kind of stepfather I want to be.”