Gwen Stefani's split from Gavin Rossdale struck many as a surprise. However, the singer told Instyle, for their December cover story, that the months leading up to their divorce were quite a "struggle." She also mentioned that she is in a better place now, and is dating Blake Shelton.
She told Instyle, "I didn't tour at all. But I did record the No Doubt album, which was super hard. I was torn the whole time. Every day I would take the kids to school, drive to Santa Monica, work on the album, and then I'd think, 'Oh my god, if I don't leave by 2:30, I'm not gonna get home in time for dinner.' And Gavin being on tour..." She went on, "I'm not gonna say there weren't some incredible moments making that album. But it was a lot of knocking my head against the wall. A lot of struggle."
Many interpret her new single, "Used To Love You," as a reflection on her relationship with Rossdale and its eventual deterioration.
In the song, Stefani wrestles with her feelings, in shock that this happened. In the hook, she sings, "I don't know why I cried, but I think I remember for the first time since I hated you, that I used to love you." This incredibly powerful phrase is salient to so many marriages that collapse after years of maintenance and care.
She also posits in the song that no one taught Rossdale to love. Stefani says her role on The Voice and her partnership with Pharrell Williams have inspired her to continue to push as hard as ever with her career and begin to put these troubles behind her.
Regarding her relationship with Williams, she said, "He helped me with a lot of stuff. I was in a closed-off period before that - I couldn't write, and I didn't feel confident. There were hard times before the baby, personally, that were just not good. And then having Apollo, and being on the show, and being refreshed: It was just like, 'Whoa!'"
