Country superstar and The Voice judge, Blake Shelton says that he’s found a deeper fulfillment since becoming a stepdad to his three stepsons with wife Gwen Stefani.
“They’ve taught me something about myself that I never knew: I’m more than just a country singer or a goofy guy. I’m someone they actually lean on, and that’s not a responsibility that I ever had and not something that I ever considered even being into,” Shelton said in an interview with PEOPLE speaking of his role in helping raise Kingston, 16, Zuma, 14, and Apollo, 8.
“It’s a different kind of self-worth. Maybe it’s the opposite of self-worth because you put yourself way down on the rung, and they move up ahead of you,” he continued.
Shelton, 46, said he will be leaving The Voice next year after 23 seasons. He says this is a decision that came from a desire to spend more time with his stepsons as they grow up.
The boy’s father, Gavin Rossdale, is an English guitarist and actor. Rossdale is probably best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Bush.
Shelton went on to say, “You don’t know what your regrets are going to be until you look back one day. I feel like my regrets would be, if I stayed on this path, that I am missing out on some more important things in life — and for now, that’s our kids.”
After seven years together, Shelton says that marrying Stefani, 53, has helped him feel more “settled.”
“It got to a point quickly with Gwen and I’s relationship that there was never a time where I thought, ‘Well, I wonder if this doesn’t work out.’ That never crossed my mind, and I don’t think it did with her either,” he said.
He continued to say, “Having kids, it truly does make you go, ‘Oh whoa. Wait a minute.’ This isn’t about me anymore and never will be again.’ If you don’t say that to yourself, I think you’re only hurting yourself because you’re going to miss out.”
“I’ve accomplished more than anything I would ever imagine and made plenty of money, but you can’t buy time back,” he said. “[Family] is what I want to invest in now.”
