Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton’s marriage is facing challenges due to their lifestyle differences, particularly Blake’s passion for hunting and fishing. While the couple’s unlikely pairing—an urban rock queen and a country music icon—has been a source of fascination for fans, insiders say their opposing views on animals and the outdoors are creating tension in their three-year marriage.
Gwen Stefani
Since leaving The Voice in May 2023 and wrapping his Las Vegas residency in February 2025, Shelton has had more time to dedicate to his love of hunting and fishing. According to sources, the God’s Country singer frequently takes off on outdoor trips, despite admitting that he’s “never going to master” the sport.
"Hunting and fishing is one of those things I’m never going to master. I’m never gonna dominate the hunting and fishing world, and 99.9 percent of the time I’m gonna lose. I’m gonna fail. And that’s what keeps me hooked,” the 48-year-old singer previously stated.
However, this enthusiasm doesn’t sit well with his wife, Gwen Stefani, who has been a vegetarian since the age of 12.
While Stefani has always known Shelton was a meat-eater, insiders say she initially believed he might cut back on animal products. Now, with his increased focus on hunting, she’s reportedly uncomfortable with the game he brings home.
“Blake enjoys these nature trips and will spend a day or three out in the wild soaking it in,” says a source. “But the game he brings home and the fish that need gutting and cleaning gross Gwen out.”
According to insiders, Stefani has made her feelings clear, but Shelton doesn’t take her reaction too seriously. “It’s a way of life for him that’s non-negotiable,” the source explains. “Besides that, he doesn’t really take her icky looks that seriously.”
The couple, who tied the knot on July 3, 2021, after meeting on The Voice, have always been opposites. They initially bonded over heartbreak—Stefani’s divorce from Gavin Rossdale and Shelton’s split from Miranda Lambert—but their differences are now becoming more pronounced.
The No Doubt frontwoman prefers to spend time on their Oklahoma ranch caring for farm animals, while Shelton enjoys hunting and fishing on their vast 1,300-acre property. "Gwen loves the farm animals and treats them like her babies," says the source. "So, Blake’s killing critters really bothers her, especially since he doesn’t seem to care."
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Despite these tensions, sources say the couple remains happy for now. Their relationship has always been about embracing differences, but some wonder if this ongoing conflict could create a deeper rift in their marriage.
While opposites attract, long-term compatibility depends on compromise. Will Blake Shelton’s passion for the outdoors continue to cause friction, or will Gwen Stefani learn to accept his way of life? Fans will be watching closely to see how this country-meets-rock-and-roll love story unfolds.
