Gwen Stefani Opens Up to InStyle About the 'Struggle' in the Years Leading Up to Her Divorce – and Why She's 'in a Really Positive Place Now'

She's had a difficult few months since announcing her divorce in August. But Gwen Stefani is bouncing back with a hot new single and a hot new boyfriend. Now The Voice judge is opening up about the years leading up to her split from Gavin Rossdale.


Speaking to InStyle for their December cover story (on stands Nov. 13), Stefani, 46, says she struggled balancing her family and creative lives the past few years.

One particular difficulty: recording her 2012 album with No Doubt, Push and Shove.

"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 tells the magazine.


"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."

And the "Used to Love You" singer says the struggles weren't just with the band's time in the studio: She also had a bit of an identity crisis when she first became a mother.

"In the beginning, I didn't want to think of myself as a mother. I was like, 'Wait a minute! Ain't no hollaback girl is who I am!' I had to learn to accept it," she says.

But the mom of Kingston, 9, Zuma, 7, and Apollo, 20 months, took to maternal life quickly. people