Blake Shelton Drops Bombshell: The Real ‘Key to Happiness’ with Gwen Stefani After a Decade Together—Fans Stunned by Unexpected Confession!

The country superstar — whose new album ‘For Recreational Use Only’ drops May 9 — opens up about life with Stefani

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani in March.Credit : Jason Kempin/Getty

Time flies when you’re madly in love.

Later this year, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani will be celebrating their tenth anniversary together — and the country superstar tells PEOPLE exclusively in its latest issue that they’re more in sync than ever.

“It honestly does [feel like time is flying by]. Some of the things that we talk about, we’re to the point in our relationship that it’s like, ‘Oh, remember what happened…’ and you realize, ‘Oh my God, that was 8 years ago!’ It’s like, how did this happen so quickly?” says Shelton, 48.

But while Shelton acknowledges that “10 years is a long time,” the singer — who teamed up with Stefani for a new duet on his latest album For Recreational Use Only (out May 9) — says the relationship “still feels new for me.”

“I feel like that might be the key to happiness, is that it feels just as exciting and new and happy,” he says.

While only one track made the album, Shelton reveals he and Stefani, 55, actually cut two duets. “We were both so fired up about both of them that we ended up holding one back for the next project,” he says.

“Hangin’ On” was “definitely a challenge” to record, Shelton adds, noting that he and Stefani “love to push ourselves as vocalists.”

“We live together, so we walk around the house singing these songs all the time and we have months to talk about, ‘Hey, maybe you jump on that part,’” explains Shelton of their process. “By the time we get to the studio, we’re normally really prepared.”

Stefani has long been a vulnerable songwriter, pouring her emotions into lyrics — and Shelton says she remains just as passionate about writing decades into her career.

“Gwen is way more particular when it comes to a lyric. I’ve never been as much of a stickler as she is. It’s really important for her to be able to see herself in the lyric that she’s singing vs. me. I’ve sung about going to prison, and there’s never really been a debate,” he jokes.

And while he’s busy promoting his new music, the star says at the end of the day he’s looking forward to a slower summer with his family, including stepsons Kingston, 18, Zuma, 16, and Apollo, 11.

“I’m looking forward to the kids being out of school. Gwen and I pretty much have our summers wide open. We both have a few shows here and there, but nothing that’s tying us down to keep us from going and doing something fun,” he says. “We don’t have any plans — which is our favorite plan.”

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The country superstar — whose new album ‘For Recreational Use Only’ drops May 9 — opens up in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE

Blake Shelton.Credit : Robby Klein

Blake Shelton is the first to admit he was entirely burned out when he left The Voice in May 2023 after 23 seasons.

“It took about a year before I even was open to the idea of, ‘What’s next?’” the country superstar, 48, tells PEOPLE exclusively in its latest issue.

Hunkered down at home last year with wife Gwen Stefani, 55, and stepsons Kingston, 18, Zuma, 16, and Apollo, 11, Shelton got an unexpected call from Post Malone to collab on the runaway hit, “Pour Me a Drink.”

Post Malone and Blake Shelton in July 2024.Jason Kempin/Getty

The song’s success “lit a fire under me,” says Shelton, who headed back to the studio to record his 13th LP, For Recreational Use Only (out May 9).

The album’s lead single, “Texas,” earned the singer his 30th No. 1 — and the milestone isn’t lost on him.

“I’ve always been a nerd for country music stats. Early on I thought it was important to know these things about my heroes,” he says, name-checking George Strait’s 60 No. 1’s. “Now to have my own chapter where I can go, ‘Man, this is my catalog and my legacy.’ . . . It really is exciting.”

After taking a break, Shelton — who teamed up with Taylor Sheridan for a new CBS singing competition show called The Road (debuting this fall) — is feeling more invigorated than ever as he leans into his country roots.

Through it all, he’s also found a new sense of peace.

“After 25 years of doing this, and the ups and downs, I don’t feel like I have anything to prove anymore,” he says. “I used to be almost afraid of my success because I was afraid of losing it somehow. Maybe the worry kept me working hard and focused — but now it’s just fun for me.”

Shelton’s new body of work contains his signature party songs, but also poignant ballads, like “Heaven Sweet Home,” that point to the life experience he now has under his belt.

“I recorded that song a few years ago, maybe four or even five years ago. I’ve done this a lot in my career… I’ll have songs that I’ve cut that, for whatever reason, may not feel like they work for whatever particular album I’m putting together at that moment,” he says. “I’ll just sit on ’em and wait. When we were finishing up this album, I dug that song out and it made me think of [country singer Craig Morgan’s late son] Jerry.

“I knew him when he was a little kid, and it was just on my mind, I guess, because I’m getting older and have kids now. It just hit me different now,” continues Shelton. “I reached out to Craig and asked him if he would sing on the record with me, and he jumped on it and took it to a completely different level of hope and emotion.”

As he navigates the next chapter of his career, Shelton remains passionate about supporting aspiring musicians as much as possible.

“It might be my favorite,” he says of giving young singers a platform to showcase their talent. “I don’t really feel like I’m in the race anymore. If a young, up-and-coming artist ever looks to me for advice or something, I damn sure have plenty of it to give. I love being a country singer so much.”

For more on Blake Shelton’s new music and his sweet life with Gwen Stefani, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere now.