Blake Shelton Admits There’s ‘Nothing Easy’ About Stepfather Role For Gwen Stefani’s Kids

Before Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani became engaged in October, Shelton had long played a stepfather role to Stefani's three sons: Kingston, 14, Zuma, 12, and 6-year-old Apollo. He recently explained that there was "nothing easy about it."

During a Wednesday interview on Southern California radio station KFRG's program, “The Ride With Kimo and Heather,” Shelton reflected on how his five-year relationship with Stefani came with parental responsibilities.

“There’s definitely nothing easy about it. I don’t know if it’s as hard or harder or not as hard as being an actual, biological parent,” Shelton said.

Shelton, 44, has experience with a stepfather and understood the importance of the role in a child’s life.

“I have a stepfather in my life who’s one of my heroes. I love my stepfather, and I look up to him, and he’s like a father to me, so I have a good inspiration in my life for how to do this and the kind of stepdad I want to be,” he said.

The country music star said he takes his role seriously but also knows how to have fun and create lasting memories with the boys.

“I don’t take it so serious that I’m not enjoying this time because I really am, especially now that we’re five years into this thing, I can’t imagine my life without these kids now,” Shelton said.

Shelton has appeared with Stefani as judges on the long-running NBC talent program, "The Voice." Stefani, 51, gained fame as the lead singer of the 1990's pop-punk band No Doubt, while Shelton has released 11 studio albums since debuting in 2001.

Shelton's comments Wednesday weren't the first about his role as a father figure to Stefani’s children. In an interview on the “Today” show in July, he discussed being initially intimidated by taking on an important role in the boys’ lives.

“Well, you know, that’s a scary moment for me,” he said.

“Because it’s one thing for me to be, you know, with the kids all the time and be there buddy, but then you do have to consider after a while, you know, that they start to listen to things that you say and there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that, which is new to me.”

Stefani and Shelton began dating in 2015, following her split from ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, who is the father to her sons. Shelton was married to country Miranda Lambert from 2011 to 2015 and was married to long-time girlfriend Kaynette Gern from 2003 to 2006.