Since the two started dating back in 2015 in a whirlwind romance that no one saw coming, marriage rumors have followed Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton.
Recently we reported on a rumor that the two had secretly married more than six months ago. But their ring fingers remain bare.
Now, Blake himself is opening up about the real reason for which he and Gwen aren’t married yet.
On NBC’s Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist, Blake Shelton opened up about why he and Gwen keep putting off marriage.
“I think if Gwen and I were being honest right now, talking about this,” Blake began.
You always know that a celebrity’s going to say something interest if they preface their words so carefully.
“I think in the back of our mind, that we both kind of thought, this is a rebound deal,” Blake admitted.
That is refreshingly honest.
They had both just undergone breakups — divorces, in fact.
Blake explained that they were both antsy about their new relationship “because we’re both coming out of a low spot in our lives.”
It is good to be self-aware of what is motivating you at any given point.
“And,” Blake said. “We’re kind of clinging to each other to get through this.”
But that was in 2015.
“But now, here we are, going on three years later,” Blake said.
He’s right.
If this were just a rebound relationship, we have to imagine that it would have fallen apart before 2017.
Instead, it looks like Gwen and Blake will still be going strong in 2019.
“And every day that goes by,” Blake gushed. “It just feels like a stronger bond between the two of us.”
Gwen and Blake seem to do everything together.
Blake has even stepped into a paternal role with Gwen’s children, though of course they also spend time with their father, Gavin Rossdale.
Blake loves his relationship, “and it constantly feels like it’s going to the next level.”
It might feel like that, even though they’ve avoided actually getting married.
But a lack of nuptials hasn’t lessened their bond.
“That’s the only way I think either one of us would probably describe it,” Blake concludes.
That makes a lot of sense.
It’s not just that they began dating right after some very messy, painful splits.
They actively bonded over their shared breakups. It was what brought them together.
Gwen had split with Gavin Rossdale after he was allegedly exposed banging the nanny.
And Blake has accused self-described homewrecker Miranda Lambert of cheating on him during their marriage.
Fast forward about three years, however, and whether or not this was a rebound, it’s worked.
It’s odd. Gwen Stefani is one of the most well known and successful pop stars on the planet.
Blake is very successful within the Country Music scene.
Culturally, they seem to come from different worlds. But they make it work.
And while they may not be married, exactly, they seem to spend their time like a family.
Source close to the couple have revealed that marriage just isn’t a priority for them.
It’s sort of funny — the stereotype is that Millennials put off marriage until they’re sure, while older generations are hell-bent on a wedding.
Overall, that stereotype is rooted in reality.
But look at Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin, Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson, and Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra.
Those are all Millennials and they’re all engaged after dating for relatively short stretches of time.
Meanwhile, Gwen and Blake are the ones who don’t need a piece of paper or a pair of rings to certify their happiness.
Not yet, anyway.
Since Gwen thinks about marrying Blake all the time, we won’t exactly be shocked when they actually do tie the knot.
