Gwen Stefani grew up in Anaheim, California, after she was born in Fullerton on October 3, 1969. Her accountant mother, Patty Flynn, gave her the middle name Renee after the 1960s song “Walk Away Renee.” Music was a fixture for Gwen Stefani and her three siblings as they grew up and, thanks to her parents, her early days were spent listening to Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris. Gwen Stefani also learned the family hobby of sewing, a skill that would be valuable later.
As a teenager, Gwen Stefani made her first demo tape, leading her dad to suggest that singing lessons should follow as a logical next step. Gwen became more comfortable with her voice and she subsequently performed at a talent show, complete with a dress that she designed herself. After graduating high school, Gwen Stefani planned to attend California State University, but an offer from her brother, Eric, ultimately changed her plans.
Gwen Stefani joins no doubt
Eric invited her to join a band called No Doubt in 1986 as the second lead singer to the dynamic frontman, John Spence. Tragically, Spence took his own life in 1987, but the band stayed together with Gwen as lead singer. In 1992, the group released its self-titled debut, but the reaction to their ska sound was mixed, since it hit the shelves during the height of the grunge era.
In 1995, No Doubt released Tragic Kingdom, which wasn’t an easy project to record. Gwen Stefani had been dating band mate Tony Kanal for seven years, but when he ended the relationship, she was devastated. Ironically, the emotional toll of the breakup provided Gwen with some creative inspiration that came through on what would be Tragic Kingdom’s biggest hit “Don’t Speak.” The smash album earned the group its first Grammy nominations and led to a pair of subsequent (but not as successful) followups: The Return of Saturn in 2000 and Rock Steady in 2001.
As No Doubt’s popularity began to waver, Gwen Stefani was looking at new things to do with herself in music and entertainment. In 2002, she went solo for a Grammy Award-winning duet with Eve called “Let Me Blow Your Mind.” The next year, Gwen Stefani launched her first of two clothing lines, L.A.M.B., which would be worn by fellow celebs Halle Berry and Paris Hilton. Not to be outdone, she also starred as Jean Harlow with a supporting role in 2004′s The Aviator.
By 2004, Gwen Stefani went solo with the Love. Angel. Music. Baby. album, a multiplatinum seller in four countries that earned six Grammy nominations. Incorporating more fun and less darkness into her solo work, Gwen Stefani released the followup, The Sweet Escape, in 2006 and embarked on a substantial international tour that included Akon, Lady Sovereign and Cansei de Ser Sexy as opening acts. We are absolutely stunned that a new mom, Gwen gave birth to her son Kingston in 2006, can find the time and energy to tour and drive her design career forward. Gwen Stefani also released her L fragrance in 2007 and stated that “creating a fragrance is one of the most prestigious things a designer can do.”
Gwen Stefani discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Certifications
(sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
|
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| 2006 | The Sweet Escape
|
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Singles
As solo artist
| Year | Single | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | “What You Waiting For?” |
|
Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |
| “Rich Girl” (feat. Eve) |
|
||
| 2005 | “Hollaback Girl” |
|
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| “Cool” | |||
| “Luxurious” (feat. Slim Thug) | |||
| 2006 | “Crash” | ||
| “Wind It Up” |
|
The Sweet Escape | |
| 2007 | “The Sweet Escape” (feat. Akon) |
|
|
| “4 in the Morning” | |||
| “Now That You Got It” (feat. Damian Marley) | |||
| “Early Winter” |
As featured artist
| Year | Single | Certification | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | “Saw Red” (with Sublime) | Robbin’ the Hood | |
| 2000 | “South Side” (with Moby) | Play | |
| 2001 | “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” (with Eve) |
|
Scorpion |
| 2005 | “Can I Have It Like That” (with Pharrell Williams) | In My Mind |
Video albums
| Year | Video information |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Harajuku Lovers Live
|
Music videos
- For Stefani’s music videos with band No Doubt, see No Doubt videography.
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | “South Side” (With Moby) | Joseph Kahn |
| “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” (With Eve) | Philip Atwell | |
| 2004 | “What You Waiting For?” | Francis Lawrence |
| “Rich Girl” (With Eve) | David LaChapelle | |
| 2005 | “Hollaback Girl” | Paul Hunter |
| “Cool” | Sophie Muller | |
| “Can I Have It Like That” | Paul Hunter | |
| “Luxurious” (With Slim Thug) | Sophie Muller | |
| 2006 | “Crash” | |
| “Wind It Up” | ||
| 2007 | “The Sweet Escape” | Joseph Kahn |
| “4 in the Morning” | Sophie Muller | |
| “Now That You Got It” | Saline Project | |
| “Early Winter” | Sophie Muller |
Other appearances
| Year | Title | Artist | Album | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | “Saw Red” | Sublime | Robbin’ the Hood | Duet |
| 1998 | “True Blue” | Various artists | Stormy Weather | Lead vocals |
| 1998 | “You’re the Boss” | The Brian Setzer Orchestra | The Dirty Boogie | Duet |
| 1999 | “So Far, So Pleased” | Prince | Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic | Duet |
| 2000 | “Everybody is a Star” | Fishbone | The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx | Lead vocals |
| 2001 | “What’s Going On (Dupri Original Mix)” | Various artists | What’s Going On: All-Star Tribute | Lead vocals |
| 2008 | “Can’t Stop the World” (also known as “Some Days”) | Gavin Rossdale | WANDERlust | Backing vocals |
Tours
- 2005: “Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005″
- 2007: “The Sweet Escape Tour”
Filmography
- 2004 – The Aviator – Jean Harlow
- 2009 – Gossip Girl – Snowed Out Singer – TV series, 1 episode: Valley Girls (2.24)
Awards and nominations
American Music Awards
The American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by Dick Clark in 1973. Stefani has received one award from two nominations.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Gwen Stefani | Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist | Won |
| Artist of the Year | Nominated |
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States. Stefani has received one award from eight nominations.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | Won |
| 2005 | “What You Waiting For?” | Best Female Pop Vocal Performance | Nominated |
| 2006 | Love, Angel, Music, Baby | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Pop Vocal Album | Nominated | ||
| “Hollaback Girl” | Record of the Year | Nominated | |
| Best Female Pop Vocal Performance | Nominated | ||
| “Rich Girl” | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | Nominated | |
| 2008 | “The Sweet Escape” | Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals | Nominated |
MTV Awards
MTV Video Music Award
The MTV Video Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1984 by MTV. Stefani has received four awards from eleven nominations.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | “Southside” | Best Male Video | Won |
| “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” | Best Female Video | Won | |
| Best Hip-Hop Video | Nominated | ||
| Viewer’s Choice | Nominated | ||
| 2005 | “Hollaback Girl” | Best Choreography | Won |
| Video of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Female Video | Nominated | ||
| Best Pop Video | Nominated | ||
| “What You Waiting For?” | Best Art Direction | Won | |
| Best Editing | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | “The Sweet Escape” | Most Earthshattering Collaboration | Nominated. |
MTV Asia Awards
MTV Asia Awards is another annual award established in 2002 by MTV. Stefani has been nominated for one award.[citation needed]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Gwen Stefani | Innovation Award | Nominated |
Teen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards is an awards show presented annually by the Fox Broadcasting Company. Stefani has received four awards from four nominations.[4]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” | Choice R&B/Hip Hop Track | Won |
| 2005 | “Rich Girl” | Choice Breakout | Won |
| Best Female Video | Won | ||
| Visionary Award | Won | ||
| Choice Collaboration | Won |
BRIT Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Gwen Stefani | Best International Female – Winner | Won |
World Music Awards
The World Music Awards honors recording artists based on worldwide sales figures provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.[8]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Gwen Stefani | Best-selling New Female Artist | Won |
Billoboard Music Awards 2005
-
- New Artist of the Year – Winner
- Digital Song of the Year – Hollaback Girl – Winner
- Hot 100 Song of the Year – Hollaback Girl – Nominated
California Music Awards
-
- 2004 Outstanding Female Vocalist – Winner
- 2003 Outstanding Female Vocalist – Winner
International Dance Music Awards
-
- 2006 Best Dance Solo Artist – Nominated
- 2005 Best Alternative/Rock Dance Artist – Winner
NRJ Music Awards 2006
-
- Best International Female – Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards 2005
-
- Best Female – Nominated
- Best Album – Nominated
- Best Pop – Nominated
- Best Song – Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards LatinoAmerica 2005
-
- Best New International Artist – Nominated
- Best Pop International Artist – Winner
Meteor Ireland Awards 2006
-
- Best International Female – Winner
MTV Australian Video Music Awards
-
- Best Dressed – Winner
Much Music Video Awards 2005
-
- Favourite International Artist – Winner
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