Blake Shelton found family backing at the 2026 ACM Awards, with two of Gwen Stefani's sons, Zuma and Apollo, present to witness his performance. This comes as Stefani herself was engaged in her Las Vegas residency with No Doubt, creating a scheduling conflict that prevented her attendance. The presence of her sons offers a narrative of familial solidarity amidst ongoing, unsubstantiated chatter about the couple's marital status.
Video evidence from the event shows Zuma, 17, actively engaged, singing and dancing, while sporting a cowboy hat and matching blazer. Backstage, a moment of connection was captured between Shelton and the youngest son, Apollo, 12, sharing a hug. These public displays of support follow earlier hints of this dynamic, with Shelton previously sharing footage of himself and Stefani working on a garden, a moment he lightheartedly referenced in relation to his concert schedule.
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Shelton has openly discussed his role as a stepfather to Stefani's three sons—Kingston, 19, Zuma, 17, and Apollo, 12—since his relationship with Stefani began. He has described it as a "packaged set" and acknowledged an unexpected satisfaction in the role. While he states he never pressured the boys into his musical sphere, he has observed Zuma, in particular, developing an interest in country music, a genre that also garners his own appreciation. Shelton has even supported Kingston's musical pursuits by gifting him studio equipment. This integration into the family unit, with its artistic inclinations, has been a decade-long development for Shelton.
