[27] Her brother Eric introduced Gwen to 2 Tone music by Madness and the Selecter, and, in 1986, he invited her to provide vocals for No Doubt, a ska band he was forming.

Stefani rejected the aggressiveness of female grunge artists and cited Blondie singer Debbie Harry's combination of power and sex appeal as a major influence.

[34] During the time when No Doubt was receiving mainstream success, Stefani collaborated on the singles "You're the Boss" with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, "South Side" with Moby, and "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Eve.

[35] Most of the lyrical content focused on Stefani's often rocky relationship with then-Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and her insecurities, including indecision on settling down and having a child.

[37] The album generated career-highest singles chart positions in the United States,[38] and "Hey Baby" and "Underneath It All" received Grammy Awards.

The album features several collaborations with producers and other artists, including Tony Kanal, Tom Rothrock, Linda Perry, André 3000, Nellee Hooper, the Neptunes and New Order.

[40] Stefani's decision to use her solo career as an opportunity to delve further into pop music instead of trying "to convince the world of [her] talent, depth and artistic worth" was considered unusual.

A duet with rapper Eve, and produced by Dr. Dre, it is an adaptation of a 1990s pop song by British musicians Louchie Lou & Michie One, which itself is a very loose cover lyrically but closer melodically of "If I Were a Rich Man", from the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Scorsese, whose daughter was a No Doubt fan, showed reciprocal interest in casting Stefani after seeing her picture from a Marilyn Monroe-inspired photo shoot for Teen Vogue in 2003.

[59] Stefani continued working with Kanal, Perry, and the Neptunes, along with Akon and Tim Rice-Oxley from English rock band Keane.

Sia Michel wrote that it "has a surprisingly moody, lightly autobiographical feel ... but Stefani isn't convincing as a dissatisfied diva"[60] and Rob Sheffield called the album a "hasty return" that repeats Love.

[73] On April 12, 2014, Stefani made a surprise appearance at the Coachella festival, where she joined Pharrell Williams onstage during his set to perform "Hollaback Girl".

[76] Stefani appears as a featured artist on Maroon 5's song "My Heart Is Open", co-written by Sia, from the band's album V,[77] which was performed for the first time with Adam Levine and an orchestra at the 2015 Grammy Awards.

[80] Stefani released her comeback single "Baby Don't Lie" on October 20, 2014, co-written with producers Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco, and Noel Zancanella.

The track debuted and peaked at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[86] and matched first-week digital download sales of 35,000 copies.

[93] This Is What the Truth Feels Like was released on March 18, 2016, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 84,000 album-equivalent units sold in its first week, earning Stefani her first number-one album on the U.S. chart as a solo artist.

[101] In August, several song titles from the singer's sessions were published on GEMA's official website, suggesting that she may be recording a holiday album.

[123] In May 2024, it was announced that Stefani would return to the panel for the 26th season, replacing Dan + Shay and became the show's senior coach following John Legend's 2024 departure.

Gwen reunited with her No Doubt band members for only the second time in a decade to perform a set for FireAid Benefit concert to support the Southern California communities devastated by wildfires.

The event was broadcast and streamed live Netflix Tudum, as well as on Apple Music and the Apple TV app, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Paramount+, Prime Video and the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM (exclusively on “LIFE with John Mayer”) Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps, YouTube, and at select AMC Theatre locations in 70 US markets.

Stylist Andrea Lieberman introduced her to haute couture clothing, which led to Stefani launching a fashion line named L.A.M.B.

[161] She also began releasing affordable eyewear under the label GX, with Tura Inc.[162] In 2014, Stefani announced the production of an animated series about her and the Harajuku Girls.

[166] In 2018, Stefani had reportedly filed to trademark P8NT for a potential line of "make-up, skincare, fragrance and hair dyes",[167] and in March 2022, she launched a makeup brand called GXVE Beauty.

[180] Referencing fashion and wealth in the album, the singer name-drops several designers who she considered inspirations in her personal career, such as John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood.

[181] Her second studio album The Sweet Escape resembles musically its predecessor while exploring more modern pop sounds, dabbling heavily into genres such as dance-pop and rap.

[10] The reinvented image included a symbol consisting of two back-to-back 'G's, which appears on a diamond-encrusted key she wears on a necklace and which became a motif in the promotion of The Sweet Escape.

In 2005, Rolling Stone called her "the only true female rock star left on radio or MTV" and featured her on the magazine's cover.

[15] Stefani's work has influenced artists and musicians including Hayley Williams of Paramore,[211] Best Coast,[212] Kim Petras,[213] Teddy Sinclair,[214] Katy Perry,[215] Charli XCX,[216] Kesha,[217] Ava Max,[218] Marina Diamandis,[219] Rita Ora,[220] Keke Palmer,[221] Bebe Rexha,[222] Dua Lipa,[223] the Stunners,[224] Kelly Clarkson,[225] Sky Ferreira,[226] Kirstin Maldonado of Pentatonix,[227] Olivia Rodrigo,[228] and Cover Drive.

[236] Stefani also ran an auction on eBay from April 11 to 25, 2011, allowing participants to bid on vintage clothing items from her personal wardrobe and custom T-shirts designed and signed by her, as well as an admission to a private Harajuku-themed tea party hosted by her on June 7, 2011, at Los Angeles' first Japanese-style maid café and pop art space, Royal/T, with proceeds from the auction going to Save the Children's relief effort.

[237][238] At the amfAR gala during the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, Stefani auctioned off the lacy black dress she wore at the event for charity, raising over $125,000.