Gwen Stefani is marking a major milestone in her family as her son Zuma officially turns 18.
The No Doubt singer, 56, celebrated her middle son’s birthday on Friday by sharing a touching Instagram montage filled with memories from his childhood through to his teenage years.
The photos included adorable baby and toddler photographs alongside candid family moments, including footage of Zuma losing a baby tooth and spending time with his famous mom.
But it also offered a glimpse at the teenager’s growing musical talent, with clips showing him singing and playing guitar, suggesting he may be preparing to follow both of his parents into the music industry.
“Happiest 18th birthday Zuma i cannot believe u are 18 today!!” Gwen wrote alongside the montage.
“Watching u grow into the sweetest + most talented young man has been one of the greatest gifts of my life we love u soooo much Zuma.”
Zuma follows his famous parents into music
Zuma is Gwen’s second son with her ex-husband, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. The former couple, who split in 2015, also share sons Kingston, 20, and Apollo, 12.
© InstagramMusic has unsurprisingly played a huge role in all three boys’ lives, but Zuma has increasingly begun stepping into the spotlight himself.
He made his stage debut in July 2024 at his stepfather Blake Shelton’s Ole Red bar in Nashville, performing Zach Bryan’s Oklahoma Smokeshow while wearing jeans, a button-down shirt and cowboy hat.
© InstagramJust weeks later, Zuma celebrated his 16th birthday by joining his dad Gavin on stage during a Bush concert in New Jersey.
Gavin surprised his son with balloons and a birthday cake as an audience of thousands joined together to sing “Happy Birthday”.
“It was so incredible to celebrate Zuma’s 16th birthday with 18,000 people screaming happy birthday,” Gavin told People following the special father-son moment.
Gwen Stefani’s eldest son Kingston performs too
Zuma isn’t the only one of Gwen and Gavin’s children to inherit the family’s musical talent. Their eldest son Kingston has also performed publicly and writes his own music.
© InstagramHe made his public performance debut in August 2023 at Blake’s Ole Red venue in Oklahoma, a milestone that proved particularly emotional for Gwen. “I was bawling,” she told People after watching her son take to the stage. “It’s crazy when you have children, and they learn what their gift is.”
While Gwen has enjoyed extraordinary success both as the frontwoman of No Doubt and as a solo artist, Gavin has spent decades fronting rock band Bush, meaning their sons have grown up with an unusually close view of life as professional musicians.
Blake Shelton’s relationship with Gwen’s sons
Blake, who married Gwen in 2021, has also been a major presence in Kingston, Zuma and Apollo’s lives. The country star has spoken proudly about watching his stepsons develop their own musical abilities, admitting he has been impressed by just how naturally they take to performing.
© Instagram“When they get up there, you would assume they’ve been doing this for 10 years,” he told People in May. “They’re very comfortable and not rattled at all.”
Blake suggested their confidence may have something to do with growing up surrounded by musicians. “They have three professional musicians in their life and have grown up standing on the side of the stages watching this their entire life, so they have it in their mind how to be when they get out there,” he explained.
But even with decades of his own experience behind him, Blake admitted his stepsons appear to have taken to the stage more naturally than he did. “Man, I sure wasn’t that calm when I would get onstage,” he said.
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