It’s no secret Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are madly in love — but the country superstar is also head over heels for her three sons.
“For a long time, it was awkward trying to figure out what my place is and in their mind too,” newly crowned Sexiest Man Alive Shelton tells PEOPLE exclusively about the rocker’s three sons Kingston, 11, Zuma, 9, and Apollo, 3 (with ex Gavin Rossdale). “The best part for me, selfishly, is discovering a part of myself that I guess I never really knew was in there. It’s definitely an instinct that kind of kicks in.”
There’s no shortage of energy with the three boys running around at home, and “there’s days where you go, ‘Oh my God, when does school start?’” he jokes.
Gwen Stefani, Apollo Rossdale and Blake SheltonGwen Stefani/Instagram
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Blake Shelton
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But that never lasts long.
“An hour later you’re going, ‘God, I can’t wait ’til they get home,’” says Shelton, 41, whose new album Texoma Shore hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart this week. “They’re so damn funny. It’s just my first time being around it, and it’s easy to fall in love with those kids. They’re pretty special.”
Blake SheltonJoe Pugliese – @JoePug
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As for his relationship with Stefani, 48, the power couple (who recently teamed up on the song “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” featured on her holiday album) are happier than ever together. Says the star: “It just feels like it gets stronger all the time, you know? It’s crazy.”
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