Gwen Stefani Takes You Shopping

GLAMOUR: Inundated.

GWEN STEFANI: My poor parents—they didn't know what to do. And then I went into my bedroom with my single bed. I remember getting under my covers…thinking, Oh my God, who am I?

GLAMOUR: And now you're a married lady with two kids! What do you see in Gavin as a father that you didn't know about before?

GWEN STEFANI: I always thought he'd be a good dad. [Laughs.] And he has basically lived up to that and beyond, beyond. He's very, very passionate, and he's very intense. He's made to be a dad. I'm very lucky.

GLAMOUR: I know this is a really crass question, but I have to ask. Your husband has a great career, but you are more famous. Is it hard on a marriage when a woman is more visible than a man professionally?

GWEN STEFANI: I don't really like talking about Gavin because, why would I do that? It's the one place you need to really protect yourself: your family and your marriage.

GLAMOUR: Let's talk about writing music. Are you writing now?

GWEN STEFANI: No, I can't do all these things at one time. Right now it's all focused on the tour, the costumes, the fun part. I won't write on tour. There's no way. How am I supposed to be a mom to two kids, a wife and do a show every night? It's impossible!

GLAMOUR: You've spoken a lot about how you found your singing voice and your own voice as a person at the same time. There's something lovely about it. I was curious about that experience.

GWEN STEFANI: I clearly remember writing songs [when I was young] and the power that it gave me of feeling like somebody. My whole life changed when I wrote those songs, even before anyone ever heard them. It wasn't a commercial thing.

GLAMOUR: No, it was just you.

GWEN STEFANI: It was just me and the song and showing them to my dad and him listening to the demo while driving. He'd come home and say, "Now, that one was really good. You shouldn't change anything."

GLAMOUR: Does writing still empower you like it did when you were a kid?

GWEN STEFANI: Oh my God. I mean, it's really exciting to design, but writing a song is…

GLAMOUR: There's nothing like it?

GWEN STEFANI: If it's a hit, oh my God. And you know right away. Like when I wrote "Hollaback Girl" at 3:00 A.M. after writing three songs already. We were jumping on the couch!

GLAMOUR: What's it like being with the band again?

GWEN STEFANI: There's a lot of water under the bridge. And it's very emotional. I went out last night to a party with Tony [Kanal, the No Doubt bass player and Stefani's former boyfriend] and his girlfriend and with, you know, the guys. There's just so much that we've done.