Gwen Stefani, 56, Shares Emotional Statement About Blake Shelton's Dog That Has Fans Talking About His Ex — Video

The singer's farewell honored a dog who had spent nearly two decades being cherished by one family after another. Yet the length of that extraordinary life soon left fans retracing her journey to a woman who once loved her, too.

Gwen Stefani, 56, announced on Saturday, September 5, 2026, that Betty, the Rottweiler mix she shared with husband Blake Shelton, 50, had died. Her emotional statement and family video captured the joy Betty brought into their home, while her age raised questions about the beloved dog's life before Gwen.

Gwen Said Goodbye to 18 Years of Love

Gwen announced the loss through a deeply personal Instagram post, writing on behalf of the family whose lives Betty had filled for a long time.

"It's with the heaviest hearts that we share our sweet Betty has gone to heaven 💔🕊️🐾," she wrote. "She made us all smile for 18 years... we're going to miss her forever. Thank u Betty for all the love + joy u brought into our lives 🦋💗 gx [sic]."

The words were simple, but the grief behind them was unmistakable. After 18 years of affection and familiar routines, Betty's absence leaves a space that will be felt in every corner of the family's life.

Gwen paired the statement with a video set to "Nobody But You," her romantic duet with Blake. It moved through photographs and clips of Betty being held, stroked, played with, and surrounded by the people who adored her.

Blake appeared in the montage alongside Gwen and her sons, Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo Rossdale. The footage quietly showed what Betty had become to them: a constant presence through years of family memories.

There were also glimpses of her public life, including television mentions and her appearance in the "Nobody But You" music video. Betty may have been a family dog, but she had earned a little place in Gwen and Blake's shared career as well.

Other clips showed her enjoying Blake's ranch in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. She could roam through its wide-open land, staying close to the country singer whose life she had been part of for far longer than many viewers initially realized.

One Recent Outing Now Feels Especially Precious

Only weeks before Betty's death, Gwen had decided to bring her along for another special night. In mid-August, she and the senior dog crashed one of Blake's concerts together.

Betty spent time with Gwen inside her trailer before the performance. She wore a handkerchief around her neck, while a dog bed had been placed nearby so the 18-year-old could rest whenever she needed to.

It was a tender arrangement for an elderly companion who still deserved to be included in the family's adventures. Looking back now, the footage carries the sadness of a final outing that nobody knew would become so meaningful.

Her presence at Blake's show also reflected how naturally she belonged beside both spouses. Although Betty's earliest years were spent with Blake, she had developed a bond with Gwen that the couple once discussed with obvious amusement.

Blake Joked That Betty Had Become Gwen's Dog

Betty appeared alongside the couple in the music video for "Nobody But You," where she enthusiastically jumped over Gwen. Her behavior later inspired a playful conversation during a 2020 CMT interview.

When the interviewer wondered whether Betty had been jealous, Gwen initially began to deny it before conceding that the dog could indeed become possessive. Blake quickly agreed. "She gets jealous," he said. "She's Gwen's dog now, so that's where the jealousy is."

Gwen responded with a sweet correction of her own, "She loves both of her parents very much."

Years later, "Nobody But You" became the soundtrack Gwen selected for Betty's memorial. The same song that preserved the dog happily interrupting one of their romantic scenes now accompanied images of an entire life the couple was struggling to release.

Yet one detail in Gwen's announcement prompted some people to look beyond those family memories. When she revealed that Betty had lived for 18 years, fans realized the dog had been with Blake long before his relationship with Gwen began.

Fans Questioned the Timeline Behind Gwen's Farewell

Many people responded first with sympathy, understanding how excruciating it can be to lose an animal after so many years. Beneath an Instagram post, one person wrote, "The worst pain ever 💔😢🐾."

Another offered Gwen and Blake a comforting message: "So hard to lose a part of your family. May you find peace 💔." However, one question captured the confusion surrounding Betty's age: "Have they been together 18 years?!?"

Gwen and Blake met as coaches on "The Voice" and began dating in 2015 before marrying in 2021. Betty's age therefore made it clear that she had spent many years with Blake before his relationship with Gwen began.

That realization brought Miranda Lambert, Blake's former wife, into the discussion. On Facebook, one commenter wrote, "Old enough to remember Miranda." Another said, "It was probably Miranda's dog first."

Someone else questioned the history more forcefully, writing, "How is it there beloved dog if the dog was before the mirage I think it's Miranda lamberts dog to [sic]." Amid those remarks, another person returned attention to the loss itself: "18 years is a wonderful life for a dog. So sorry for your loss."

The questions were understandable, but Betty's history offered a more nuanced explanation. She had indeed been present during Blake's marriage to Miranda, and Miranda had once spoken about her with unmistakable fondness.

Miranda Once Revealed How Betty Entered Blake's Life

Miranda discussed Betty in a 2013 interview about the numerous animals she and Blake cared for during their marriage. She revealed that Betty and her sister had been found beside a road near the couple's Oklahoma neighborhood.

"And we have Betty, a hound," Miranda said. "Betty is Blake's dog in every way."

She then described a personality that sounded strikingly familiar to anyone who knew the country star. "She acts just like Blake, as she's the most mischievous and loving thing in the world," the "Gunpowder & Lead" singer explained.

"She travels with both of us off and on."

Miranda's recollection confirmed that she had known and cared for Betty during that earlier chapter. It also specifically identified Betty as Blake's dog, helping explain why she remained with him after his marriage to Miranda ended.

But the situation is simple, really. As Blake's life changed, Betty's circle of love grew. She formed a close attachment to Gwen, became part of her sons' lives, and eventually inspired Blake to joke that she belonged to his new partner.

None of those relationships erase the ones that came before. Betty lived long enough to be loved in different seasons of Blake's life, and the sorrow surrounding her death reflects just how many memories she left behind.

She was also part of a household where rescuing an animal in need was hardly unfamiliar. Gwen and Blake had opened their home to other pets, giving Betty companions during the later years of her remarkable life.

Betty Shared Her Home With Other Rescued Animals

Gwen and Blake do not constantly post their pets, but Betty shared their home with other animals who were given loving second chances.

One of them is Ginger, a mixed-breed rescue who resembles a small brown poodle. Gwen affectionately included her in a 2022 post, writing, "Sundays with gingerbread ❤️ gx."

In July 2026, Gwen shared a good-natured comparison between Ginger and Betty during a drive around the ranch. Ginger rode comfortably beside her in a utility vehicle, while Betty raced alongside them with remarkable energy for a dog approaching her 18th birthday.

The family also adopted Corn Shelton after the sick kitten appeared at their house in 2024. Gwen later explained that Corn had been barely clinging to life when they found him.

"This is Corn Shelton 🥰," she wrote in his introduction. "The day he showed up to our home, he was hardly alive + so sick, but with a lot of love + nurturing, he became a healthy kitten. We're so grateful that he's a part of our family 🤍."

Corn's recovery showed how much care surrounded the animals in Gwen and Blake's home. Betty received that devotion through old age, with her comfort thoughtfully protected even as she continued joining family outings.

Her journey began after she was found near an Oklahoma road and continued through ranch days, music videos, family milestones, and one last concert outing. Eighteen years later, Gwen's farewell gave Betty the ending every cherished companion deserves: a final thank-you for all the joy she gave and a promise that she will never be forgotten.