Blake Shelton might not have passed down his blood, but he sure as hell passed down his boots.
When Gwen Stefani shared birthday photos of her middle son, Zuma Rossdale, fans couldn’t help but notice one thing loud and clear: the 17-year-old is looking more and more like his stepdad every day. Denim jacket, cowboy hat, guitar in hand, even that old-school Shelton mullet starting to take shape, Zuma isn’t just playing dress-up, he’s sliding right into country’s skin.
Gwen, who has never been shy about bragging on her kids, marked Zuma’s 17th with a heartfelt post: “Happy birthday to our sweet and talented Zuma!! We love u soooo much!! Alongside her words came a carousel of snapshots and clips that painted a picture of a boy who’s grown up under the shadow of rock and pop but is now stepping into the neon glow of Nashville influence.
One photo showed Zuma tuning up an acoustic guitar, hat tipped low like he’d been watching his stepdad do it all his life. Another video captured him crooning out a country tune, raw but steady, like the makings of a kid who’s got something more than just borrowed swagger. The throwback photos reminded everyone that music has always been stitched into his story, with a baby Zuma clutching a toy guitar before he could even walk.
And then there was the moment that sealed it: a clip of Blake Shelton himself, introducing Zuma onstage at one of his recent shows, proudly calling him, “My man, Zuma Rossdale.” The roar of the crowd made it clear. This wasn’t just a favor. It was a passing of the torch, or at least a nod that country’s next generation might be a lot closer to home than anyone thought.
Fans lit up Gwen’s comments with the kind of fire only country fans can bring. “I see that Blake influence ” one wrote. Another chimed in, “We can see Blake’s musical influence on him. This kid is talented.” A third nailed what everyone was thinking: “He’s got the old school Blake mullet started
It isn’t just the look, though. Zuma has already been cutting his teeth on stage at Ole Red, Shelton’s own honky-tonk chain. He made his debut in 2024 and has been back a couple of times since, showing off the same stage presence that made his stepdad a superstar. Blake himself has been there to hype him up, plugging Zuma’s performances and giving him the kind of spotlight that doesn’t come easy, unless, of course, you’ve got the talent to back it up.
For Gwen, the proud mama side shines through. For Blake, it’s a different kind of pride. The Voice star has stepped into fatherhood with her three sons, Kingston, 19, Zuma, 17, and Apollo, 11, like it was the most natural role in the world. “I get to teach them the country, you know, and I love that,” he once said. “When people say it’s not about you anymore when you have a kid… I think if you’re doing it right, it’s not about you anymore. That’s true.”
It doesn’t hurt that Zuma’s biological dad, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, has been jumping in too, even learning Zach Bryan songs to play alongside his son. “One son loves the Pumpkins and… Zuma, he’s got the country bug,” Gavin admitted. “I have no idea where he gets that from, but he’s got it.”
Where he got it from seems pretty obvious to everyone else. With Gwen posting baby pics, Blake handing him the mic, and Gavin strumming Zach Bryan songs to keep up, Zuma’s living proof that music isn’t just in the DNA. It’s in the house you grow up in, the family you claim, and the stages you step on with nerves and a grin.
Seventeen looks good on Zuma Rossdale. It looks a lot like cowboy boots, plaid shirts, and the kind of mullet that only country kids can pull off. And if the birthday photos are any indication, Blake Shelton‘s influence isn’t fading anytime soon. In fact, it looks like it’s just getting started.
