Gwen Stefani makes her Grand Ole Opry debut – remotely from Blake Shelton's Oklahoma ranch

Jayme Deerwester, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read

The month of May is only nine days old but it's already been a big one for Gwen Stefani. Last week, "Nobody But You," her duet with longtime boyfriend and fellow "Voice" judge Blake Shelton, topped Billboard's country music airplay list, where it's still No. 1. And on Saturday, she made her Grand Ole Opry debut – sorta.

The couple played their set from his ranch in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, where Shelton's been in lockdown "with a bunch of Stefanis" since March, as he described the situation to Jimmy Fallon last month.

Shelton, who kicked things off solo with "Ol Red," taunted the musicians in the studio, telling Trace Adkins, "Out of my recent duet partners ... As much as I love you, Trace, I'm much happier to be quarantined with Gwen than you. He added, "I still don't feel like 600 miles is enough social distancing for you and I."

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton performed "Nobody But You" on the Grand Ole Opry Saturday/
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton performed "Nobody But You" on the Grand Ole Opry Saturday/

Before welcoming Stefani into his home studio for their duet, he noted that the Opry staff had gone out of their way to make her debut special even though it wasn't on the actual stage.

"Since we weren't able to be there because of (quarantine)," he said, "they sent her the parking place sign they give everybody for their first performance and the Grand Ole Opry microphone stand (which they used in their duet). She was taken aback."

Stefani, who looked country from the waist up in a western-style jacket and '90s-alternative from the waist down in denim cutoffs and fishnet stockings, asked, "Is this happening? Am I really on the Grand Ole Opry?"

Before launching into "Nobody But You," Shelton promised, "As soon this is all over, we'll have to get you to the Opry House in Nashville and do this that way."

She was clearly open to the idea: "This is already insane. That would be another level."

You can watch their interview and duet on YouTube, which begins around the 1-hour, 14-minute mark.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gwen Stefani makes remote Grand Ole Opry debut with beau Blake Shelton