Gwen Stefani felt 'literally dead' after split from Gavin Rossdale

Gwen Stefani has revealed the extent of her heartbreak after her split with former Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale.

The former No Doubt singer divorced her husband of thirteen years last year (15) citing "irreconcilable differences" after it was rumoured Gavin, 50, had an affair.

Gwen, who shares joint custody of her three sons Kingston, ten, Zuma, eight, and Apollo, two, with Gavin, opened up about her anguish following the split in an interview with USA Today (15Mar16).

"I was dead. I was literally dead, like panicking – like anyone would be," the 46-year-old admitted, adding that the only way she got through the pain was to distract herself by concentrating on her work and by accepting the situation was out of her control.

It was around this time that the star became a coach on the U.S. edition of The Voice, a move that really helped her focus on something other than herself.

"I think by being on The Voice and being around all that music and all these people experiencing things that I'd already experienced for the first time, being able to look back and dig through all the stuff I've done, made me feel renewed," she revealed.

Mentoring new talent on The Voice also gave the star the motivation she needed to write new music, as well as introducing her to her new boyfriend, fellow judge and country music singer Blake Shelton, whom she hooked up with last November (15).

This new found happiness is something that the star hopes to share when she releases her first new solo album in a decade.

This Is What The Truth Feels Like, is due out on Interscope Records this Friday (18Mar16).