Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton

Fans were bummed that Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton were not in attendance at the 2024 CMT Music Awards on Sunday, April 7.

The couple wasn’t on the list of presenters or performers at the 23rd awards ceremony—and Shelton wasn’t nominated for any awards like he was the year prior—but fans were still holding out hope that they would make a surprise appearance.

Fans especially thought the lovebirds might show up to perform their new joint single, “Purple Irises,” which they have already performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live and at the Super Bowl LVIII TikTok Tailgate.

But to everyone’s dismay, the show went on without any sign of Shelton, 47, or Stefani, 54.

The pair’s absence is understandable, though, as they certainly are a very busy couple of people.

Stefani has been spending her time rehearsing with No Doubt for their highly-anticipated reunion show at Coachella. On April 14 and 21, the group will perform together for the first time since 2015.

As for Shelton, he’s been back on the road with his “Back to the Honky Tonk Tour,” which resumes in May and runs through July.

But Shelton and Stefani did get to make a CMT appearance last year at the 2023 award show, when the couple opted for formal coordinating suits. Shelton paired his jacket and tie, which he wore over a button-up shirt and vest, with jeans and boots.

Stefani went more glam, wearing a wide-shouldered jacket and skinny tie with a glittery gold skirt, fishnet tights, and tall fuzzy boots ending just below the knee. The rocker also teamed up with Carly Pearce for a duet, reviving her 1995 No Doubt hit, “Just a Girl.”

This year’s CMTs were once again hosted by Kelsea Ballerini, and the presentation featured no shortage of excitement, including a performance from Keith Urban, a special honor dedicated to Trisha Yearwood and a tear-jerking tribute for late country star, Toby Keith.