Carly Pearce had an added bonus when she opened for Blake Shelton‘ on his Back to the Honky Tonk Tour. In addition to performing in massive arenas all over the country, the Kentucky native also gained a close friend: Shelton’s wife, Gwen Stefani.

“I love her,” Pearce gushed to Entertainment Tonight. “I’ve gotten to know her pretty well being on tour with Blake, and she just is a true fan of songwriting, just like me.”

Pearce and Stefani took the stage during the recent CMT Music Awards, performing No Doubt’s hit, “Just a Girl.” Ahead of their performance, Pearce said she was eager to share the stage with the rock music superstar.

“Just to be able to come together and have a real moment with somebody that you’ve gotten to know — it’s not just a collaboration out of nowhere — it’s going to be fun,” she said.

“She comes to life as the icon that we know when the microphone is in front of her, but she’s very normal,” Pearce continued. “I can see why she and Blake fell in love, because she’s very normal.”

Pearce was already a fan of Stefani, but became an even bigger one after the two became close friends.

“I love Gwen,” Pearce told CMT. “I have always admired her style and her ability to just be herself and have everybody just right there with her. I think you’re just going to see two girls that are fans of each other … it’s going to be a girl moment.”

Stefani also said she was eager to share the moment with the Grand Ole Opry member, during one of country music’s biggest nights.

“I think what is so powerful about music and being a songwriter is that it all stems from the same place in the heart and soul,” Stefani told CMT. “To learn more about country music through Blake so far into my career and to have the opportunity to collaborate with Blake has been unexpected. I feel very honored. I don’t take it lightly to have had the opportunity to experience the Grand Ole Opry and its rich traditions or to be able to perform at the CMT Music Awards.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images for CMT