Gwen Stefani's new album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — but that's more a happy surprise than the product of intent, the singer told Good Morning America this morning (April 4).

Stefani, who served as Saturday Night Live's musical guest over the weekend, told Lara Spencer it was critically important for her to be sincere on her third studio album, whether that translated to big sales or left her with a commercial dud.

"I was put in the studio by my label," Stefani, whose new songs chronicle recovery from a painful divorce, says in the clip above. "I didn't care about anything. I was just literally trying to get up in the morning, and I got there, and I just said 'I want to write a record, I don't care about anything except for getting this out, and like, healing and being honest and real and truthful. I don't care what style it is. I don't care about being on the radio or charts or anything. Why would that matter to me at this point?'"

Whether it mattered or not, though, radio and charts have caught on, and Stefani says she's happy fans have been able to identify with her plight.

"It feels like I'm supposed to be doing this right now, and sharing my story," she said. "I really hope that this record brings pleasure and documents people's lives in this moment."

Stefani also performed "Make Me Like You," her LP's second single, that brought the promised pleasure to a small, applause-heavy audience.

Watch the interview above, and share your thoughts in the comments.

See what these artists looked like when their first albums were released:

 

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