Ed Sheeran
Quick facts for kids
Ed Sheeran
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Sheeran in 2018
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Edward Christopher Sheeran
17 February 1991 Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
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| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Cherry Seaborn
(m. 2019) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Framlingham, Suffolk, England |
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Edward Christopher Sheeran (born 17 February 1991) is a famous English singer and songwriter. He grew up in Framlingham, Suffolk, and started writing songs when he was about eleven years old. In 2011, Ed Sheeran released his own music collection called No. 5 Collaborations Project. Later that year, he signed with Asylum Records.
His first album, + ("Plus"), came out in September 2011 and quickly became number one in the UK. It included his first big hit song, "The A Team". Ed Sheeran won awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act at the Brit Awards in 2012. His second album, × ("Multiply"), was released in June 2014 and was a huge success worldwide. It was one of the best-selling albums of 2015. The song "Thinking Out Loud" from this album won two Grammy Awards in 2016.
Ed Sheeran's third album, ÷ ("Divide"), came out in March 2017 and was the best-selling album globally that year. Songs like "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill" broke many records. He was the first artist to have two songs debut in the top two spots on the UK charts at the same time. His song "Perfect" became a number one hit in several countries. In 2019, he released No.6 Collaborations Project, which also topped charts and had three UK number one singles. His album = ("Equals"), was released in 2021 and was also a chart-topper. His sixth album, − ("Subtract"), came out on 5 May 2023, and his seventh, Autumn Variations, was released on 29 September 2023. His eighth album, Play, was announced on 14 February 2025, with the lead single "Azizam" released on 4 April 2025.
Ed Sheeran has sold over 200 million records worldwide, making him one of the top-selling music artists ever. He was named the artist of the decade in the UK for the 2010s by the Official Charts Company. His tours are some of the most popular, and his ÷ Tour became the highest-earning tour of all time in 2019. He has also acted in films like Yesterday (2019), playing himself. In 2025, Time magazine recognized him as one of the world's 100 most influential people.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Edward Christopher Sheeran was born on 17 February 1991 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. When he was young, his family moved to Framlingham in Suffolk. He went to school there, first at Brandeston Hall and then at Thomas Mills High School. Ed has an older brother, Matthew, who is a composer.
Ed's parents, John and Imogen, always encouraged his love for art and music. His father is an art curator, and his mother is a jewellery designer.
Ed showed a talent for music from a very young age. He sang in a church choir when he was four. By age eleven, he learned to play the guitar and started writing his own songs. A school report from 2004 called him a "natural performer". His classmates even voted him "most likely to be famous".
As a teenager, he joined the National Youth Theatre in London. He also became a supporter of British Youth Music Theatre and Access to Music.
Music Career Highlights
Early Music Journey (2004–2010)
Ed Sheeran began recording music in 2004. At thirteen, he released his first collection of songs, Spinning Man. He moved to London in 2008 and started playing in small music venues. He also opened for the band Nizlopi in 2008.
In 2009, he released another EP called You Need Me. He also worked with singer Leddra Chapman. In February 2010, Ed posted a video on SB.TV, which helped him gain attention. Rapper Example then invited Ed to tour with him. That same month, he released his Loose Change EP, which included his future hit song, "The A Team".
More people discovered Ed Sheeran through YouTube. He received praise from The Independent newspaper and even Elton John. He released two more EPs in 2010: Ed Sheeran: Live at the Bedford and Songs I Wrote with Amy. In Los Angeles in 2010, actor Jamie Foxx invited him to perform at his club.
On 8 January 2011, Ed released No. 5 Collaborations Project. This EP featured grime artists like Wiley and Jme. It became very popular, reaching number 2 on the iTunes chart without much advertising. Three months later, Ed played a free show for fans in London. So many people came that he played four different shows, even one outside. Later that month, he signed with Asylum Records.
Breakthrough with + ("Plus") (2011–2013)
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On 26 April 2011, Ed Sheeran performed his first single, "The A Team", on the BBC show Later... with Jools Holland. Six weeks later, the song was released digitally in the UK. "The A Team" quickly reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. It was the best-selling debut single of 2011.
Ed Sheeran released his debut album, + ("Plus"), on 12 September 2011. The album was very popular and debuted at number one in the UK. It sold over a million copies in the UK by March 2012. The album also did well in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the US.
In November 2011, Ed co-wrote the song "Moments" for the boy band One Direction. At the 2012 Brit Awards, Ed Sheeran won awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. He also performed "The A Team" at the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012. He sang "Wish You Were Here" at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Taylor Swift contacted Ed Sheeran after hearing his music in 2012. They later wrote and sang "Everything Has Changed" together for her album Red. Ed also wrote two songs for One Direction's album Take Me Home, including the number-one hit "Little Things". In 2013, "The A Team" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Ed performed at the ceremony with Elton John.
From March to September 2013, Ed Sheeran opened for Taylor Swift on her The Red Tour across North America. In October 2013, he performed three sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden. He released "I See Fire" on 5 November 2013, which was featured in the film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Global Success with × ("Multiply") (2014–2015)
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On 7 April 2014, Ed Sheeran released "Sing", the first single from his second album. This song had a different sound from his earlier music. By early June 2014, "Sing" became his first number-one single in the UK.
Ed Sheeran's second album, × ("Multiply"), was released worldwide on 23 June 2014. He wrote over 120 songs for this album over three years. × reached number one in both the UK and US charts. To support the album, Ed started a world tour in August 2014.
"Thinking Out Loud" was released as the album's third single in September 2014. The music video featured Ed performing a ballroom dance. It became his second number-one single in the UK. In 2014, Ed Sheeran was the most-streamed artist on Spotify, and × was the most-streamed album.
× was nominated for Album of the Year at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Ed performed "Thinking Out Loud" at the ceremony. In February 2015, he won British Male Solo Artist and British Album of the Year for × at the 2015 Brit Awards. In July 2015, Ed Sheeran performed sold-out shows at London's Wembley Stadium. These concerts were filmed for a special called Ed Sheeran – Live at Wembley Stadium.
In 2015, Ed wrote "Love Yourself" for Justin Bieber's album. He also performed at the 2015 Global Citizen Festival in New York, an event that works to end global poverty. In October, he co-hosted the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards and won awards for Best Live Act and Best Live Stage. His song "Thinking Out Loud" won two Grammy Awards in 2016: Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Record-Breaking with ÷ ("Divide") (2016–2018)
After a year-long break, Ed Sheeran announced his fourth album, ÷ ("Divide"), which was released on 3 March 2017. The album debuted at number one in many countries, including the UK, US, and Germany. It was the fastest-selling album by a male solo artist in the UK.
On 6 January, Ed released two singles: "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill". "Castle on the Hill" is about his childhood in Framlingham and the Framlingham Castle. Both songs broke Spotify's record for day-one streams.
On 13 January, "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill" entered the UK Singles Chart at number one and number two. This was the first time an artist had achieved this with new songs. He also became the first artist to have two songs debut in the US top 10 at the same time.
Ed Sheeran started his Divide Tour on 17 March 2017. By March 2017, he had ten top-10 singles from ÷ on the UK Singles Chart, breaking a record. In June, he headlined the Glastonbury Festival, performing for 135,000 people. At the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, he was named Artist of the Year. The song "Perfect" became a number one hit in the UK and Australia. A duet version with Beyoncé also reached number one in the US and UK, becoming the UK Christmas number one in 2017.
In December 2017, Ed Sheeran was named Spotify's most-streamed artist of the year. His album ÷ was streamed 3.1 billion times, and "Shape of You" had 1.4 billion streams. He also collaborated with Eminem on the song "River".
In 2018, "Shape of You" was named the best-selling single of 2017 in both the UK and US. ÷ was also the best-selling album of 2017 worldwide. Ed Sheeran received the Global Success Award at the 2018 Brit Awards. He played for over 950,000 people in Australia and New Zealand, making it the biggest concert tour in Australasian music history.
Collaborations and New Albums (2019–Present)
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On 10 May 2019, Ed Sheeran released "I Don't Care", a duet with Justin Bieber. This song broke Spotify's record for daily global streams. It debuted at number one in the UK and other countries. This was from his fourth studio album, No.6 Collaborations Project, released on 12 July 2019. The album featured many artists like Chance the Rapper, Khalid, Bruno Mars, and Travis Scott. It debuted at number one in the UK, US, and Australia.
In December 2019, the Official Charts Company named Ed Sheeran the artist of the decade. He had the most successful songs and albums in the UK charts during the 2010s. Globally, Spotify named him the second most streamed artist of the decade.
On 21 December 2020, he released the surprise single, "Afterglow". On 25 June 2021, Ed released "Bad Habits", the first single from his fifth album. It became his 10th UK number one single and stayed at the top for eleven weeks. On 19 August, he announced his fifth studio album, = ("Equals"), which was released on 29 October 2021. The album cover was painted by him during the COVID-19 lockdown. = became his fifth UK number-one album and fourth US number one.
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On 29 November 2021, Ed Sheeran and Elton John released "Merry Christmas", a duet for charity. It became Ed's 12th number one hit single in the UK. In 2022, he collaborated with Taylor Swift on a remix of "The Joker and the Queen". He also worked with Camila Cabello and J Balvin. Ed began his +–=÷x Tour (Mathematics Tour) on 21 March 2022. He also explored heavier music styles, releasing a version of "Bad Habits" with the band Bring Me the Horizon.
On 29 September 2022, Ed Sheeran released "Celestial", a song in collaboration with the Japanese media franchise Pokémon. In November, "Shivers" became his 11th song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify.
On 1 March 2023, Ed Sheeran announced his sixth album, − ("Subtract"), which was released on 5 May 2023. The lead single, "Eyes Closed", came out on 24 March 2023. He released his second album of the year, Autumn Variations, on 29 September 2023. This was his first album released through his own record label, Gingerbread Man Records.
On 14 February 2025, Ed Sheeran announced his eighth studio album, Play. The lead single, "Azizam", was released on 4 April 2025. He will embark on the Loop Tour on 1 December 2025 to support the album.
Musical Style and Inspirations
Ed Sheeran's music style is often described as pop, folk-pop, and soft rock. He also includes rap in some of his songs. From a young age, Ed listened to artists like Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Elton John. He says the album that first got him into music was Van Morrison's Irish Heartbeat.
His father took him to many live concerts, which inspired him. He saw Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney perform. Ed says Eric Clapton is "the reason I started playing guitar". He remembers seeing Clapton play at the Queen's Golden Jubilee concert in 2002. Two days later, he bought his first guitar.
Ed Sheeran also looks up to the Beatles, Nizlopi, and Eminem. He enjoys heavier music too, mentioning bands like Cradle of Filth and Slipknot. He credits rapping along to Eminem's music with helping him overcome a stutter when he was younger. He was also inspired by singer-songwriter Damien Rice. Ed collaborated with Eric Clapton in 2016, calling it a huge honor. He also sees Taylor Swift as an inspiration, saying their success pushes each other.
In 2024, Ed Sheeran confirmed that the punk band the Offspring was an influence. He bought their album Conspiracy of One as his first CD. He later performed their song "Million Miles Away" with the band.
His recent songs, like "Azizam" (2025), have included Persian and Punjabi musical influences.
Other Projects
Gingerbread Man Records
In March 2015, Ed Sheeran announced he was starting his own record label, Gingerbread Man Records. This label works with Warner Music Group. The first artist he signed was Jamie Lawson, who released a number one album in the UK. Ed also signed Foy Vance and Maisie Peters to his label.
Bertie Blossoms
On 29 September 2019, Ed Sheeran opened a bar called "Bertie Blossoms" with his manager Stuart Camp. It is located in Notting Hill, London, and is named after his wife, Cherry Seaborn.
Giving Back to the Community
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Ed Sheeran often supports charities. He performed a concert in Bristol that raised £40,000 for a charity helping people facing difficulties. He believes it's important to support all people who need help.
He frequently donates his clothes to charity shops in Suffolk, his home county. As an ambassador for East Anglia's Children's Hospice, he has given many bags of clothes to their shops. A tartan shirt he wore in the film Bridget Jones's Baby was even auctioned to raise more money for the hospice.
In November 2014, Ed joined the charity supergroup Band Aid 30. They recorded a new version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to raise money for the West African Ebola virus epidemic. In November 2015, he supported the No Cold Homes campaign by the UK charity Turn2us. He donated winter clothing to help people keep their homes warm.
In December 2019, he started his own music foundation, the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation (ESSMF). This foundation helps young artists under 18 with grants. In May 2020, he donated £170,000 to his former school, Thomas Mills High School, to buy equipment like MacBooks and cameras. He also donated over £1 million to local charities in Suffolk during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October 2020, Ed's parents organized The Ed Sheeran Made in Suffolk Legacy Auction. It included items from Ed, like handwritten lyrics and childhood Lego bricks, and other celebrities. The auction raised money for Suffolk charities that support children and young adults.
Acting Roles
Ed Sheeran made his acting debut in 2014 with a cameo in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. In 2015, he appeared as himself in the sitcom Undateable and the soap Home and Away.
He was cast as Sir Cormac in the medieval drama The Bastard Executioner in 2015. Ed also appeared as himself in the 2016 film Bridget Jones's Baby.
In July 2017, Ed Sheeran had a cameo in Game of Thrones alongside Maisie Williams. The show's creators wanted to surprise Williams, who was a big fan of his.
In June 2019, Ed Sheeran appeared in an advertisement for Heinz Tomato Ketchup. He is a lifelong fan of the product and even has a Heinz Ketchup tattoo. He shared his idea for the TV campaign with the company. The advert showed him humorously using ketchup in a fancy restaurant. The company also released a special "Heinz Edchup" product.
Also in June 2019, Ed Sheeran played himself in the film Yesterday. The movie is about a struggling singer-songwriter who is the only person who remembers the Beatles.
Impact on Music
Music experts say Ed Sheeran "brought pop back down to earth" with his simple music style. He often performs with just his guitar and a loop pedal. He is seen as "one of the most influential" artists of his generation. After his album ×, many other singer-songwriters became popular.
The Guardian newspaper called him "the godfather of the current crop of singer-songwriters". His music helped create a trend of "everyman male pop stars". Billboard magazine noted that his appeal has influenced many new solo artists.
iHeartMedia executive Sharon Dastur said Ed's success has allowed quieter music to become popular in the mainstream. GQ magazine called him "the de facto voice of a generation". His honest lyrics and strong drive have helped him stand out in the music industry. He has also been able to perform at hip-hop and grime events, connecting with different audiences.
Vox states that Ed Sheeran has become famous all over the world. In 2017, the BBC named him the second-best performing artist of the decade, after Adele. The Independent said he has had "one of the biggest pop careers of this generation". He is often called a "British music icon". Ed Sheeran's music has influenced many artists, including Shawn Mendes, Louis Tomlinson, and Camila Cabello.
Awards and Honors
On 19 October 2015, Ed Sheeran received an honorary degree from the University of Suffolk for his amazing contributions to music. He said, "Suffolk is very much where I call home. Receiving this recognition is a real privilege". He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2017 for his services to music and charity. Prince Charles presented him with the award at Buckingham Palace on 7 December 2017.
Ed Sheeran has received many awards throughout his career. He has won four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year in 2016 for "Thinking Out Loud". He also has five Brit Awards, including British Male Solo Artist in 2015. He has won six Billboard Music Awards, including Top Artist in 2018. In 2015 and 2018, he received the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year.
In 2018, a poll ranked him as the fourth-greatest Yorkshireman ever, recognizing his birth county. In 2024, he won a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for "A Beautiful Game" from Ted Lasso.
Personal Life
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In early 2011, Ed Sheeran bought and renovated a farm near Framlingham, Suffolk, where he grew up. He hoped to raise a family there. This estate has been nicknamed "Sheeranville" by the media.
In July 2015, Ed began a relationship with his childhood friend and former classmate, Cherry Seaborn. They announced their engagement in January 2018 and got married a year later. Cherry is the inspiration for his song "Perfect". They have two daughters, born in 2020 and 2022.
He is close friends with singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. They have worked together on her albums Red and Reputation, and on a remix of "The Joker and the Queen".
Ed Sheeran supports his local football club, Ipswich Town. His +−=÷x Tour sponsored their team kit for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons. In August 2024, he bought a small share in the club. He also collects Panini FIFA World Cup sticker albums and completed the 2014 album.
In June 2015, Forbes magazine listed his earnings at $57 million. In July 2018, Forbes named him the ninth highest-paid celebrity. By 2023, his net worth was estimated at £300 million.
On 24 October 2021, Ed Sheeran tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before his fifth album was released.
Views on Important Topics
Ed Sheeran has shared his thoughts on various important topics. He publicly supported the UK staying in the European Union (EU), known as Brexit. After the 2016 vote to leave, he joined other British musicians in signing a letter. The letter asked for a second vote, saying Brexit would affect the music industry.
In 2017, Ed Sheeran supported the Labour Party and its leader Jeremy Corbyn during the general election. He said he votes based on his beliefs but doesn't tell others what to do. In the 2024 general election, he again supported the Labour Party and its leader Keir Starmer.
In 2021, Ed Sheeran joined other celebrities in urging the United States Congress to pass the Equality Act. This act would help prevent discrimination against LGBT people. He stated that the act is "essential to protect [...] the most marginalized communities".
Discography
- + (2011)
- × (2014)
- ÷ (2017)
- No.6 Collaborations Project (2019)
- = (2021)
- − (2023)
- Autumn Variations (2023)
- Play (2025)
Filmography
Film and television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Shortland Street | Himself | ||
| 2015 | Undateable | Himself | ||
| Home and Away | Teddy | |||
| The Bastard Executioner | Sir Cormac | 5 episodes | ||
| Jumpers for Goalposts: Live at Wembley Stadium | Himself | Concert film | ||
| 2016 | Bridget Jones's Baby | Himself | ||
| Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping | Himself | Uncredited | ||
| 2017 | Game of Thrones | Lannister soldier | Episode: "Dragonstone" | |
| 2018 | The Simpsons | Brendan (voice) | Episode: "Haw-Haw Land" | |
| Songwriter | Himself | Documentary | ||
| 2019 | Yesterday | Himself | ||
| Modern Love | Mick | Episode: "Hers was a World of One" | ||
| Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | Alien | Uncredited cameo | ||
| 2021 | Red Notice | Himself | Cameo | |
| 2023 | The Sum of It All | Himself | Docuseries | |
| 2023 | Sumotherhood | Ed | ||
| 2025 | Stans | Himself | Documentary |
Commercials
| Year | Product(s) | Brand(s) | Role | Ref |
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| 2019 | "Edchup" | Heinz | Himself |
Tours
Headlining act
- + Tour (2011–13)
- × Tour (2014–15)
- ÷ Tour (2017–19)
- +–=÷× Tour (2022–25)
- − Tour (2023)
- Loop Tour (2026)
Opening act
- Snow Patrol's Fallen Empires Tour (North American select dates) (2012)
- Taylor Swift's The Red Tour (all North American dates) (2013)
- The Rolling Stones' Zip Code Tour (Kansas City only)
See also
In Spanish: Ed Sheeran para niños
- List of Official Subscription Plays Chart number-one songs of the 2010s
- List of highest-grossing live music artists
- List of YouTubers
