Ed Sheeran
Born 1991 · Age 34
English singer-songwriter, record producer and actor; multi-platinum selling artist known for albums +, ×, ÷, No.6 Collaborations Project, =, − and Autumn Variations; founder of Gingerbread Man Records.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth
Edward Christopher Sheeran was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England.
Sang in local church choir
Sheeran sang in a local church choir at age four — an early musical experience.
Family moved to Framlingham, Suffolk
Sheeran's family relocated from Hebden Bridge to Framlingham; his upbringing there later inspired 'Castle on the Hill'.
Inspired by Eric Clapton; learned guitar
Saw Eric Clapton at the Queen's Golden Jubilee (June 2002), bought a guitar two days later and learned to play; began writing songs around age 11.
Began recording and released 'Spinning Man'
Started recording music (2004) and independently released his first collection, Spinning Man.
Joined Youth Music Theatre UK production
Successfully auditioned for Youth Music Theatre UK and joined their production of Frankenstein – A New Musical in Plymouth.
Moved to London to pursue music
Relocated to London and began playing small venues and building his live experience.
Opened for Nizlopi
Opened for the folk duo Nizlopi in Norwich (after serving as one of their guitar technicians).
Enrolled at Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM)
Began studying music as an undergraduate at ACM in Guildford; left later that year to support Just Jack on tour.
Released EP 'You Need Me'
Issued the EP You Need Me and collaborated with Leddra Chapman on multiple tracks.
Self-released EPs and US exposure
Self-released Ed Sheeran: Live at the Bedford and Songs I Wrote with Amy; performed at Jamie Foxx's The Foxxhole and was invited to stay at Foxx's home.
Posted SB.TV video and toured with Example; released 'Loose Change' EP
Video on SB.TV led to Example inviting Sheeran to tour; released Loose Change EP, which included 'The A Team'.
Station Session at St Pancras International
Performed a Station Session at St Pancras International, raising his profile.
+ album certified multi-platinum
By end of 2011 + had sold 791,000 copies in the UK and was eventually certified 6× platinum (1.8 million shipments) in the UK.
Released No.5 Collaborations Project (independent)
Self-released EP featuring grime artists; reached #2 on iTunes and sold over 7,000 copies in its first week without label promotion.
Signed to Asylum Records (Atlantic umbrella)
After breakthrough independent success, Sheeran signed a recording contract with Asylum Records.
TV debut on Later... with Jools Holland
Performed his debut single 'The A Team' on the BBC show, boosting mainstream visibility.
'The A Team' single released and chart success
'The A Team' entered the UK Singles Chart at #3, selling over 58,000 copies its first week and ultimately selling ~801,000 copies in 2011.
Released debut album + (Plus)
Debut studio album + released; debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 102,000 copies.
Won two BRIT Awards
At the 2012 BRIT Awards Sheeran won British Breakthrough Act and British Male Solo Artist.
Taylor Swift collaboration contact
Taylor Swift contacted Sheeran after hearing his music (March 2012); he later co-wrote 'Everything Has Changed' (released on Swift's Red, 2012).
Ivor Novello Award for 'The A Team'
'The A Team' won Best Song Musically and Lyrically at the Ivor Novello Awards (May 2012).
Performed at Diamond Jubilee concert
Performed 'The A Team' at the Diamond Jubilee concert on The Mall, outside Buckingham Palace.
Performed at 2012 Olympics closing ceremony
Performed a cover of Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' at the Olympic closing ceremony in London.
Opened arenas/stadiums on Taylor Swift's Red Tour
From March to September 2013 toured North America as the opening act for Taylor Swift on The Red Tour; major exposure to large audiences.
Headlined three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden
Played three sold-out concerts (capacity ~18,200) at New York's MSG and debuted new songs including 'Tenerife Sea'.
Released 'I See Fire' for The Hobbit soundtrack
Released 'I See Fire' featured in the end credits of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Patron and charitable roles (ongoing)
Patron of British Youth Music Theatre (formerly Youth Music Theatre UK) and Access to Music; frequent charity donations and fundraising performances (various years).
Spotify streaming milestone (2014)
By 2014 combined streams of Sheeran's catalogue on Spotify reached 860 million; Spotify named him most-streamed artist and × most-streamed album.
Released lead single 'Sing' from ×
Released 'Sing' (produced with Pharrell Williams), a stylistic departure that became Sheeran's first UK #1 single.
Released second studio album × (Multiply)
× released worldwide; Sheeran wrote over 120 songs during its creation; album debuted at #1 in the UK and US.
Commenced world tour supporting ×
Began a world tour in Osaka, Japan on 6 August 2014 to support ×.
Released 'Thinking Out Loud'
Third single from ×; video features Sheeran dancing; it later became one of his signature hits and won Grammys.
BRIT Awards wins for ×
Won British Male Solo Artist and British Album of the Year for × at the 2015 BRIT Awards.
Ivor Novello: Songwriter of the Year
Received the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year (May 2015).
Sold-out Wembley Stadium shows
Played three sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium (10–12 July 2015); concerts documented in TV special and later DVD.
Gingerbread Man Records label channel launch (YouTube)
The label was publicly launched in August 2015 alongside its YouTube channel.
Co-hosted and won at MTV EMAs
Co-hosted the 2015 MTV Europe Music Awards and won Best Live Act and Best Live Stage.
Founded Gingerbread Man Records (announced)
Announced plans to set up his own record label, Gingerbread Man Records, in a deal with Warner Music Group.
× named second-best-selling album worldwide (2015)
IFPI ranked × the second-best-selling album worldwide in 2015 (behind Adele's 25).
Grammy Awards wins for 'Thinking Out Loud'
Won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2016 ceremony.
Social-media hiatus and album tease
After a year-long hiatus Sheeran changed his social media backgrounds to light blue, hinting at new music.
Multiple global accolades and streaming milestones (2017)
Named the world's best-selling artist of 2017 and Spotify's most-streamed artist of 2017 (6.3 billion streams); ÷ streamed 3.1B and 'Shape of You' 1.4B.
Legal and copyright milestones (ongoing)
Sheeran has faced and defended multiple copyright claims related to songs (e.g., 'Thinking Out Loud'); notable trials culminated in rulings in subsequent years (details vary by case).
Released singles 'Shape of You' and 'Castle on the Hill'
Released two lead singles from ÷ which broke Spotify day-one records (combined >13M streams in 24 hours).
Historic UK chart debut at #1 and #2
'Shape of You' and 'Castle on the Hill' debuted at #1 and #2 on the UK Singles Chart — first time top two positions taken by a single artist with new songs.
Released third studio album ÷ (Divide)
÷ released worldwide; debuted at #1 in multiple major markets and was the best-selling album globally in 2017.
Announced and launched ÷ Tour
Divide Tour dates announced; tour later became the highest-grossing tour of all time (recorded Aug 2019).
Headlined Glastonbury Festival closing night
Performed as Glastonbury's final-night headliner in front of ~135,000 people.
Awarded MBE for services to music and charity
Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2017 for services to music and charity; received insignia in December.
Brit Awards: Global Success Award
Performed 'Supermarket Flowers' and accepted the Global Success Award at the 2018 Brit Awards.
Won six Billboard Music Awards
At the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Sheeran won six awards including Top Artist and Top Hot 100 Artist.
Married Cherry Seaborn
Ed Sheeran married Cherry Seaborn in 2019 (publicly noted as spouse since 2019).
Acting cameo in film 'Yesterday'
Appeared as himself in the 2019 feature film Yesterday.
Released 'I Don't Care' (with Justin Bieber) — Spotify daily streaming record
'I Don't Care' debuted with 10.977 million daily global streams on Spotify, breaking the platform's single-day record.
Released No.6 Collaborations Project (fourth studio release overall)
First full collaborations album featuring many major artists; debuted at #1 in the UK, US and other markets.
Completed Divide Tour (260 shows)
Wrapped up the 260-show ÷ Tour with a homecoming gig in Ipswich, Suffolk; the tour became the highest-grossing touring event by Aug 2019.
Announced and opened bar 'Bertie Blossoms' (planning)
Announced (29 Sep 2019) collaboration with manager Stuart Camp to open 'Bertie Blossoms' bar on Portobello Road, Notting Hill.
Named 'Artist of the Decade' by Official Charts Company
Official Charts Company named Sheeran the artist of the 2010s for combined success in UK album and singles charts.
Birth of first child
Sheeran and wife Cherry Seaborn had their first child in August 2020; he took a hiatus from music following the birth.
Released surprise single 'Afterglow'
Returned from hiatus to release the non-album single 'Afterglow' on 21 December 2020.
Released 'Bad Habits' (lead single from =)
'Bad Habits' debuted and became his 10th UK #1 single, spending eleven consecutive weeks at #1 in the UK and Ireland; peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Announced = (Equals) album; released 'Visiting Hours'
Announced fifth studio album = to be released 29 Oct 2021; released promotional single 'Visiting Hours'. Album cover painted by Sheeran.
Released = (Equals)
Fifth studio album = released and topped charts in most major markets (UK and US #1).
Released charity single 'Merry Christmas' with Elton John
Duet released to raise funds for Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and Elton John AIDS Foundation; UK profits donated to charity.
Second child (birth timing referenced)
Text indicates the couple had a second child prior to a subsequent operation on Seaborn's tumor; exact birth date not specified in supplied text.
Personal challenge: wife's cancer diagnosis
Cherry Seaborn diagnosed with cancer in 2022; tumor was inoperable until after the birth of their second child, events that profoundly affected Sheeran's songwriting for −.
Commenced +–=÷x Tour (Mathematics Tour)
Launched major global tour on 21 March 2022, following warm-up shows at Electric Ballroom and shows at Croke Park in Dublin.
Released '2step' (featuring Lil Baby)
Released the fifth single from =, collaborating with Lil Baby and later releasing a version with Ukrainian band Antytila.
Launched Lucy & Yak clothing collaboration
Launched a clothing collaboration inspired by the artwork of =.
Released 'Celestial' with Pokémon franchise
Released a single collaboration with the Pokémon media franchise.
'Shivers' reaches 1 billion Spotify streams
Celebrated 'Shivers' becoming his 11th song to exceed 1 billion streams on Spotify.
Gingerbread Man Records: early milestones
Gingerbread Man Records launched (announced March 2015; label launched August 2015). First signee Jamie Lawson's self-titled album released 9 Oct 2015 (UK #1). Foy Vance signed Nov 2015; Maisie Peters signed 2021.
Primetime Emmy Award (2023)
Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for 'A Beautiful Game' (from Ted Lasso) in 2023.
Announced sixth studio album − (Subtract)
Announced release date for − (Subtract) on social media; album scheduled for 5 May 2023.
Released lead single 'Eyes Closed' from −
Released lead single 'Eyes Closed' with accompanying music video on 24 March 2023 ahead of the album.
Released album − (Subtract)
Sixth studio album − released on 5 May 2023.
Released Autumn Variations (own label, first owned copyright)
Released Autumn Variations on 29 September 2023; first studio album for which he owns the copyright and first to be released through Gingerbread Man Records.
Sales milestone: 200 million records sold worldwide (cumulative)
Sheeran has sold approximately 200 million records worldwide, placing him among the best-selling music artists.
Third most followed artist on Spotify (as of July 2024)
As of July 2024 Sheeran was the third most followed artist on Spotify.
Time 100 Most Influential People (2025)
Named one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2025.
Announced eighth studio album 'Play'
Announced eighth studio album Play via social media; title had been hinted at previously.
Released lead single 'Azizam' from Play
'Azizam' released 4 April 2025 as the lead single from upcoming album Play; noted for Persian musical influences.
Key Achievement Ages
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