As a byproduct of his profession, he frequently appears not only in public, but in front of huge crowds of screaming fans. Yet, somehow, he has largely managed to avoid the limelight. He has not been involved with any salacious gossip, he quietly married a childhood friend who retains her anonymity, had a kid, and lives a peaceful life.

Take a look through the following gallery to find out more about Ed Sheeran's curiously quiet rise to global fame.

1 / 32 Fotos

Childhood -

Edward Christopher Sheeran was born on February 17, 1991.

2 / 32 Fotos

Halifax, England -

He was born in a town called Halifax, which is situated in West Yorkshire, England.

3 / 32 Fotos

Ipswich, England -

As a child, he moved from Yorkshire to a town called Framlingham in Suffolk, which is near the more well-known town of Ipswich, where Sheeran played his first gigs.

4 / 32 Fotos

London, England -

In 2008, Sheeran moved to London, to try and advance his career.

5 / 32 Fotos

Recognition -

Gradually, throughout 2009 and 2010, people began to notice him. He built up a fan base online, and even received praise from Elton John, who he later went on to duet with!

6 / 32 Fotos

Jamie Foxx -

Sheeran slept on Jamie Foxx's couch in Los Angeles for several weeks in 2010, after performing at Foxx's club, the Foxxhole.

7 / 32 Fotos

Breakthrough -

Sheeran's breakthrough came in 2011. He released his first single, which was the best-selling debut single of the year and performed very well internationally.

8 / 32 Fotos

One Direction -

Ed Sheeran has many celebrity friends, such as Harry Styles. They go way back, as Sheeran actually co-wrote One Direction's 2011 single 'Moments.'

9 / 32 Fotos

Pharrell Williams -

Sheeran is also friends with Pharrell Williams, who has produced some songs for him and appears on his track 'Sing.'

10 / 32 Fotos

Amy Wadge -

Here Sheeran is pictured with British singer Amy Wadge, who collaborated with him before he was famous.

11 / 32 Fotos

Taylor Swift -

Sheeran has been good friends with Taylor Swift for some years. They have dueted on a number of songs together, plus, he was her opening act for her Red Tour in 2013, and made a surprise appearance on her 2024 Eras Tour.

12 / 32 Fotos

Stormzy -

British grime music star Stormzy is good friends with Sheeran. They have interviewed one another, performed together, and released the duet 'Take Me Back to London' in 2019.

13 / 32 Fotos

LL Cool J -

Another, perhaps surprising, friend of Sheeran's is LL Cool J. The two are pictured onstage together at the Teen Choice Awards.

14 / 32 Fotos

Beyoncé -

Sheeran is now so famous and successful that he performs duets with fellow global superstars frequently, like Beyoncé.

15 / 32 Fotos

Shy -

Sheeran avoids the limelight in his personal life, but he'll still stop to take selfies with his fans.

16 / 32 Fotos

Fans -

Ed Sheeran has an enormous number of fans worldwide. His biggest fan-base, however, are teenagers.

17 / 32 Fotos

Talk shows -

The pop star is naturally very high in demand, and he has been invited to appear on a huge number of TV and radio shows over the years.

18 / 32 Fotos

Waxwork -

Ed Sheeran is now so recognizable that he has several waxworks devoted to him. He is pictured with his own wax statue in New York.

19 / 32 Fotos

Legal issues -

Ed Sheeran has dealt with at least a couple of lawsuits, in which he was accused, among other singers, of plagiarism.

20 / 32 Fotos

Charity -

Sheeran has frequently performed at charitable gigs, which have in turn raised a lot of money for worthy causes.

21 / 32 Fotos

Politics -

Ed Sheeran spoke out against Brexit, the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.

22 / 32 Fotos

Justin Bieber -

Sheeran collaborated with Justin Bieber on the song 'I Don't Care,' which was released in May 2019, and achieved huge success.

23 / 32 Fotos

Awards -

To date, Sheeran has won almost 200 awards, including four Grammys.

24 / 32 Fotos

Marriage and children -

In 2017, Sheeran married Cherry Seaborn, who was a friend and classmate from school. They are now the parents of two daughters, Lyra and Jupiter. He has written many songs for his wife, including some of his best-selling hits, such as 'Perfect' (2017) and 'Shape of You' (2017).

25 / 32 Fotos

Privacy -

It is evident from how infrequently Sheeran has been pictured with his wife, who is firmly out of the spotlight, how much he values his family's privacy.

26 / 32 Fotos

Movie star -

Ed Sheeran has also dabbled in a few acting roles, including appearing in hits such as ‘Bridget Jones’ Baby’ (2016), ‘Yesterday’ (2019), and ‘Red Notice’ (2021). He also released his own docuseries in 2023, ‘Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All,’ which gave a rare glimpse into his personal life.

27 / 32 Fotos

The Mathematics Era -

In 2023, Ed Sheeran released his sixth studio album, ‘-’ (also known as ‘Subtract’), which completed his series of mathematically themed albums, which also consist of ‘+’ (2011), ‘×’ (2014), ‘÷’ (2017), and ‘=’ (2021).

28 / 32 Fotos

Christmas -

Sheeran achieved a UK No.1 hit single with Elton John when they released ‘Merry Christmas’ in 2021. He also had a Christmas hit when he was part of the supergroup that recorded ‘Band Aid 30’ in 2014. However, when his vocals were used again on ‘Band Aid 40’ in 2024, he publicly spoke out about no longer wanting to be affiliated with Band Aid due to certain lyrics and their impact on the portrayal of Africa.

29 / 32 Fotos

World Tour -

He began his ‘+–=÷x’ Tour (also known as the ‘Mathematics Tour’) in Dublin in 2023 and is expected to complete it in Germany in September 2025. Altogether, the world tour will comprise 165 shows and has had huge success. Although, he did come across one issue when he was busking in India as a part of the tour’s promotion in 2025, and was unplugged and reprimanded by the police!

30 / 32 Fotos

Continued success -

Sheeran has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, and is one of the world's best-selling musical artists. And yet, it still feels like the best is yet to come!

31 / 32 Fotos

0 / 32 Fotos

Ed Sheeran: The quiet pop star -

Take a look through the following gallery to find out more about Ed Sheeran's curiously quiet rise to global fame.

Getty Images

1 / 32 Fotos

Childhood -

Edward Christopher Sheeran was born on February 17, 1991.

Getty Images

2 / 32 Fotos

Halifax, England -

He was born in a town called Halifax, which is situated in West Yorkshire, England.

Shutterstock

3 / 32 Fotos

Ipswich, England -

As a child, he moved from Yorkshire to a town called Framlingham in Suffolk, which is near the more well-known town of Ipswich, where Sheeran played his first gigs.

Shutterstock

4 / 32 Fotos

London, England -

In 2008, Sheeran moved to London, to try and advance his career.

Shutterstock

5 / 32 Fotos

Recognition -

Gradually, throughout 2009 and 2010, people began to notice him. He built up a fan base online, and even received praise from Elton John, who he later went on to duet with!

Getty Images

6 / 32 Fotos

Jamie Foxx -

Sheeran slept on Jamie Foxx's couch in Los Angeles for several weeks in 2010, after performing at Foxx's club, the Foxxhole.

Getty Images

7 / 32 Fotos

Breakthrough -

Sheeran's breakthrough came in 2011. He released his first single, which was the best-selling debut single of the year and performed very well internationally.

Getty Images

8 / 32 Fotos

One Direction -

Ed Sheeran has many celebrity friends, such as Harry Styles. They go way back, as Sheeran actually co-wrote One Direction's 2011 single 'Moments.'

Getty Images

9 / 32 Fotos

Pharrell Williams -

Sheeran is also friends with Pharrell Williams, who has produced some songs for him and appears on his track 'Sing.'

Getty Images

10 / 32 Fotos

Amy Wadge -

Here Sheeran is pictured with British singer Amy Wadge, who collaborated with him before he was famous.

Getty Images

11 / 32 Fotos

Taylor Swift -

Getty Images

12 / 32 Fotos

Stormzy -

British grime music star Stormzy is good friends with Sheeran. They have interviewed one another, performed together, and released the duet 'Take Me Back to London' in 2019.

Getty Images

13 / 32 Fotos

LL Cool J -

Another, perhaps surprising, friend of Sheeran's is LL Cool J. The two are pictured onstage together at the Teen Choice Awards.

Getty Images

14 / 32 Fotos

Beyoncé -

Sheeran is now so famous and successful that he performs duets with fellow global superstars frequently, like Beyoncé.

Getty Images

15 / 32 Fotos

Shy -

Sheeran avoids the limelight in his personal life, but he'll still stop to take selfies with his fans.

Getty Images

16 / 32 Fotos

Fans -

Ed Sheeran has an enormous number of fans worldwide. His biggest fan-base, however, are teenagers.

Getty Images

17 / 32 Fotos

Talk shows -

The pop star is naturally very high in demand, and he has been invited to appear on a huge number of TV and radio shows over the years.

Getty Images

18 / 32 Fotos

Waxwork -

Ed Sheeran is now so recognizable that he has several waxworks devoted to him. He is pictured with his own wax statue in New York.

Getty Images

19 / 32 Fotos

Legal issues -

Ed Sheeran has dealt with at least a couple of lawsuits, in which he was accused, among other singers, of plagiarism.

Getty Images

20 / 32 Fotos

Charity -

Sheeran has frequently performed at charitable gigs, which have in turn raised a lot of money for worthy causes.

Getty Images

21 / 32 Fotos

Politics -

Ed Sheeran spoke out against Brexit, the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.

Getty Images

22 / 32 Fotos

Justin Bieber -

Sheeran collaborated with Justin Bieber on the song 'I Don't Care,' which was released in May 2019, and achieved huge success.

Getty Images

23 / 32 Fotos

Awards -

To date, Sheeran has won almost 200 awards, including four Grammys.

Getty Images

24 / 32 Fotos

Marriage and children -

Getty Images

25 / 32 Fotos

Privacy -

It is evident from how infrequently Sheeran has been pictured with his wife, who is firmly out of the spotlight, how much he values his family's privacy.

Getty Images

26 / 32 Fotos

Movie star -

NL Beeld

27 / 32 Fotos

The Mathematics Era -

Getty Images

28 / 32 Fotos

Christmas -

NL Beeld

29 / 32 Fotos

World Tour -

Getty Images

30 / 32 Fotos

Continued success -

Sheeran has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, and is one of the world's best-selling musical artists. And yet, it still feels like the best is yet to come!

Getty Images

31 / 32 Fotos

Ed Sheeran: The quiet pop star

The singing sensation turns 34 today

18/02/25 | StarsInsider

MUSIC Celebrity

Ed Sheeran may be an unlikely superstar, but he’s one of the most successful of his time. He has made his name by writing his own songs, playing everything on his guitar, and staying true to his roots (which are famously ginger and always slightly messy!).

Despite having No. 1 hits, sellout tours, appearing in films, and making famous friends, Sheeran still somehow manages to stay out of the limelight. He married his childhood sweetheart and together they have had two children, and live a quiet life away from the cameras.

But while we may not know everything, we sure still do know a lot! Take a look through the following gallery to find out more about Ed Sheeran's curiously quiet rise to global fame.