Global music sensation Ed Sheeran has opened up about the challenges of fame and how it affected his personal life in the early stages of his career.
The Perfect hit-maker, who released his eighth studio album Play last week, revealed that his initial rise to stardom came at a heavy personal cost.
Speaking in a candid interview with The Sun, Sheeran confessed that the first decade of his career left him “intensely unhappy” due to the lack of balance between his professional and personal life. “I was just work, work, work,” the singer-songwriter admitted, recalling how he prioritized career achievements over relationships.
The Photograph singer described that period as “hyper-successful,” but attributed the success to sacrificing his personal life entirely. “To be that successful in my 20s you have to give everything of yourself all day, every day, and there’s a time limit to that, sanity-wise,” the 34-year-old explained.
In those early years, Sheeran often worked 16-hour days, leaving little room for family or friends. Now, however, the artist has shifted his priorities. Since marrying long-time partner Cherry Seaborn in 2019 and welcoming two children, Sheeran has made family his top focus.
“In my early career, it was 100 percent work, 0 percent personal life,” he shared. “Now it’s 70 percent family, 30 percent music. Balance isn’t just healthy—it’s success.”
The Bad Habits crooner, who has always been protective of his family’s privacy, emphasized that he wants to look back on his life not just through the lens of professional accomplishments but through meaningful memories with loved ones. “When I look back at these years with my family and friends, I want to say: I lived those days and I enjoyed every minute,” Sheeran concluded.
Sheeran’s reflections highlight the often unseen struggles behind fame and the importance of finding equilibrium between career and personal life. With his latest album out and his focus now on family, fans can expect the singer to continue creating music from a place of balance and happiness.