Ed Sheeran had a simple and very human reaction on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon when he learned about a surprising new study.
During their Thanksgiving episode, Jimmy Fallon told him, “Ed Sheeran is inspiring more people to play the guitar than The Beatles, according to a study.”
The stat left Sheeran stunned, and he laughed as he replied, “That’s a mad stat.”
Fallon explained that app data from songwriting and guitar-learning platforms pointed to a spike in interest connected directly to Sheeran’s music. He wanted to catch Sheeran off guard, and it worked.
“I wanted to surprise you with that. I thought you’d be impressed,” Fallon told him.
Sheeran didn’t celebrate loudly. Instead, he leaned into the thoughtful and humble tone fans know him for.
“I love meeting kids who are just getting into music,” he said, sharing that most of what he tells beginners is simple. He explained that he only mastered four or five chords well enough to build his career.
“Most songs have these four or five chords,” he said, encouraging young players not to worry about reading music and to focus more on feeling it.
He even pointed back to the band he was suddenly being compared to.
“The Beatles did not learn music theory… they just learned chords and feel,” Sheeran said, calling the comparison.
Fallon ended the conversation by reminding him, “You’re inspiring a lot of kids out there to pick up the guitar and play.”
Sheeran smiled and answered simply: “That’s good.”
Fans React to Sheeran’s Humble Response
The moment quickly made its way to Fallon Tonight’s official Instagram page, where fans rushed to share what the study and Sheeran’s reaction meant to them.
One viewer wrote that Ed was “as humble as always,” adding a heart emoji to match the tone of the interview.
Another fan said that while they didn’t think the comparison to The Beatles was perfect, “the thing is that Ed Sheeran is actually inspiring young people and that’s amazing.”
A different comment captured just how personal Sheeran’s influence can be, saying, “You inspired me to start playing the piano again. Thanks mate!”
“No hate, but… they didn’t have internet,” someone else pointed out that music spreads differently now.
“Ed is so humble, he’s a genius,” one person wrote.
Another added that hearing such a massive guitar-impact stat must feel like a real reward, saying it was a “solid stat to be proud of… to inspire others to do the same must feel remarkable.”
The interview comes during a busy stretch for the singer. He appeared on the Thanksgiving episode to promote One Shot with Ed Sheeran, his new Netflix special filmed in one continuous take across New York City. It arrives just as he also released the Play (Super Deluxe) edition of his album, adding 14 more tracks for fans.
Even with album rollouts, a Netflix special and a massive Loop Tour coming in 2025–2026, Sheeran seemed most excited about something simple: kids learning music because of him.
