Behind every superstar, there’s a story the spotlight rarely shows — and for Ed Sheeran, that story begins not with fame, but with family. In a recent interview, Sheeran opened up about the person who shaped his worldview, grounded his creativity, and gave him the courage to believe in impossible dreams — his father, John Sheeran.
A Foundation Built on Faith and Art
Growing up in Framlingham, Suffolk, Ed didn’t come from a glamorous background. His father, John, was an art curator and lecturer; his mother, Imogen, designed jewelry. Their home was filled not with fame or fortune, but with creativity, conversation, and faith.
“My dad never pushed me to be famous,” Ed said. “He pushed me to express something real. To be honest in what I create.”
While other kids were watching television, Ed spent his childhood surrounded by sketchbooks, records, and paint-stained hands. His father introduced him to classical art, gospel music, and old records — everything from Van Morrison and Bob Dylan to Caravaggio and Turner.
“He taught me that art isn’t about perfection,” Ed reflected. “It’s about connection — about finding beauty in the truth, even when it hurts.”
Faith That Grounded Fame
Long before arenas and Grammys, John Sheeran taught his son that talent without gratitude means nothing. The family’s quiet Christian faith played a quiet but powerful role in shaping Ed’s sense of purpose.
“Dad used to say, ‘What you have is a gift, but the way you use it — that’s your choice,’” Ed shared. “That’s always stayed with me.”
Even in his global success, Ed’s humility feels like a direct inheritance. He still visits home often, walks the same village streets he grew up on, and supports local projects — the kind of grounding his father always emphasized.
Lessons That Last Beyond Music
When Ed struggled early in his career — sleeping on friends’ couches, playing open mics for ten people — it was John who kept his hope alive. “He used to write me little notes,” Ed recalled, smiling. “Just simple things like, ‘Keep writing. Keep going. Your story matters.’ I still have those notes.”
John Sheeran’s belief didn’t come in the form of fame or fortune — it came in unwavering presence. He was at the school performances, the pub gigs, the nights when no one else saw the spark yet.
That kind of love doesn’t fade. “Every song I’ve ever written — every stage I’ve ever stood on — it’s because one man believed I could,” Ed said.
Full Circle: Art and Legacy
Now, as a father himself, Ed finds that his dad’s lessons have taken on new meaning. “I understand him better now,” he admitted. “When I look at my daughter, I get it — the late nights, the worries, the pride. You just want your child to be whole, to find joy in what they do.”
In 2025, Sheeran hinted at a personal project inspired by his father’s influence — a series of songs exploring faith, heritage, and the art of raising a dreamer. “It’s not an album about fame,” he said. “It’s about where you come from — and the people who keep you there when the world pulls you away.”
A Father’s Legacy
For Ed Sheeran, the greatest teacher wasn’t another musician — it was the man who taught him to see the world through art, to move through it with faith, and to give it back with heart.
He ended the interview with quiet gratitude:
“If I ever write the song that defines my life, it won’t be about fame or heartbreak. It’ll be about my dad — the first person who taught me what love and art really mean.”
Because long before the stadium lights and sold-out tours, there was a kitchen table, a father’s belief, and a boy learning that the truest art always begins at home.
