Ed Sheeran is opening up about one of the most frightening moments of his life involving his wife, Cherry Seaborn.
The “Shivers” hitmaker recently revealed that one of the scariest days he has ever faced was learning that Seaborn had been diagnosed with cancer while six months pregnant with their daughter, Jupiter, in 2022.
Sheeran has also hinted that, like many marriages, their relationship has faced its share of challenges.
Ed Sheeran Shares ‘Worst’ Day With Wife’s ‘Scary’ Health Crisis
In an appearance on the March 10 episode of the “Friends Keep Secrets” podcast with Benny Blanco, the Grammy-winning singer reflected on life’s highs and lows.
When asked about the best day of his life, the Grammy winner immediately replied, “My wedding.” But the worst moment, he revealed, came when Seaborn called with devastating news. “The day Cherry rang me up and said she had cancer,” he recalled.
He added that the frightening call came during an already overwhelming week. Around that same week, Sheeran lost his close friend Jamal Edwards, was fighting a copyright lawsuit over his hit song “Shape of You,” and was mourning the death of cricket legend Shane Warne.
When asked how his wife was currently, the “Perfect” singer went on to reveal she is in a good place.
“She’s fine, she had the operation,” he said. “She was pregnant at the time. That’s why it was difficult. She had the operation to remove the tumor after the birth of our second child. And thankfully – touch wood — totally fine.”
However, the moment left a lasting impact on him, as he described it as “f—king scary.”
Ed Sheeran Used Songwriting To Cope With Painful Feelings
This is not the first time Sheeran has shared his wife’s diagnosis. Per PEOPLE Magazine, in the 2023 Disney+ documentary “Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All,” Seaborn herself spoke candidly about it, sharing how the moment prompted reflections on human mortality.
Sheeran became emotional while discussing the ordeal, calling it “horrible.” The “Photograph” singer turned to songwriting as a way to cope with the fear and uncertainty surrounding Seaborn’s cancer diagnosis, writing seven songs in four hours.
The mom of two echoed how her husband uses music to process situations, saying, “When something really intense happens to him, he writes a song.”
How Ed Sheeran’s Songs Have Pointed Out Marital Crisis
Sheeran’s tendency to channel personal experiences into music has also sparked speculation about the state of his marriage. In his deluxe edition album “Play,” released about six months ago, some songs hinted at tensions in his union with Seaborn.
As The Blast reported, the record “Problems” paints a picture of fading love. “Flowers in our garden are dying / When did the water run dry? / Who can tell? / But you want the truth, we’re not fine,” the lyrics read.
Another track, “War Game,” goes even deeper, with Sheeran confessing he wrestled with the idea of leaving and also revealing a bond tested by hardship.
A Similar Marriage-Crisis-Themed Album in 2023
In 2023, The Blast reported that Sheeran’s work “Autumn” pointed at a similar marriage problem with several tracks carrying a message of a strained bond.
One particular track, “Punchline,” stood out, where Sheeran admitted to destructive emotions and a sense of hopelessness.
The chorus intensifies the vulnerability, balancing enduring love with the pain of distance, singing, “I can’t help it, but I love you so. I can’t take this letting go.
Sheeran has been candid about the inspiration behind “Autumn Variations,” explaining that the album was born out of both his own struggles and the experiences of those close to him.
Inside Ed Sheeran And Cherry Seaborn’s Relationship Timeline
Despite the challenges, Sheeran and Seaborn share a love story that spans decades. Per Brides, the pair first met at age 11, when the singer reportedly had a crush on her while they were still in school. After their graduation, they went their separate ways.
The pair reconnected in New York City in 2015 when Sheeran was touring the U.S and quickly began dating. In 2017, Sheeran had proposed, and a year later, the couple secretly tied the knot in December 2018.
They later welcomed daughters Lyra Antarctica in 2020 and Jupiter in 2022. With two girls already, the singer has revealed he wants another.
In his recent talk on Blanco’s podcast, he shared insights into wanting to expand his family further, but he’s not so hopeful about the addition being a boy.
“You know what? I don’t know. I don’t know,” Sheeran said, per PEOPLE Magazine. “I think….. I think maybe I’d want another girl. I think. I don’t know.”