Singer says he’ll “settle” in America with family after storm over cultural identity remarks

Ed Sheeran has announced he is leaving the United Kingdom to relocate with his family to the United States, following a backlash over comments about his cultural identity.

The 34-year-old singer, who has dominated charts with 14 UK number one singles and eight number one albums, revealed on The 2 Johnnies Podcast that the move will coincide with his upcoming American tour. “I’m just about to move to America… I feel like I might be the only person moving to America,” he said. “I’m going on tour there for a while, so I have a family, so I can’t dip in and out, we’re going and settling there.”

Sheeran will be joined by his wife, Cherry Seaborn, 32, and their daughters, Lyra, five, and Jupiter, three. Unlike the constant travel that has defined much of his career, this move signals his intention to base himself in the US “for the foreseeable future”.

The decision comes months after Sheeran sparked controversy during an interview with Louis Theroux, in which he said he identified “culturally as Irish” despite being “obviously born and raised in Britain”. The remarks provoked a wave of criticism and debate, intensifying the scrutiny already surrounding the star.

Earlier this year, Sheeran also declared his ambition to pivot into country music, telling the Call Her Daddy podcast: “When you transition to country, you can’t transition back. Nashville is my favourite city in the States and it’s always been my end goal to move there.”

For the Halifax-born, Suffolk-raised musician, Nashville’s allure lies in its reputation as the spiritual home of country music. A move there would represent a significant shift in his career trajectory, opening new artistic horizons while putting distance between himself and the disputes currently shadowing him in the UK.

Speaking about his home in Suffolk during his podcast appearance, Sheeran revealed it included two fully stocked pubs and a chapel. “(The pubs are) always tapped up, ready to rock, you never know when someone’s going to want to come round,” he said, describing how they allowed him to relax away from public scrutiny. “You can’t really let loose with camera phones around… it’s nice to have a place where you can have a few pints, a dance, and a sing, and get a bit silly, and not worry about it being on TikTok the next morning.”

He explained that the chapel on his estate had been used for personal moments, including mourning friends, hosting Christmas carols, and even serving as a wedding venue for his security staff.

The singer, who grew up in Suffolk after leaving West Yorkshire as a child, remains tied to the region through his investment in Ipswich Town Football Club. He bought a minority share last year, though the club was relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2024–25 season.

Beyond music, Sheeran has begun branching into the arts. Over the summer, he surprised fans by unveiling his first-ever collection of paintings, adding another string to his creative bow.

Yet for all his success, Sheeran appears determined to start a new chapter across the Atlantic. The combination of career ambition, family priorities, and controversy at home seems to have tipped the balance. For now, at least, Suffolk’s most famous export is trading the English countryside for Nashville stages