Ed Sheeran 'announces semi-retirement' in emotional farewell to fans
He's been touring for two years!
Author: Emma DoddsPublished 28th Aug 2019
Ed Sheeran has announced he'll be 'going into semi-retirement' after being on tour solidly for two years. The 28-year-old, who secretly married his wife Cherry Seaborn in December 2018, told the audience at the final date of his 'Divide' tour on Monday (26th Aug) that he'd be taking some time off.
The 'Beautiful People' singer, who made it into the list of Top 20 richest UK musicians this year, revealed on stage at his gig in Suffolk - his hometown - that he was looking forward to spending time with his wife and chilling out for a bit.
According to the Mirror, Ed said, "As you may or not know, I've been on the Divide tour for over two years now and this is the last day of the whole thing. There is something very bittersweet about it. I love that you guys are here and we are ending it in Ipswich. This is my last gig for probably 18 months.
"We've played all around the world. Glastonbury, Wembley Stadium. All these amazing venues, America, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, South America - it's been a wild one. I was told before I came on that now at the end of this tour I've played to nine million people around the world. It is the biggest tour ever."
'End Game' with Ed Sheeran & Future - 2017
Another collab with Taylor's good friend Ed Sheeran, who helped write the track. It was the first time Taylor had worked with Future, but it was her third collab with a rapper following 'Bad Blood' with Kendrick Lamar and 'Both of Us' with B.o.B.
Another collab with Taylor's good friend Ed Sheeran, who helped write the track. It was the first time Taylor had worked with Future, but it was her third collab with a rapper following 'Bad Blood' with Kendrick Lamar and 'Both of Us' with B.o.B.
Co-written by Ed, 'Little Things' was a Number 1 hit for the boy band One Direction in 2012. It appeared on their second album, 'Take Me Home', and Ed worked with songwriter Fiona Bevan and producer Jake Gosling to create it.
Ed joined forces with Justin for 'Love Yourself' which was a hit in 2015 all around the world, reaching the top spot in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Sweden, as well as spending six weeks at Number 1 in the UK. Ed nearly kept the track for his own album, '÷', but it ended up with Justin instead.
Released in 2015, this song was the third song from Rixton's debut album. Ed worked on the song with producer Benny Blanco, and the video starred Hollywood actress Alice Eve.
Rudimental - 'Lay It All On Me' featuring Ed Sheeran (2015)
Co-written by drum and bass group Rudimental and Ed, this single was a hit in 2015 and appeared on the group's second album 'We The Generation' in that year. It was the second collaboration for Ed and the group, who co-wrote and also remixed 'Bloodstream' on Ed's album 'x'.
Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and Mø - 'Cold Water' (2016)
Ed was also co-writer on another Justin Bieber track, which also worked with DJ group Major Lazer, made up of Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire, with the song also featuring Danish singer and producer MØ. It reached Number 1 in the UK in 2016.
'Pretty Woman' is featured on Robbie's most recent album, 'The Heavy Entertainment Show', released in 2016. Ed co-wrote the song with Robbie, teamed up with Benny Blanco again and also producer Steve Robson for the track.
This song was co-written by Zara and Ed along with some other songwriters including Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid. Ed also provided backing vocals on the track, which appeared on Zara's second album 'So Good', released in 2017.
Liam Payne - 'Strip That Down', featuring Quavo (2017)
The debut solo single from former One Directioner Liam Payne was co-written by Ed, Liam and Quavo who also features on the track. Ed also provided uncredited backing vocals for the song, which reached Number 3 in the UK charts.
Rita Ora made her comeback in 2017 with a song penned by the fantastic Ed, which also served as the lead single from her second album, 'Phoenix, released in 2018.
Anne-Marie's most popular song as it stands is '2002', which she co-wrote with Ed and who encouraged her to release it as a single. It peaked at Number 3 in the UK charts.
Ed and Olly teamed up once again in 2018 for Olly's comeback single, 'Moves', which also featured vocals from Snoop Dogg. The track featured on the soundtrack for Johnny English Strikes Again.
Ed helped Jess Glynne pen this song, which is all about how people shouldn't be forced to hide behind a mask and should feel free to express themselves. Jess has stated that it's one of her "favourites", and that it's "close to her heart".
Little Mix - 'Woman Like Me' featuring Nicki Minaj (2018)
Little Mix's feminist powerhouse track featuring Nicki Minaj was actually co-written by Ed himself along with Jess Glynne for her own album, 'Always In Between', but said that it "didn't fit" with the other songs and gave it to Little Mix instead.
Another collab with Taylor's good friend Ed Sheeran, who helped write the track. It was the first time Taylor had worked with Future, but it was her third collab with a rapper following 'Bad Blood' with Kendrick Lamar and 'Both of Us' with B.o.B.
Co-written by Ed, 'Little Things' was a Number 1 hit for the boy band One Direction in 2012. It appeared on their second album, 'Take Me Home', and Ed worked with songwriter Fiona Bevan and producer Jake Gosling to create it.
Ed joined forces with Justin for 'Love Yourself' which was a hit in 2015 all around the world, reaching the top spot in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Sweden, as well as spending six weeks at Number 1 in the UK. Ed nearly kept the track for his own album, '÷', but it ended up with Justin instead.
Released in 2015, this song was the third song from Rixton's debut album. Ed worked on the song with producer Benny Blanco, and the video starred Hollywood actress Alice Eve.
Rudimental - 'Lay It All On Me' featuring Ed Sheeran (2015)
Co-written by drum and bass group Rudimental and Ed, this single was a hit in 2015 and appeared on the group's second album 'We The Generation' in that year. It was the second collaboration for Ed and the group, who co-wrote and also remixed 'Bloodstream' on Ed's album 'x'.
Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and Mø - 'Cold Water' (2016)
Ed was also co-writer on another Justin Bieber track, which also worked with DJ group Major Lazer, made up of Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire, with the song also featuring Danish singer and producer MØ. It reached Number 1 in the UK in 2016.
'Pretty Woman' is featured on Robbie's most recent album, 'The Heavy Entertainment Show', released in 2016. Ed co-wrote the song with Robbie, teamed up with Benny Blanco again and also producer Steve Robson for the track.
This song was co-written by Zara and Ed along with some other songwriters including Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid. Ed also provided backing vocals on the track, which appeared on Zara's second album 'So Good', released in 2017.
Liam Payne - 'Strip That Down', featuring Quavo (2017)
The debut solo single from former One Directioner Liam Payne was co-written by Ed, Liam and Quavo who also features on the track. Ed also provided uncredited backing vocals for the song, which reached Number 3 in the UK charts.
Rita Ora made her comeback in 2017 with a song penned by the fantastic Ed, which also served as the lead single from her second album, 'Phoenix, released in 2018.
Anne-Marie's most popular song as it stands is '2002', which she co-wrote with Ed and who encouraged her to release it as a single. It peaked at Number 3 in the UK charts.
Ed and Olly teamed up once again in 2018 for Olly's comeback single, 'Moves', which also featured vocals from Snoop Dogg. The track featured on the soundtrack for Johnny English Strikes Again.
Ed helped Jess Glynne pen this song, which is all about how people shouldn't be forced to hide behind a mask and should feel free to express themselves. Jess has stated that it's one of her "favourites", and that it's "close to her heart".
Little Mix - 'Woman Like Me' featuring Nicki Minaj (2018)
Little Mix's feminist powerhouse track featuring Nicki Minaj was actually co-written by Ed himself along with Jess Glynne for her own album, 'Always In Between', but said that it "didn't fit" with the other songs and gave it to Little Mix instead.
Ed continued, "It's been an emotional day for a lot of people backstage. It kind of feels like, in a weird way, that you're breaking up with a girlfriend that you've been with for years. It sounds odd but it has been a long tour."
Changing out of his Ipswich Town football shirt and into a Framlingham Town one, Ed held back tears as he said, "This is a Framlingham Town football shirt. I am from Framlingham. Suffolk is my home. I am so happy to be ending this mammoth tour here.
"I want to say thank you to everyone on this tour. Thank you to everyone who has given me a chance. This is my last song. I wrote this when I was 15 years old. See you in a few years' time. Thank you."
In June, Ed revealed that he was looking to settle down and start a family, saying that he was "starting a life" with his wife and that he didn't want to spend the "next 20 years on the road," adding, "Kids would be the different thing. I wouldn't mind sacrificing for them."
NOW WATCH: Anne-Marie Tells Us What Ed Sheeran Is Like On Tour
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