Music
Ed Sheeran open to making country music
Ed Sheeran made the revelation while preparing for his ACM Awards performance on Thursday night.
Ahead of his performance at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday night, Ed Sheeran says he wouldn’t mind working in the country music genre in the future.
The 32-year-old is slated to perform two songs on Thursday night: one solo, ‘Life Goes on’, which is from his latest album ‘-(Subtract)’, and a second with a surprise country guest.
Speaking with Billboard during rehearsals, Sheeran left the door open for future work in the country genre.
“I talk about this to my wife all the time. I would love to transition into country,” said Sheeran. “I love the culture of it, I just love the songwriting. It’s just like, brilliant songs.”
He also added that he and his wife regularly listen to country music while at home, while crediting Taylor Swift for introducing him to the genre.
“I’d never really listened to country music as a kid growing up,” said Sheeran. “It was only being on Taylor’s ‘Red’ tour and living in Nashville and her basically introducing me to that side of it.”
Sheeran has lived in Nashville for extended periods in 2013 and 2018, and he says he’s inspired by the plethora of artists who call the city home.
“It’s like a community. There’s not really a place in Europe where you could point and say, ‘That’s the home of songwriting,’” he said.
“It’s not just for country music. Nashville is just a hub of incredible songwriters, incredible performers. And I really felt inspired just being there being around everyone.”
Sheeran and his ACM Awards appearance
Sheeran opened up about the meaning behind ‘Life Goes On’, the song he’ll perform at the ACM Awards on Thursday.
“It’s just a song about dealing with loss, basically,” he explained.
He also shared his connection to ACM hosts Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks.
Sheeran explained that he and his dad John were fortunate enough to meet Parton at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction back in November, calling it a “really cool moment.”
He also stated the Brook’s music is often covered by artists in England, meaning he’s “sort of inadvertently grown up listening to it.”
Sheeran was announced as an ACM Awards performer on Tuesday. He’ll take the stage in Frisco, Texas alongside other stars like Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson.