The love story between Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn blossomed from a long-standing friendship. Though they attended school together in the UK, their paths diverged as they grew older. Years later, fate brought them back together as adults.
In 2017, Sheeran opened up to People about their reunion, mentioning that a close friend, Taylor Swift, played a key role in rekindling their connection. “I’ve known Cherry since I was 11,” Sheeran shared. “She was working on Wall Street in New York, and when I had a series of shows there in 2015, we reconnected.”
Their story took a memorable turn during one of Swift’s Fourth of July parties. Sheeran recalled how he sent a message to Seaborn, only to realize they were both in Rhode Island at the same time for the holiday.
“I asked Taylor, ‘Can I invite one of my old schoolmates?’” he recounted. From that moment, their relationship began to take shape. Seaborn also formed a friendship with Swift, as Sheeran humorously remarked, “They hang out without me sometimes. I think they have their girl chats—probably about cats or something.”
Sheeran and Seaborn’s love story even found its way into one of Swift’s songs. Released in 2017, Swift’s Reputation album featured the track “End Game,” where Sheeran contributed a verse that referenced his history with Seaborn. His lyrics reflected their journey, singing, “Knew her when I was young, reconnected when we were a little bit older.”
He also referenced the iconic July 4th gathering, saying, “After the storm, somethin’ was born on the Fourth of July.” In a behind-the-scenes video on Swift’s YouTube channel, Sheeran revealed the line was a nod to the Tom Cruise film Born on the Fourth of July, which caught Swift by surprise.
During the same conversation, Swift playfully teased Sheeran about their love story’s origins. “Where did your relationship begin? Whose house?” she asked eagerly. Laughing, Sheeran replied, “Taylor’s house,” making her grin with satisfaction, clearly proud of the role she played in their romance.
Years later, Sheeran had the chance to perform with Swift during the Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium on August 15, 2024. Singing his verse from “End Game” alongside Swift must have been a meaningful moment, especially now as a husband to Seaborn and a father to their two daughters.