Edward Christopher Sheeran is an English singer-songwriter. He was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk. In early 2011, he independently released the extended play No. 5 Collaborations Project. His debut album, + ("Plus"), was released in September 2011 and topped the UK Albums Chart. In 2012, he won the Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. His third album, รท ("Divide"), was the best-selling album worldwide of 2017. His fifth album, = ("Equals"), topped the charts in most major markets in 2021. In 2025, Time magazine listed him as one of the world's 100 most influential people.