Ed Sheeran recently revealed one of the most frightening experiences of his life — the moment his wife, Cherry Seaborn, was diagnosed with cancer — while also sharing reassuring news about her health today.
Speaking on the March 10 episode of the Friends Keep Secrets podcast with Benny Blanco, Lil Dicky, and Kristin Batalucco, the Grammy-winning singer reflected on both the best and most difficult days he’s ever faced.
He described his 2019 wedding to Seaborn — with whom he shares daughters Lyra and Jupiter — as the happiest day of his life. But that joy was overshadowed in February 2022, when Seaborn called him with devastating news: she had been diagnosed with a tumor while six months pregnant with their second child.
Due to the pregnancy, doctors recommended delaying treatment until after the baby was born, leaving the couple to endure months filled with fear and uncertainty while preparing to welcome their daughter.
Fortunately, Sheeran shared that Seaborn has since made a full recovery after undergoing surgery following Jupiter’s birth. “She’s doing well now… thankfully everything turned out fine,” he said, while admitting how terrifying that period was for him.
The emotional weight of the situation was intensified by other heartbreaking events happening at the same time. During that same week, Sheeran lost his close friend Jamal Edwards, while cricket legend Shane Warne also passed away. Meanwhile, he was dealing with the stress of a major copyright lawsuit over his hit “Shape of You,” which he later won.
Looking back, Sheeran explained that those real-life struggles completely shifted his perspective — making the legal battle feel insignificant compared to what his family was going through.
He first spoke publicly about Seaborn’s diagnosis in his 2023 Disney+ documentary Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All. In it, Seaborn shared how the diagnosis forced her to reflect deeply on life and mortality, ultimately leading her to step into the spotlight despite usually staying private.
For Sheeran, the experience was overwhelming. He described it as “horrible” and turned to music as a coping mechanism, writing seven songs in just four hours after learning the news. Seaborn noted that songwriting has always been his way of processing intense emotions, something he also touched on in a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, where he admitted feeling powerless at the time.
Despite everything, the couple came through the ordeal stronger, and today, Seaborn is healthy following her successful surgery — a hopeful ending to an incredibly difficult chapter in their lives.
