Ed Sheeran recently confessed what he believes is “the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done” — and it’s the kind of late-night hotel room tale that feels both cringe and oddly endearing. On the Call Her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper, he prefaced the story by saying “I’ve never said this publicly.”
He recounted: he’d had a few drinks with family while touring in a city. Later that night, around 4 a.m., he woke up to go to the bathroom. “I sleep naked,” he explained, and in that moment he wandered into the corridor, fully naked and fully embarrased... “I walk out to have a pee … I hear a door close and I open my eyes and I’m in the corridor, naked. No key, it’s like 4 a.m. And I’m like ‘oh my god what am I gonna do?’”
Panicked, he grabbed a napkin and attempted to cover himself, then pressed the elevator button. He descended to the lobby, where “staff is working in the hotel.” He pleaded with them: “Please can you let me back into my room, please can you not tell anyone about this?” In the end, he concluded not without a smirk: “I think that’s the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done.”
In the same Call Her Daddy episode, Sheeran also opened up about his love of American culture and the unique home life he’s created away from the spotlight. He spoke with genuine enthusiasm about his fondness for “rodeos,”“ranch dressing,”“baseball games,” and even “Five Guys” burgers — confessing that after spending time in Nashville, he’s grown deeply attached to the rhythm of American life.
He also revealed that he built a pub in his garden at his English home, explaining that he could no longer “let loose” in local pubs without being recognised. Instead, he created a private retreat called the Lancaster Lock, named after both his mother’s and his wife’s mother’s maiden names. There, surrounded by family and friends, he hosts Christmas gatherings — complete with a chapel built on his land where they sing carols before heading inside for mulled wine and mince pies. It’s a glimpse into Sheeran’s grounded world: a global superstar who, despite billions of streams and sold-out tours, still finds his happiness in simple, human comforts — good food, good company, and the warmth of home.
Sheran's career has produced a staggering degree of commercial success. Ed Sheeran’s rise is the stuff of modern musical legend. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1991, he spent his early years in Framlingham, Suffolk. After years of relentless gigging in Dublin, London and beyond, his breakthrough came with the album + (“Plus”) in 2011, featuring hits like “The A Team” and “Lego House.” He followed it with × (“Multiply”), ÷ (“Divide”), and = (“Equals”), each album solidifying his status as a chart juggernaut globally. According to recent metrics, he has amassed tens of billions of streams: for example, his track “Shape of You” alone has more than 4 billion streams on Spotify, making it one of the platform’s most streamed songs ever. His cumulative streams as lead artist reportedly reach well over 50 billion.
He also ranks among the most streamed artists globally. In 2025 data, he was listed with ~54.5 billion lead streams and additional featured streams, putting him firmly among the top tier of global streaming acts. His YouTube presence likewise looms large: the official “Shape of You” video has over 6.5 billion views, and “Perfect” surpasses 4 billion.
Sheeran’s commercial accolades extend beyond streaming. He is a multiple Grammy Award winner and has accumulated a broad collection of industry honours. Among his achievements: the × (“Multiply”) album spawned multiplatinum hits and earned Grammy wins; ÷ (“Divide”) achieved historic chart feats in the U.S.; and his songwriting credits include hits for other artists, too. He’s also been repeatedly named among the UK’s most streamed artists. In 2024, he was crowned the UK’s “most played artist of the year” for the seventh time in nine years, reflecting his enduring radio presence.
This contrast is striking: on one hand, the global icon performing to stadiums; on the other, a moment of naked confusion in a hotel hallway. The story gives a glimpse of the man beyond the hits and the spotlight. It's a good reminder that celebrity doesn’t spare you from small disasters.
Written by Louise Ducrocq
Louise is an expert content creator, and online author for Ireland's Classic Hits Radio. She's evolved in a few different fields, including mental health and travel, and is now excited to be part of the wonderful word of Radio.
