Ed Sheeran Becomes Emotional While Singing ‘Goodbye My Lover’ with James Blunt: ‘It Felt Like a Dream Come True’

Ed Sheeran and James Blunt have shared a friendship for more than a decade, and the “Photograph” hit‑maker is even the godfather to one of Blunt’s sons.

Ed Sheeran Reunites with James Blunt for an Emotional Onstage Moment: “A Dream Come True”

Over the weekend, Ed Sheeran shared a heartfelt reunion with longtime friend James Blunt during a special performance.

At his concert on Sunday, July 13, held at Portman Road Stadium in Ipswich, Sheeran surprised fans by inviting Blunt, 51, to join him on stage. Before their duet, the “Thinking Out Loud” singer, 34, admitted to the crowd that he was unusually nervous.

“I don’t normally get stage fright—I’ve done this a million times,” he said. “But this is different. I’ve never sung this with him before, and honestly, it’s a dream come true.”

The two performed Blunt’s emotional 2004 ballad Goodbye My Lover, with Sheeran on guitar and Blunt accompanying on keyboard. The audience sang along, adding to the moving atmosphere.

“That actually got me emotional,” Sheeran told the crowd afterward. “Definitely one of my top three favorite moments ever on stage.”

Later that night, Sheeran reflected on the moment in an Instagram post, sharing that his admiration for Blunt began when he saw him open for Elton John at just 13 years old. “I bought his album that day and became completely obsessed,” he wrote.

Sheeran recounted how Blunt became a key musical influence in his life. “He quickly became my favorite singer-songwriter. His music shaped my style, and watching him perform made me want to follow in his footsteps. I even signed with the same management and record label because I wanted to be just like him.”

Their bond has grown beyond music, as Sheeran shared that the two have been friends for over a decade—and that he’s the godfather to one of Blunt’s sons.

“It’s wild to think about how I went from being a teenager covering his songs at school talent shows to now calling him a friend,” he wrote. “I invited him to perform at the final night in Ipswich because that’s where I first saw him live, 21 years ago.”

Sheeran closed his post by thanking Blunt for making the effort to fly to the UK just days after finishing his tour in South America.

“You should be resting, but you came to Ipswich to sing with me—and that meant the world,” Sheeran wrote. “Top three favorite onstage moments of my life. They say don’t meet your heroes… unless your hero is James Blunt. Love you, mate. xx”