Ed Sheeran Announces Retirement From Performing Live Shows

Don't expect Ed Sheeran to play live again for at least another year.

The "I Don't Care" crooner made the shocking announcement while closing out the last of four homecoming shows of his "Divide" tour at Chantry Park in Ipswich, Suffolk, on Monday night (August 26). According to LADbible, the 28-year-old singer-songwriter bid fans an emotional goodbye as he informed the crowd he'd be retiring from performing live in order to spend more time with new wife Cherry Seaborn.

"As you may or not know, I've been on the Divide tour for over two years now and this is the last day of the whole thing," he started. "There is something very bittersweet about it. I love that you guys are here and we are ending it in Ipswich. This is my last gig for probably 18 months."

"We've played all around the world. Glastonbury, Wembley Stadium … it's been a wild one," Sheeran continued. "I was told before I came on that now at the end of this tour I've played to nine million people around the world. It is the biggest tour ever."

The "Shape of You" star went on to liken the conclusion of his long-running tour to "breaking up with a girlfriend" after a years-long relationship. "I am from Framlingham. Suffolk is my home. I am so happy to be ending this mammoth tour here," he added in his closing remarks before sending the crowd off with his smash hit "You Need Me, I Don't Need You."

Sheeran's live music hiatus comes just a month after he dropped his new EP, No. 6 Collaborations, his first project since 2017's Divide. The jaunt for the latter LP became the highest-grossing tour of 2018.

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