Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding married Caspar Jopling on August 31, 2019, and they have one son, Arthur Ever Winter Jopling, who was born on April 29, 2021. Their marriage ended in 2024.

Goulding has two sisters and a brother. Her brother Alex is a bass player in a band based in Hereford. Goulding has also been described as being of British Isles descent.

Goulding learned clarinet as a child, began writing songs as a teenager, and developed an interest in electronic music while studying at the University of Kent. She wrote "Wish I Stayed" with help from the producers Starsmith and Frankmusik. At a university talent contest, she was discovered by Jamie Lillywhite, who became her manager and A&R representative, and he introduced her to Starsmith, her principal collaborator on Lights.

She signed with Polydor Records in 2009 and released the EP An Introduction to Ellie Goulding later that year. Her debut single, "Under the Sheets," appeared through Neon Gold Records. In 2010, she won both the BBC Sound of 2010 poll and the Critics' Choice Award at the BRIT Awards. Her debut studio album, Lights, reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, while her cover of Elton John's "Your Song" reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.

Goulding released her second studio album, Halcyon, in October 2012. It debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and later reached number one. The expanded edition, Halcyon Days, included "Burn," which became her first UK number-one single, along with collaborations such as "I Need Your Love" with Calvin Harris.

Her later work included the album Delirium, released in 2015, and the single "Love Me Like You Do" from Fifty Shades of Grey. The song topped the UK Singles Chart for three weeks, reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, and received Grammy and Golden Globe nominations. She followed Delirium with the album Brightest Blue in 2020 and released Higher Than Heaven in 2023.

Goulding's music combines electronic pop, synthpop, indie pop, folktronica and dream pop. She is recognised for a high, piercing vibrato, a breathy tone and an emotive delivery. Her recorded work has included collaborations with Skrillex, Zedd, Tinie Tempah, Kygo, Juice WRLD and Lauv.

She performed at the wedding reception of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011, singing "Your Song" for the couple's first dance. Goulding has also appeared at Glastonbury, Coachella, Lollapalooza and the White House National Christmas Tree lighting. Her charitable work has included the British Heart Foundation's Great North Run, Students Run LA, Free the Children, Gucci's Chime for Change campaign, Band Aid 30 and the BBC Radio 1 charity single "Times Like These."