Ed Sheeran has revealed that he once turned down the chance to make history by performing in space, an offer that would have made him the first musician to stage a live concert outside Earth.
Speaking during an interview with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2, Sheeran admitted that while the proposal was extraordinary, he could not bring himself to accept it.
“I was offered to go and play in space. I said no. Space terrifies me,” he confessed.
Sheeran said the decision was also shaped by his family, including wife Cherry Seaborn and two daughters Lyra and Jupiter.
“The risk is too high. I’d rather be around for my kids than be remembered as the first man to sing in space but not come back,” he explained.
The Grammy-winning singer added that he might reconsider if space travel eventually becomes as casual as a quick flight across Europe.
“If it’s as easy as going to France and back, I’ll think about it,” Sheeran quipped.
Until then, Sheeran is more interested in exploring destinations closer to home.
“I haven’t been to Greenland yet,” he added, highlighting that there are still corners of Earth left on his travel bucket list.
Even as netizens reacted widely to the news with varied reactions, the offer cast a light on how far Sheeran’s global stardom has reached since he burst onto the scene more than a decade ago with hits like The A Team and Shape of You.
With more than 150 million records sold worldwide, he remains one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
The revelation comes as Sheeran promotes his new album, Play, which dropped on September 12, 2025.
Known for continually experimenting with sound and style, he said that while space is not in his immediate future, pushing creative boundaries firmly is.