How Jamie Foxx Helped Launch Ed Sheeran's Career

In 2010, a then-unknown 19-year-old Ed Sheeran had traveled to Los Angeles with no contacts and nowhere to stay. He was performing at small open mic nights, hoping to get noticed in the highly competitive music scene.

Through a series of fortunate connections, Sheeran met Jamie Foxx's radio show producer, who was impressed enough with his music to introduce him to Foxx.

After hearing Sheeran perform, Foxx did something extraordinary - he offered the young musician a place to stay at his Hollywood home.

"I was playing a show at his [Jamie's] club the Foxxhole and he turned up and said, 'I like your music, do you need somewhere to stay?'" Sheeran later recalled in interviews.

Foxx didn't just offer Sheeran a couch to crash on. He gave the young artist access to a recording studio in his home and, more importantly, introduced him to key industry contacts.

During his stay, Sheeran recorded some early tracks and even performed for Foxx's radio show audience. Foxx, recognising Sheeran's raw talent, essentially became an early champion of his music at a time when few in America knew his name.

"He's like 'I know everyone, let's get it going,'" Sheeran has said of Foxx's enthusiastic support.

The relationship between Foxx and Sheeran demonstrates the impact that established artists can have on emerging talent.

Foxx, who himself had transitioned successfully between different entertainment mediums, understood the challenges of breaking into new markets.

For Sheeran, having someone of Foxx's stature believe in his music provided not just practical support but also the confidence to continue pursuing his dreams in America.

Years later, as Sheeran's star rose with hits like "The A Team," "Thinking Out Loud," and "Shape of You," he has frequently acknowledged Foxx's early support in interviews.

The two have remained friends, with Foxx occasionally joining Sheeran on stage at concerts. Their story reminds us that behind many "overnight success" stories are years of struggle and the helping hands of mentors who recognised talent before the rest of the world caught on.



This unlikely friendship between a British singer-songwriter and an American actor/musician shows how cross-cultural and cross-genre connections can create powerful ripple effects in the music industry - and how sometimes, the right support at the right moment can help launch a career that touches millions.