Ed Sheeran Wants To Go Full Country — On Behalf Of Fans, We’re Good, Ed

This trend of pop stars going country has to tire out at some point, right? Sure, in a sense, the exposure brings a ton of benefits, artists within Nashville being able to spread their wings a little further. Moreover, some of these artists do an honorable job at making music that honors tradition and acknowledges the expansive history.

Post Malone’s ability to bridge the genre’s past and present made for a pretty solid debut outing. Say what you want about Beyoncé stopping for a cup of coffee, her renditions sound authentic to old traditions. However, apparently, Ed Sheeran wants to give his best crack at country. With all due respect, I hope he changes his mind.

Recently, the British pop star spoke with Alex Cooper for the Call Her Daddy podcast. There, Ed talks about American culture, things like rodeos and his time living in Nashville, Tennessee in 2013 and 2018. This makes Cooper perk up and causes her to wonder what a country album from Sheeran would sound like. Apparently, he’s been doing his fair share of experimenting too.

Ed Sheeran Wants to Go All In on Country One Day

“I think there’s… yeah, I guess so. From living in Nashville, you can’t just dip your toe in. If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it, and that’s it,” Ed says. “I’ve made country songs in the past; they’ve just never come out. I have to do it properly, and once you transition to country, you can’t transition back. Once you’re there, you’re there.”

Apparently, this isn’t just some far shot dream either. Sheeran has mapped out the prospect of going country as a real goal of his. “Nashville is like my favorite city in the States. It’s always been like my end goal. I’m going to move to Nashville and transition to country, but I think you just have to do it properly. It’s a genre you have to really respect, and it’s not just a dip in and out.”

As much as I respect Sheeran for wanting to do it correctly, a Brit going Nashville gives me the ick. Iconic Beatle Ringo Starr tried it and it just seemed like cosplay after a while. However, it could always be worse. Some of these artists try to hammer their pop sludge into country and it sounds fake and plastic. If you have to do it, really hammer home the warmth of southern living. Worst case, give me a folk record and try and slap the country label on it. Anything else? Keep it.