Everything you need to know about 'Miracle' hitmaker Ellie Goulding

She's had so many hits!

Author: Alex RossPublished 1st Jan 2024

Ellie Goulding won the Critics' Choice BRIT Award way back in 2010 and since then her songs have seen her enjoy astronomical success. She's had five albums including her most recent album 'Higher Than Heaven', with mega hits such as 'Lights', 'Burn', 'Your Song' and 'Still Falling For You', and her third collab with Calvin Harris called 'Miracle', which the pair performed at the 2024 BRIT Awards.

With Ellie having had such a successful career so far, we thought we'd get to know the singer a bit more...

Here's everything you need to know about singer Ellie Goulding...

What is Ellie Goulding's real name?

Ellie isn't actually the singer's official name - it's short for Elena. Her full birth name is Elena Jane Goulding.

How old is Ellie Goulding?

Ellie Goulding is 37-years-old, she was born on 30th December 1986.

Is Ellie Goulding British?

Yes, she is! Ellie was born in Hereford, the county town of Herefordshire.

Does Ellie Goulding have a sister?

Ellie is the second of four children - she has two sisters, Isabel and Jordan, and one brother, Alex. Although Ellie keeps her family life pretty private, Ellie attended the BRIT Awards 2017 with her younger sister Jordan - and they both look pretty chuffed to be there!

Ellie Goulding and her sister Jordan at The BRIT Awards 2017

Who is Ellie Goulding's husband?

After a whirlwind 18 months of dating, Ellie announced her engagement to art dealer Caspar Jopling in August 2018. Caspar has Royal relations, being the son of The Honourable Nicholas Jopling, which could mean that his grandfather was an Earl.

Ellie and Caspar's engagement announcement was VERY low-key, with the couple taking out an advert in national newspaper The Times to announce their engagement: 'Mr C.W.F. Jopling and Miss E.J. Goulding. The engagement is announced between Caspar, son of The Hon Nicholas Jopling of Yorkshire and Mrs Jayne Warde-Aldam of Yorkshire, and Elena, daughter of Mr Arthur Goulding of Hertfordshire and Mrs Tracey Sumner of West Midlands.'

When was Ellie Goulding's wedding?

On 31st August 2019, Ellie and Caspar got married at York Minster, with plenty of famous faces as guests. Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were all in attendance, as well as Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas, comedian Jimmy Carr, actress Sienna Miller and James Blunt. They had a wedding reception afterwards at Castle Howard.

Ellie Goulding's baby

Ellie announced her pregnancy in February 2021 at 30 weeks pregnant in an interview with Vogue, explaining: "The thought of getting pregnant didn't seem like it could be a reality," adding that it wasn't the "plan" but that they were over the moon to be expecting.

They then welcomed a baby in Spring 2021! The couple did not reveal any details about their little one, but Caspar confirmed the birth in an announcement on his Instagram Story over the bank holiday weekend in early May.

Just days later an announcement appeared in a newspaper - seems they like to do things the old-fashioned way - on Thursday 6th May, revealing they'd had a baby boy in April 2021 and decided to call him Arthur Ever Winter.

Ellie Goulding's past relationships

She may have found her prince now, but Ellie had to kiss a number of frogs before finding true happiness with her husband Caspar.

As well as her high-profile relationship with McFly's Dougie Poynter, which ended for good in March 2016, Ellie has also reportedly dated Calvin Harris, Ed Sheeran, Niall Horan, Skrillex and even Prince Harry.

Ellie also dated David Beckham's bodyguard Bobby Rich, who also used to date Arabella Chi who appeared on Love Island 2019.

Ellie Goulding: Awards

It's no surprise that Ellie is a hugely decorated musician! After winning the BRIT Awards Critics' Choice Award (now known as the Rising Star Award) in 2010, she went on to win the Best Female Solo Artist gong at the ceremony the year after in 2011.

She was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016 for 'Love Me Like You Do', which appeared on the soundtrack for 2015 film Fifty Shades of Grey, and won Top Electronic/Dance Song at the Billboard Music Awards 2020 for 'Close To Me'.

In October 2022, Ellie won the President’s Award at the 2022 BMI London Awards saying: "I’ve never won anything like this before and it means so much to me. In the UK particularly, and as a woman, it’s sort of ingrained into you that ambition is a bad thing and it’s not very cool but it shouldn’t be.

"Ambition is an essential ingredient for what we all do, and along with the talent and a bit of luck, for anyone who hopes of a long-lasting career, in a really tough industry actually, it’s essential, so to anyone who’s on their way there, please don’t listen to those people who have anything to say about you wanting bigger and better because you deserve it.

"In a world now that needs urgent action, in a country that demands empathy, may music play its part in empowering others to begin."

Is Ellie Goulding on tour?

Not any more. In March 2023, Ellie announced her 'Higher Than Heaven' tour. In October, Ellie performed in Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and London.

Ellie will be performing a special show at London's Royal Albert Hall on 11th April 2024, which will see her perform reimagined versions of her hits with an orchestra.

Ellie Goulding: Albums

To date, Ellie Goulding has released five studio albums, three of which went to Number 1 in the UK.

'Lights'

Ellie released her debut album 'Lights' in March 2010, featuring the hit songs 'Starry Eyed', 'Guns and Horses' and 'The Writer'.

'Halcyon'

The singer then dropped her second album 'Halcyon' in October 2010, with her massive hit singles 'Anything Could Happen', 'Figure 8', and 'Explosions'. After the success of 'Halcyon', Ellie released an extended version of the album called 'Halcyon Days', where she recorded 10 new songs with writers such as Ryan Tedder, Calvin Harris and Greg Kurstin.

'Delirium'

Ellie released her third album, 'Delirium' in November 2015, with it peaking at Number 3 in the UK Charts. The album featured songs such as 'On My Mind' and the title track from the movie Fifty Shades Freed 'Love Me Like You Do'.

After teasing new music in January 2018, fans had been patiently waiting for Ellie to release new songs - so when she dropped 'Close To Me' featuring Diplo and Swae Lee in October 2018, fans were overjoyed! She also released 'Hate Me' with rapper Juice WRLD in June 2019.

'Brightest Blue'

Ellie's fourth studio album 'Brightest Blue' was released on on 17 July 2020. It features tracks including 'Close to Me', 'Flux', 'Hate Me', 'Worry About Me' and 'Power'.

'Higher Than Heaven'

'Higher Than Heaven' is Ellie's latest album and was released on 7th April 2023.

Speaking about her album, Ellie revealed on the Jonathan Ross show: "It’s good to be back. I think we can all relate to the lockdown dip. It’s good to be back with new music.

"I released an album in lockdown and couldn’t tour and couldn’t do any shows so it feels good to perform and have new songs to sing to people."

What songs are on Ellie Goulding's newest album?

There are 12 songs on the standard version Ellie's album, with an additional four in the deluxe edition.

Speaking to us at Hits Live, she said: "It's an album of dance/pop songs that I wrote during lockdown. Nobody was in the mood to write anything sad or write any ballads. It's quite ethereal, it's kind of like dance songs from some other planet, that's what people have told me it sounds like."

Why did Ellie Goulding call her album 'Higher Than Heaven'?

Ellie explained that the album is named after the lead track, saying: "I think it was a song on the album, it was the song that gives me the biggest feels, the one that makes me feel the most."

She added: "'Brightest Blue' was much more of a songwriter album for me, it was more personal. This one is much more collaborative with people that I love writing with, and just writing pop music which is my favourite thing in the world."

What did Ellie Goulding do during lockdown?

Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show about the lockdown period, Ellie said: "The one thing was that I was forced into things I stopped doing which was playing guitar. I picked up my guitar, baked some things, and made some cakes. It’s all very good for mental health."

When did Ellie Goulding almost quit music?

Speaking on This Morning in May 2019, Ellie Goulding admitted that stress nearly made her quit the music industry. She said: "It got to a point a few years ago where I really had to go away from it all.

"I thought for a second, ‘Maybe I can just quietly go away’, but I rediscovered my joy for song writing, I have been rejuvenated."

When asked whether she genuinely considered giving it all up, Ellie admitted: "I thought about it. After 10 years, everything that’s happened. It was just before I met my fiancé so I really thought, ‘Maybe I will just go away and hide a little bit.’ I think I just needed a second to breathe.

"At the beginning it was all very new and exciting and it was a new world. I think it’s a combination of things; self-confidence, you can often lose that in yourself. The touring, the travel, is just really tiring. It can really take a toll on your head and it’s lonely.

"Thank goodness I have had a chance to take a step back from it and do normal things, like see my family and watch my nephew grow up. I feel a bit more in control now."

What is Ellie Goulding's net worth?

According to celebritynetworth.com in August 2023, Ellie Goulding's net worth is $30 million.

What is Ellie Goulding's Instagram?

Ellie Goulding's Instagram account has 14 million followers on her username @elliegoulding. The singer keeps her fans up to date with both her private life and her super glam celeb life.

Take a look through which other celebrities got engaged in the same year as Ellie Goulding...

Helen Flanagan and Scott Sinclair

Celtic FC footballer Scott Sinclair proposed to Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan in Disneyland, just weeks before the couple's second child was due to arrive.

Chris Zylka and Paris Hilton

American actor Chris Zylka proposed to Paris Hilton during a romantic skiing trip in Aspen in January.


She wrote on Instagram, 'I said Yas! 👰🏼💅🏼💍💎 So happy & excited to be engaged to the love of my life. My best friend & soulmate. Perfect for me in every way. So dedicated, loyal, loving & kindhearted. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world! You are my dream come true! Thank you for showing me that fairytales do exist.😍'. sic

Lisa Riley

Loose Women star Lisa Riley announced her secret boyfriend had proposed to her in May. Sharing a photo of herself to Instagram, Lisa wrote, 'Yes I can now confirm the rumours are true... I have got engaged... My soul mate and best mate and love of my life Al is the best thing to have ever happened to me... We have absolutely NO date set for ANY wedding day, just happy together... Zero fuss, just firmed our togetherness😘.' sic

Lea Michele and Zandy Reich

Glee actress Lea Michele confirmed her boyfriend Zandy Reich proposed to her, showing off her stunning diamond ring on Instagram.

Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn

Pop superstar Ed Sheeran asked his long-term girlfriend Cherry Seaborn to marry him in January. He wrote on Instagram, 'Got myself a fiancé just before new year. We are very happy and in love, and our cats are chuffed as well xx' sic

Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews

After meeting on The Jump, former Made In Chelsea lothario Spencer Matthews popped the question to his model girlfriend Vogue Williams.


The couple later married in a private ceremony before welcoming their baby boy.

Jade Ewen and Daniel de Bourg

Sugababes singer Jade Ewen revealed to her fans that her actor boyfriend Daniel de Bourg had proposed to her on Valentine's Day.

Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson

Pete Davidson confirmed he and Ariana Grande were engaged in an interview with Jimmy Fallon.


However, just a few months later, the pair announced their split in October.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin

Justin Bieber reportedly proposed to Hailey Baldwin whilst on holiday in the Bahamas. Then, in November, Justin and Hailey CONFIRMED they'd tied the knot when the model changed her name to 'Hailey Baldwin' on Instagram.

Oliver Proudlock and Emma Louise Connolly

Made In Chelsea star Oliver Proudlock popped the question to his model girlfriend Emma Louise Connolly. Proudlock proposed as the pair celebrated their four-year anniversary in Sweden.

Ellie Goulding and Caspar Jopling

Ellie Goulding and Caspar Jopling announced their engagement in August 2018 by taking out an advertisement in The Times newspaper which read, 'Mr C.W.F. Jopling and Miss E.J. Goulding. The engagement is announced between Caspar, son of The Hon Nicholas Jopling of Yorkshire and Mrs Jayne Warde-Aldam of Yorkshire, and Elena, daughter of Mr Arthur Goulding of Hertfordshire and Mrs Tracey Sumner of West Midlands.'

Leona Lewis and Dennis Jauch

Leona Lewis hinted that she and her boyfriend of eight years Dennis Jauch had gotten engaged by showing off a ring on that finger in an Instagram Story whilst they were on holiday in Puerto Rico.

Ryan Libbey and Louise Thompson

Made In Chelsea stars Ryan Libbey and Louise Thompson announced their engagement in August. Ryan popped the question whilst the pair were on holiday in LA.


Ollie Locke and Gareth Locke

Made In Chelsea star Ollie Locke announced his engagement to boyfriend Gareth Locke in September. The pair had been friends for over 10 years before realising they were perfect for each other.

Rio Ferdinand and Kate Wright

Rio Ferdinand popped the question to former TOWIE star Kate Wright whilst the couple were on holiday in Abu Dhabi. The former footballer made the moment extra special by including his three children.

Michelle Hardwick and Kate Brooks

Emmerdale actress Michelle Hardwick AKA Vanessa Woodfield announced her engagement to show producer Kate Brooks by posting a stunning photo on Twitter to announce she'd planned an elaborate proposal.

Rory Douglas-Speed and Nadine Mulkerrin

Hollyoaks actors Rory Douglas-Speed and Nadine Mulkerrin announced their engagement in December. Rory, who plays the role of Joel in the soap, proposed to Nadine in Amsterdam!

You can hear hits by Ellie Goulding on the Hits Radio playlist!

Read more:

Ellie Goulding's biggest selling songs from 'Starry Eyed' to 'River'

BRIT Awards Critics' Choice: Winners who became huge stars

Ellie Goulding announces five UK dates for her 'Higher Than Heaven' tour 🙌

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