Ed Sheeran Goes Country: Singer Sings New Single With Luke Combs After Expressing Desire to Transition

Ed Sheeran showed his fans his perfect harmony with country singer Luke Combs at the 2023 ACM Awards.

On Thursday, the 2023 ACM Awards welcomed country singers to its stage as it recognized the commendable country singers in the industry. During Combs' number, the 33-year-old country crooner performed his hit song "Love You Anyway."

Soon after completing the track from his "Getting' Old" album, he performed a duet with Sheeran - who recently expressed his desire to transition into country.

Ed Sheeran Harmonizes With Luke Combs at the 2023 ACM Awards

After Combs' solo performance, the camera panned to the 32-year-old "Shape of You" hitmaker, who started playing his guitar and singing "Life Goes On."

The song, which is part of his new album "-" (Subtract), was created in honor of his late friend, Jamal Edwards, who died over a year ago.

Following the duo's performance, Sheeran told Garth Brooks the story of his friendship with Combs, saying that they have been friends for five years. Combs shared the same story when he previously revealed on "The Bobby Bones Show" that they first spent time together at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Tennessee.

Before the ACM Awards 2023 performance, the two musicians performed "Dive" together in March 2022.

Ed Sheeran Wants to Focus on Making Country Music

Ahead of his performance with Combs, Sheeran expressed his desire to transition into country music during his interview with Billboard.

"I talk about this to my wife all the time. I would love to transition into the country," he said. "I love the culture of it, I just love the songwriting. It's just like brilliant songs."

The "Tenerife Sea" singer has been open about his love for country music, even thanking Taylor Swift for turning him to the genre.

While preparing himself to create more music, Sheeran is still celebrating after winning the copyright lawsuit earlier this month. A judge ruled that he did not copy Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to create his hit 2014 song, "Thinking Out Loud."

According to Sheeran, he stood to defend himself so others can do the same. By doing so, the less such a baseless lawsuit is going to happen to other innocent musicians.