Ed Sheeran has rubbed shoulders with Elton John, Eric Clapton, Taylor Swift, and many other celebrities in the music world, but he started with humble beginnings. Once people caught wind of his songwriting skills, smooth singing voice, and overall artistry, however, his rise to fame was explosive. If you've only heard his music on the radio and not yet jumped into his whole catalog, now is the time.

He was born Edward Christopher Sheeran in West Yorkshire, England, and began his songwriting journey in high school. In 2011, he independently released his first EP, No. 5 Collaborations Project. Later that year, the singer signed his first record deal with Asylum Records and released the album + (pronounced "plus"), with subsequent albums titles all following a similar mathematical theme.

From there, Sheeran developed his signature acoustic-pop sound with hip-hop influences, releasing hit songs that have worked their way into the public consciousness. His top songs include "The A Team," "Shape of You," "Thinking Out Loud," "Photograph," "Love Yourself" (performed by Justin Bieber), "Bad Habits," and the more recent "Shivers".

After opening for artists like Snow Patrol, Taylor Swift, and even The Rolling Stones, there was no stopping Sheeran's climb to the headlining spot. He's also shared the stage with hugely successful artists like Elton John, Eric Clapton, Eminem, Coldplay, and many others.

Over the years, Sheeran has released several records, embarked on as many tours, and accumulated tons of awards. On top of being nominated dozens of times, he's won Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, MTV Awards, and a host of others. Fun fact: He was even appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

If you haven't yet dived into Ed Sheeran's hit pop songs, his songs are definitely worth exploring. Thissinger-songwriter continues to top the charts, and it doesn't seem like his momentum will be slowing anytime soon.