Ed Sheeran reveals how often he catches up with bestie Taylor Swift

Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift might be global superstars with jam-packed schedules, but they still carve out time for real friendship.

“I see her when I see her,” Sheeran, 34, shared during his April 9 appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast. “I probably see her, like, four times a year.”

But when they do meet up, it’s never rushed. “They're proper sit-down, six-hour catch-ups,” Sheeran said, emphasizing how meaningful those deep dives into life really are.

The pair’s tight bond dates back to 2012, when they first teamed up on Swift’s Red album for the track “Everything Has Changed.” That collab led to Sheeran joining her on the Red Tour in 2013, a time he remembers fondly.

“I lived in Nashville, and she lived in Nashville,” he recalled. “We used to fly to gigs together and spend pretty much every day together for about six months. That whole period is full of my favorite memories with her.”

Recently, Sheeran had a nostalgic walk down memory lane — unexpectedly triggered by a legal matter.

“I was in court cases for about two years — actually longer,” he explained, referring to the copyright lawsuits around his song “Thinking Out Loud.” (In 2023, a jury cleared him of any infringement.) “I had to go through all my old devices for voice notes and texts for the lawyers.”

That trip through digital history turned out to be an emotional experience. “I haven’t used a phone since 2015 — I’ve been on a tablet and email,” Sheeran revealed in a separate interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “But during the lawsuit, I had to turn on my old phone. It was like stepping into a time machine.”

The first few messages he saw? Heartbreaking. “The first was from a friend who had passed away. The second was a fight with an ex. The third was a family member I haven’t spoken to in 10 years. The fourth was another friend who died,” Sheeran shared.

The moment rocked him — and inspired music. “That day, I wrote in my notes, ‘I found my old phone today,’” he said. “Eventually, it turned into my new song ‘Old Phone.’”

From nostalgic memories with Taylor Swift to unexpected songwriting inspiration, it’s clear that both friendship and reflection play big roles in Sheeran’s life — and his music.