Elena Jane Goulding ( GOHL-ding; born 30 December 1986) is an English singer-songwriter and activist. She has achieved significant commercial success, earning multiple chart records in the United Kingdom and internationally. Goulding has also received recognition for her songwriting, activism for the environmental movement, humanitarian work and support for LGBTQ people's causes.
Goulding's debut single, "Under the Sheets", was released through Neon Gold Records in 2009, and she signed a recording contract with Polydor Records the same year, releasing her debut extended play (EP), An Introduction to Ellie Goulding. Her debut studio album, Lights (2010), debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, and was reissued as Bright Lights, spawning three successful singles: a cover version of Elton John's "Your Song", "Starry Eyed", and "Lights".
Goulding's second studio album, Halcyon (2012), was preceded by its lead single, "Anything Could Happen", and a repackaged edition titled Halcyon Days (2013) produced the single "Burn", which became her first number 1 song on the UK singles chart. She then collaborated with the Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris on two singles: "I Need Your Love" and "Outside". After the release of her third studio album, Delirium (2015), and its lead single, "On My Mind", Goulding received a Grammy Award nomination for her single "Love Me like You Do", which was recorded for the soundtrack of the American erotic romantic drama film Fifty Shades of Grey (2015).
Goulding took a hiatus from 2016 to 2020, struggling with an anxiety disorder and media scrutiny over false claims about her personal life. Her fourth studio album, Brightest Blue (2020), became her third album to top the UK Albums Chart and her fourth consecutive album certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It spawned several singles including the hits "Close to Me", "Hate Me", and "Sixteen". She reunited with Harris on the single "Miracle", which spent eight non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the UK singles chart in 2023. Goulding's fifth studio album, Higher Than Heaven (2023), became her fourth chart-topping album in the UK. This tied her with Adele as the British female with the most number-one albums in UK history. A sixth album, titled I Know Too Much, followed in 2026.
Goulding is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Brit, a Brits Billion, a Billboard Music, 17 BMI London, and two Grammy Awards nominations. She was honoured with a Decade Award by the Variety Hitmakers Awards in recognition of a decade of "undeniable hits" and Time 100 honoured her with the Impact Award for using her platform to protect the environment. She has sold over 44 million albums worldwide and accumulated 55 billion streams, ranking among the best-selling British female artists of the 21st century.
Early life
Elena Jane Goulding was born on 30 December 1986 in Hereford, Herefordshire, England, to Arthur and Tracey Goulding. Her father was a funeral director. She has a brother, Alex, and two sisters, Isabel and Jordan. When she was five years old, her parents separated, after which she had little contact with her father.
Goulding described her family as "super poor". She was brought up in the small village of Lyonshall in Herefordshire, and later on a council estate by her mother, with whom she has a "difficult" relationship.
Goulding began playing the clarinet at the age of 9 and began learning guitar when she was 14. She attended the secondary school Lady Hawkins' School in Kington, Herefordshire, and by the age of 15, she started writing songs. She took A-levels in English, politics, drama and music, and passed three with A grades but failed music. She enrolled on a degree in Drama and Theatre Studies at the University of Kent, but did not complete her studies, quitting in her final year. After meeting Jamie Lillywhite, he became her manager and introduced her to the songwriter, record producer and DJ Starsmith, who would become her chief collaborator and the primary producer of Goulding's debut studio album.
Career
2009–2011: Lights and Bright Lights
Following her discovery by the manager Jamie Lillywhite in 2009, Goulding signed to the British record label Polydor Records in July, which released her debut extended play (EP), An Introduction to Ellie Goulding, in December. Her debut single, "Under the Sheets", was released through the independent label Neon Gold Records, appearing digitally in the United Kingdom on 15 November. The single peaked at No. 53 on the UK singles chart following Goulding's appearance on Later... with Jools Holland and a UK tour supporting Little Boots. "Wish I Stayed" became available as a free download as was named "Single of the Week" on iTunes Store UK from 22 to 28 December.
Before the release of her debut studio album, Goulding won the BBC Sound of 2010 poll, which showcased the music industry's top choices for rising stars. She also won the Critics' Choice Award at the Brit Awards 2010, making her the second artist to win both in the same year. She co-wrote "Love Me 'Cause You Want To" for the Australian Gabriella Cilmi and three songs ("Remake Me + You", "Notice", and "Jumping into Rivers") for Diana Vickers. Goulding's song, "Not Following", was used by the German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut on her debut studio album, My Cassette Player (2010). Goulding was featured on rapper Tinie Tempah's single "Wonderman".
Goulding's debut studio album, Lights, was released in March 2010, reaching No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 6 on the Irish Albums Chart. As of June 2012, Lights had sold over 850,000 copies in the UK and 1.6 million copies worldwide. Its singles—"Starry Eyed", "Guns and Horses", and "The Writer"—peaked at Nos. 4, 26, and 19, respectively. In support of Lights, Goulding embarked on the tour and supported the American indie pop band Passion Pit in March 2010 and John Mayer during his British tour in May. During the summer, she performed at the Dot to Dot Festival in Bristol on 29 May and a set on 25 June at the Glastonbury Festival 2010, on the John Peel Stage. Her third EP was also released, a live recording of part of her set at the iTunes Festival 2010. On 11 July, she made her T in the Park debut. In August, she released her second EP, Run into the Light, containing remixes of songs from Lights. Supported by Nike, the EP was released through Polydor as a running soundtrack in an effort to get her music taken up by the running subculture. In November, Lights was reissued as Bright Lights, featuring six additional new tracks. It was originally announced that the lead single from the re-issue would be the new edit of the title track, scheduled for 1 November. However, the plan was ultimately scrapped, and her cover version of Elton John's "Your Song" was chosen as the lead single; it was released in conjunction with the 2010 television campaign John Lewis Christmas advert in the UK. The single became her second highest-charting single at that time, reaching No. 2 on the UK singles chart.
In January 2011, it was announced that the title track from Lights would serve as the second single from Bright Lights. The single reached No. 49 on the UK singles chart and became Goulding's first song to chart in the United States, as well as her highest-charting song to date, peaking at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In early that year, she also recorded an original song for the film, Life in a Day. In February, Rolling Stone listed Goulding on No. 5 at annual hot list, and the same month, she returned to the Brit Awards where she was nominated for Best British Female and Best British Breakthrough Act but lost out to Laura Marling and to Tempah. In April, she played live at the Coachella festival in Indio, California. She also made her American television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 7 April, performing "Starry Eyed", while appearing as the musical guest on the 700th episode of the Saturday…