It’s only January, but 2026 is rapidly turning into a special year for Ellie Goulding.
Already recognized with an MBE for her work on biodiversity and climate change, Goulding is expecting her second child – and her first with partner Beau Minniear – in May.
She’s also working on her sixth studio album, which doesn’t have a title or release date yet. However, it’s finished and revolves around a central idea.
In a recent interview with NYLON magazine, Ellie Goulding revealed that her upcoming album is deeply inspired by her brief marriage to art dealer Caspar Jopling, with whom she shares her four-year-old son, Arthur.
She explained that starting this album was always her intention. While she didn’t initially expect it to become about her divorce, that’s ultimately the direction it took.
In 2019, Lily Goulding married Casper Jopling, whose grandfather was Conservative MP and Baron Michael Jopling, in a ceremony at the historic York Minster cathedral.
The singer and Joling had a child together in 2021. Three years later, they announced their separation, a challenging time that unexpectedly inspired the singer’s new music.
She said that even though her marriage ended, she’ll always remember believing it would last forever. She feels it’s important to acknowledge and respect that period of her life, and certain songs help her do that.
I used to perform some very emotional and pessimistic songs that felt right at the time, but I’ve realized they aren’t beneficial for me to continue with now.
Even before starting work in the studio, Ellie Goulding’s personal life was impacting her music. She had to inform her producer about her recent separation the same day they first met.
She remembered realizing her marriage was failing and that she was going through a difficult period. She said the moment she met Jack, she felt she needed to be honest with him and told him that she and her husband had decided to separate.
Even though her songs are very honest and clearly based on her own life, Ellie Goulding says her husband, Caspar Jopling, is still completely on board with the project – for now.
She explained that everyone supports her new project, saying, ‘My label and my friends are all on board.’ She even mentioned her ex-husband likes the music he’s heard, though he hasn’t listened to everything yet.
Goulding plans to release her new album before her baby is born, and she’s confident she can balance motherhood with her career. She believes she’s fully prepared to handle the challenges of both.
‘I didn’t want to become just a pregnant woman first,’ she said.
I’m fortunate to have a strong support system – wonderful people and a great boyfriend. While that makes things a little easier, I still work hard and write every day. It’s a privilege not everyone shares.
I’m pregnant, and honestly, I’m not feeling particularly connected to this ‘earth mother’ stereotype. It’s just not really my vibe right now.
Having a child and being healthy are wonderful, and I’m grateful for those things, but they don’t define everything about who I am right now.
Her latest magazine cover prominently features motherhood, showcased in photos taken with New York photographer César Buitrago.
In a memorable photo, the singer is seen protecting her growing belly with a T-shirt that simply says ‘Mother’. She’s wearing minimal black underwear with the shirt.
One photo shows her with a bare midriff, wearing a black bralette and a short leather jacket. Another features Goulding in a flowing cream blouse, and her baby bump is visible as she looks directly at the camera.
You know, people often ask me if artists are ‘playing a role’ with their image, and with Ellie Goulding, that’s definitely not the case. She truly believes her new music is a real evolution – a genuine step away from the artist she used to be. It’s not a performance, it’s a transformation!
She expressed relief that her record label was understanding about her decision to stop portraying that particular persona. She believes audiences are tired of artificiality and want authenticity from artists – they don’t want to see a character or someone who isn’t genuine.
She explained that the new music represented a return to her roots, focusing on traditional instruments. While acknowledging the growing popularity of AI-generated music, she chose to play the guitar – the instrument she first learned – for this project.
‘It aroused something in me that was innocent and pure from when I was 15, writing my first song.’
The full interview is available to read in the latest issue of NYLON, out now.
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2026-01-28 20:10