Ed Sheeran’s Impromptu Duet With Elton John, And Why He Needs Surgery

Ed Sheeran performed in Sydney last Wednesday night and he brought a special guest with him. Stars At Sixty reports that part way through Sheeran’s show, Elton John joined him on stage. The duo performed John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” with John at the piano and Ed Sheeran on his guitar.

They also performed “Afire Love” together.

Now that his Australian tour is nearly over and the holidays are fast approaching, Ed Sheeran will be able to head home and have a well-deserved break. He will also be having some surgery in the New Year. Entertainment Tonight reports that while vacationing in Spain earlier this year, he broke his eardrum when he jumped into the water from high up on a yacht.

“I have to have an operation in January on my ear because I stupidly jumped off a yacht really high up and smashed it.”

It appears that Ed Sheeran will welcome the break that the surgery will force him to take.

“I landed wrong, and it burst my eardrum so I have to go and get a graft, which means I’m not allowed to fly for a while, so it’s kind of good [because] it means I have to stay at home.”

Ed Sheeran Has Just Burst His Eardrum https://t.co/SKt4xtTOGR pic.twitter.com/V9eCHVceyw

— TRAPS TV (@TrapsTV) December 11, 2015

Sheeran revealed that he didn’t even know he had damaged his eardrum until he went swimming again, a long time after the injury occurred.

“It’s the most painful thing having a hole in your eardrum and having water go in.”

Recovering from surgery will mean a break from touring and performing, but Ed Sheeran plans to take another type of break as well: a break from social media. The Guardian reports that Sheeran revealed his plan to break from social media on his Instagram account.

“I’m taking a break from my phone, emails and all social media for a while. I’ve had such an amazing ride over the last five years but I find myself seeing the world through a screen and not my eyes so I’m taking this opportunity of me not having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I missed.”

Ed Sheeran made it clear that this is not a goodbye in his career, but just a much-needed break.

“The third album is on its way and is the best thing I have made thus far. See you all next autumn, and thank you for being amazing.”

It’s true that Ed Sheeran is no stranger to social media. After all, it is where he launched his career, one post at a time, to become one of the most popular and recognized musicians in the world. Malay Mail Online reports that Sheeran is the entertainer that has generated the most chatter on Facebook in 2015. He even beat Taylor Swift to become the king of Facebook.

With all this in mind, the fact that Ed Sheeran is taking a break from social media is a pretty big deal. But it makes sense that he wants to take the time to actually see the world in which he is traveling. Traveling and working at the same time doesn’t allow a person to really enjoy the places they visit.

Happy Holidays and good luck having some down time, Ed Sheeran. Your fans will miss you, but as the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Just look what time off did for Adele. Her new album, 25, has rocked the music world and Sheeran’s third album will undoubtedly do the same when it comes out.

[Photos by yakub88, Christian Bertrand/Shutterstock]