History of Ellie Goulding in Timeline

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Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding, born Elena Jane Goulding, is an English singer, songwriter, and activist. She began writing songs at 15 and debuted with "Under the Sheets" in 2009. Shortly after, she signed with Polydor Records and released her debut EP. Her album, Lights (2010), reached No. 1 in the UK and was reissued as Bright Lights, featuring the hit singles "Your Song", "Starry Eyed," and "Lights."

6 hours ago : Ellie Goulding Dazzles in Sequin Gown at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Venice Wedding

Ellie Goulding attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's extravagant wedding in Venice, showcasing a stunning sequin burgundy dress and making a surprise appearance among other A-listers.

2009: Release of "Fighter Plane"

In 2009, Ellie Goulding released "Fighter Plane" which was later sampled by Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa and Chiddy Bang in 2011.

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2010: John Lewis Christmas Advert

In 2010, Ellie Goulding contributed her vocals to an advert for the British department store chain John Lewis, performing "Your Song" for the store's 2010 campaign.

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2010: Bupa Great North Run

In 2010, Ellie Goulding participated in the Bupa Great North Run for the British Heart Foundation.

2010: Release of "Starry Eyed"

In 2010, Ellie Goulding released "Starry Eyed", which was later sampled by French Montana in 2020.

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2010: Dating Greg James

In 2010, Ellie Goulding started dating English radio DJ Greg James.

2010: Release of Debut Album Lights

In 2010, Ellie Goulding's debut album Lights was released, experimenting with genres including indie pop, synthpop, folktronica and indietronica.

2011: Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa and Chiddy Bang sample "Fighter Plane"

In 2011, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa and Chiddy Bang sampled Ellie Goulding's "Fighter Plane" (2009) in their song "High".

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2011: She Runs LA Event

In 2011, Ellie Goulding ran the She Runs LA event for charity Students Run LA, which aims to increase access to sport for less privileged children across the Los Angeles Unified School District.

2012: Partnership with Pandora Radio

In 2012, Ellie Goulding partnered with Pandora Radio, donating one dollar for each sale of her mixtape to the Free the Children charity.

2012: Release of Halcyon

In 2012, Ellie Goulding released her second album Halcyon, continuing in the same vein as her first, including genres such as indie pop, synthpop and dream pop.

2012: Release of 'Don't Say a Word'

In 2012, Ellie Goulding released the track 'Don't Say a Word', which was later sampled by Drake and Jay-Z in 2013.

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2012: Ending relationship with Greg James and dating Skrillex

In 2012, Ellie Goulding's relationship with Greg James ended after 18 months. Also in 2012, she began dating DJ Skrillex after collaborating on "Bittersweet" for the Twilight soundtrack.

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April 2013: Nike Women Half Marathon

On April 28, 2013, Ellie Goulding ran the inaugural Nike Women Half Marathon in Washington, D.C., finishing with a time of 1:41:35.

June 2013: Gucci's "Chime for Change" Concert

On June 1, 2013, Ellie Goulding performed at Gucci's global concert event in London. The campaign "Chime for Change" aims to raise awareness of women's issues in terms of education, health, and justice.

August 2013: Break up with Jeremy Irvine

In August 2013, Ellie Goulding broke up with actor Jeremy Irvine.

2013: "Burn" number-one single

In 2013, "Burn" was one of Ellie Goulding's chart-topping singles.

2013: Drake and Jay-Z sample 'Don't Say a Word'

In 2013, Drake and Jay-Z sampled Ellie Goulding's track 'Don't Say a Word' (2012) in their song "Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2".

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2013: Release of Halcyon Days Re-issue

In 2013, Ellie Goulding re-released her second album Halcyon with ten new songs under the name Halcyon Days, marking her return to electropop.

2013: Marks & Spencer's 'Womanism' campaign

In 2013, Ellie Goulding was announced as one of several new models for Marks & Spencer's 'Womanism' campaign, subtitled "Britain's leading ladies".

2013: "How Long Will I Love You" as Children in Need single

In 2013, Ellie Goulding's track "How Long Will I Love You" was the official single for the 2013 Children in Need campaign.

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November 2014: Focus on Third Studio Album

In November 2014, Ellie Goulding announced that she was focusing on her third studio album.

November 2014: Joining Band Aid 30

On November 15, 2014, Ellie Goulding joined the charity group Band Aid 30 along with other British and Irish pop acts, recording a new version of the track "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa.

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2014: Charity concerts for "Streets of London"

From 2014, Ellie Goulding performed in the annual charity concerts for the "Streets of London" charity event at the Royal Albert Hall.

2014: "Love Me Like You Do" number-one single

In 2014, "Love Me Like You Do" was one of Ellie Goulding's chart-topping singles.

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2014: Relationship with Dougie Poynter

In 2014, Ellie Goulding began a relationship with Dougie Poynter of McFly.

2014: Declining Sochi Winter Olympics performance

In 2014, Ellie Goulding was invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics but declined, following singer Cher’s decision to boycott the event in protest of Vladimir Putin’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Russia.

April 2015: Preview of "Powerful"

On April 23, 2015, a preview of Ellie Goulding's single "Powerful" was revealed.

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May 2015: Appearance in Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" Music Video

In May 2015, Ellie Goulding starred in the music video for Taylor Swift's song "Bad Blood".

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June 2015: Release of "Powerful" on Peace Is the Mission

On June 1, 2015, Ellie Goulding's track "Powerful," alongside Tarrus Riley, was released with Major Lazer's album Peace Is the Mission.

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July 2015: Completion of Recording New Material

On July 27, 2015, Ellie Goulding finished recording new material and posted about it on Instagram from Abbey Road Studios.

August 2015: Unveiling of New Single Title

On August 5, 2015, Interscope unveiled the title of Ellie Goulding's new single, "On My Mind", at the iHeartRadio Music Summit.

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September 2015: Preview of "On My Mind" and Album Announcement

In September 2015, Ellie Goulding released a preview of her new track "On My Mind" on on September 15, and another video teaser revealed the title and cover art for her third studio album, Delirium.

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September 2015: AFL Grand Final Performance and Single Debut

In September 2015, it was announced on September 7th that Ellie Goulding would perform at the 2015 AFL Grand Final. On September 17th, she debuted her single, "On My Mind", from the upcoming album Delirium and announced its release date on BBC Radio 1's Breakfast Show. She subsequently performed "On My Mind" at the Apple Music Festival later that week.

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October 2015: Appearance on The Australian X Factor & Announcement of "Army"

On October 6, 2015, Ellie Goulding performed "On My Mind" on the Australian X Factor. On October 15, it was announced that "Army" would be the second official single from Delirium.

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December 2015: "Love Me Like You Do" Grammy Nomination

In December 2015, "Love Me Like You Do" earned Ellie Goulding a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance.

December 2015: Volunteering at the Marylebone Project

On December 24, 2015, Ellie Goulding volunteered in central London at the Marylebone Project to help end homelessness and assist in eliminating the stereotype associated with the homeless population.

2015: Collaboration with MAC cosmetics

In 2015, Ellie Goulding and MAC cosmetics announced their first collaboration, launching a set of make-up which are described on MAC's press release as an inspiration of Goulding's 'light and dichotomy so present in her artwork and as a performer'.

2015: First artist to replace herself on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart

In 2015, Ellie Goulding became the first artist to replace herself from the top spot on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart, with "Love Me Like You Do" dethroning "Outside".

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2015: Release of Delirium

In 2015, Ellie Goulding released her third studio album Delirium, a pivotal moment for the artist as it presented a change in musical direction, reaching for a more maximalist pop-oriented sound.

January 2016: "Love Me Like You Do" Brit Awards Nominations

In January 2016, "Love Me Like You Do" was nominated for British Single of the Year, and Best British Video at the 2016 Brit Awards.

January 2016: Launching MAC collaboration make-up

In January 2016, the set of products were made available in MAC's press release as an inspiration of Goulding's 'light and dichotomy so present in her artwork and as a performer'. The set of products were made available, and each cosmetics was named after a song from Goulding's discography.

January 2016: "Army" Music Video Release and "Something in the Way You Move" Release

On January 14, 2016, the music video for Ellie Goulding's song "Army" was released. On January 19, 2016, "Something in the Way You Move" was released as a single.

February 2016: "Something in the Way You Move" Music Video Release

On February 23, 2016, the original music video for Ellie Goulding's "Something in the Way You Move" was released.

March 2016: Pantene Pro-V Endorsement

Since March 21, 2016, Ellie Goulding has been endorsing the Swiss shampoo Pantene Pro-V on television and on the official Pantene website under the tagline "Strong Is Beautiful".

June 2016: Protest against North Carolina's 'bathroom bill'

In June 2016, during her Delirium World Tour performance in North Carolina, Ellie Goulding displayed a pride flag as a form of protest against the state's 'bathroom bill' (HB2), which restricted the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.

August 2016: Release of "Still Falling for You"

On August 19, 2016, Ellie Goulding released the song "Still Falling for You" for the Bridget Jones's Baby soundtrack, and its music video premiered on August 25, 2016.

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2016: Discussing Panic Attacks and Therapy

In 2016, Ellie Goulding spoke to Flare about suffering panic attacks due to the studio environment, which prevented her from working. She also discussed attending cognitive behavioural therapy sessions for the first time.

2016: Ending relationship with Dougie Poynter

In 2016, Ellie Goulding's relationship with Dougie Poynter of McFly ended.

2016: Vic Mensa & Skrillex sample "Explosions"

In 2016, Vic Mensa & Skrillex sampled Ellie Goulding's "Explosions" (2012) in their song "No Chill".

April 2017: Release of "First Time"

On April 28, 2017, Ellie Goulding released "First Time," a collaboration with Kygo, which she had previously premiered at the Mawazine Festival.

May 2017: MAC collaboration ranked among best-selling

As of May 2017, Ellie Goulding's collection is included among the best-selling MAC collaborations of all time, placing at number sixteen.

June 2017: "Something in the Way You Move" Music Video Release

On June 21, 2017, a music video for Ellie Goulding's "Something in the Way You Move" directed by Emil Nava was released.

2017: Ongoing Confidence Issues and Anxiety

In 2017, Ellie Goulding discussed her ongoing confidence issues and severe anxiety in an interview with Well+Good.

2017: Mawazine Festival Performance

In 2017, Ellie Goulding performed at the opening of the 16th edition of the Mawazine Festival, held in Rabat from May 12 to 20.

2017: Global Leadership Award

In 2017, Ellie Goulding was awarded the 'Global Leadership Award' by the United Nations Foundation for her environmental and social justice activism.

June 2018: Collaboration with Sean Paul on "Bad Love"

On June 29, 2018, Ellie Goulding appeared on Sean Paul's Mad Love the Prequel EP, collaborating on the track "Bad Love".

August 2018: Engagement to Caspar Jopling

On August 7, 2018, Ellie Goulding and Caspar Jopling announced their engagement.

October 2018: Release of "Close to Me"

On October 24, 2018, Ellie Goulding collaborated with Diplo and Swae Lee on the single "Close to Me".

2018: United Nations Foundation Global Ambassador

In 2018, Ellie Goulding joined the United Nations Foundation as a Global Ambassador.

2018: Charity concerts for "Streets of London"

Until 2018, Ellie Goulding performed in the annual charity concerts for the "Streets of London" charity event at the Royal Albert Hall.

January 2019: Working on Fourth Album

On January 1, 2019, The Guardian reported that Ellie Goulding had been working on her fourth album, set to release in the same year.

April 2019: Release of "Sixteen"

On April 12, 2019, Ellie Goulding released the single "Sixteen", reflecting on her pivotal year at that age and the innocence of youth.

June 2019: Release of "Hate Me" with Juice Wrld

On June 26, 2019, Ellie Goulding released "Hate Me" with American rapper Juice Wrld. It was premiered by Zane Lowe as his 'World Record' on Beats 1.

August 2019: Marriage to Caspar Jopling

On August 31, 2019, Ellie Goulding and Caspar Jopling were married at York Minster. Goulding was baptised in the Church of England to get married.

November 2019: Dallas Cowboys Halftime Show Controversy

In November 2019, Ellie Goulding was set to perform at the Dallas Cowboys’ halftime show, launching the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle campaign. After fans raised concerns about the organization’s history of anti-LGBTQ+ policies, Goulding threatened to withdraw unless the Salvation Army made a clear commitment or donation to the LGBTQ+ community. Following the Salvation Army's response, Goulding agreed to proceed with the performance.

2019: Celebrity Ally by British LGBT Awards

In 2019, Ellie Goulding received the 'Celebrity Ally' award by the British LGBT Awards, recognising her support for the LGBTQ+ community.

2019: Most song entries by a British female artist in the US

In 2019, Ellie Goulding set the record for most song entries by a British female artist in the US, with "Hate Me" becoming her fourteenth entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

2019: Honorary Doctorate of Arts

In 2019, Ellie Goulding was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts degree at the University of Kent in recognition of her contribution to music.

2019: Variety Hitmakers Decade Award

In 2019, Ellie Goulding was honoured with the Variety Hitmakers Decade Award, after ten years of consistent work as a hitmaker, with Goulding stating: 'It's probably the first time I've really been acknowledged for this work'.

2019: Imposter Syndrome Awareness

In 2019, a week after World Mental Health Day, Ellie Goulding used her Instagram account to raise awareness about imposter syndrome, sharing her own experiences and the consequences it had on her life and career. She also revealed that her grandfather committed suicide 'a few years ago'.

March 2020: Release of "Worry About Me" and Album Details

On March 13, 2020, Ellie Goulding released the single "Worry About Me" in collaboration with Blackbear. In a radio interview the same month, she revealed details about her upcoming album.

June 2020: Delay of Brightest Blue Release

Ellie Goulding's fourth studio album, Brightest Blue, was originally scheduled for release on June 5, 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2020: Release of Brightest Blue

On July 17, 2020, Ellie Goulding released her fourth studio album, Brightest Blue, which debuted at the top of the UK Album Chart.

2020: Announcement of New Music Release

In 2020, Ellie Goulding announced on an Instagram Q&A that she would be releasing new music that was not part of the Brightest Blue era at the end of January 2021.

2020: Release of Brightest Blue

In 2020, Ellie Goulding released her fourth studio album Brightest Blue, which is divided into two sides; the first side has been compared to her early releases as it recaptures the "simplicity" and "vulnerability" of her first two records, while the second side EG.0 incorporates influences from music genres like Hip-Hop and dance.

2020: French Montana samples "Starry Eyed"

In 2020, French Montana sampled Ellie Goulding's "Starry Eyed" (2010) in his song "I Know".

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January 2021: Release of "New Love" with Silk City

On January 21, 2021, Ellie Goulding released a collaboration with electronic duo Silk City, titled "New Love".

February 2021: Pregnancy announcement

In February 2021, Ellie Goulding announced she and Caspar Jopling were expecting their first child.

April 2021: Birth of first child

In April 2021, Ellie Goulding gave birth to a son.

June 2021: Stake in SERVED Hard Seltzer

In June 2021, Ellie Goulding acquired a significant stake in premium British hard seltzer brand SERVED for an undisclosed sum. She was attracted to the brand due to its Herefordshire base and eco-friendly ethos.

July 2021: Description of Forthcoming Album

In July 2021, during an interview with Joe Wicks, Ellie Goulding described her forthcoming album as "a dance record. It's electronic pop, a dance thing from outer space".

November 2021: Attending the opening of a 24-hour drop-in centre for homeless women

In November 2021, As a patron of the Marylebone Project, Ellie Goulding attended the opening of a 24-hour drop-in centre for homeless women in London.

2021: Post-natal depression

In 2021, Ellie Goulding suffered from post-natal depression following the birth of her son.

June 2022: Rock in Rio Performance and New Music Announcement

On June 19, 2022, Ellie Goulding performed at Rock in Rio in Lisbon, Portugal, and announced that she would be releasing new music in July.

July 2022: ASA Bans SERVED Facebook Posts

In July 2022, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned a series of posts from Ellie Goulding promoting SERVED hard seltzer. The ASA ruled that claims about low calories and no sugar were not permitted nutrition claims for alcohol products.

July 2022: Announcement and Release of "Easy Lover"

On July 4, 2022, Ellie Goulding announced the release of "Easy Lover" featuring Big Sean, which was released on July 15.

2022: Ally Award by the Attitude Awards

In 2022, Ellie Goulding was honored with the 'Ally Award' by the Attitude Awards for her support to the LGBTQ+ community.

2022: Humanitarian of the Year

In 2022, Ellie Goulding was named 'Humanitarian of the Year' by the United Nations Foundation for her work raising awareness of fossil fuel-funded conflicts and her support for refugees.

2022: BMI President's Award

In 2022, Ellie Goulding was presented with the BMI President's Award at the 2022 BMI London Awards ceremony in recognition as a songwriter.

2022: Lil Baby samples "Don't Say a Word"

In 2022, Lil Baby sampled Ellie Goulding's "Don't Say a Word" (2012) in his song "In a Minute". Also in 2022, Fivio Foreign's "World Watching" sampled "Lights" (2011).

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2022: Ally Award Acceptance

In 2022, while accepting the Ally Award at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, Ellie Goulding urged fellow allies to 'step up' and use their platforms to support, and protect the LGBTQ community, placing particular emphasis on transgender individuals in light of the 'exhausting' rising number of targeted attacks and growing hostility toward the trans community.

January 2023: SERVED Partnership with Morrisons

In January 2023, SERVED announced its partnership with Morrisons, part of the supermarket's ‘Growing British Brands’ accelerator programme. SERVED products are now available for sale in 498 Morrisons stores, as well as listings in other parts of the business including Morrisons.com, and wholesale channels like Amazon. That same year SERVED launched a series of Ready To Drink cocktails, including Mojito, Passion Fruit Martini, and Piña Colada flavours.

February 2023: Announcement of "Higher Than Heaven" Release Date

On October 19, Ellie Goulding announced that her fifth studio album, Higher Than Heaven, would be released on February 3, 2023. It was delayed multiple times and eventually released on April 7, 2023.

March 2023: Release of "By the End of the Night" and BRIT Billion Award

On March 10, 2023, Ellie Goulding released the single "By the End of the Night". On May 3, Ellie Goulding was presented with the BRIT Billion Award.

April 2023: Release of "Higher Than Heaven"

Ellie Goulding's fifth studio album, "Higher Than Heaven", was released on April 7, 2023 after multiple delays.

September 2023: Heineken UK Acquires Stake in SERVED

In September 2023, Ellie Goulding announced that Heineken UK had acquired a significant minority stake in SERVED.

December 2023: Revealing Post-Natal Depression

In December 2023, while guest editing the Today programme, Ellie Goulding revealed that she had suffered from post-natal depression following the birth of her son in 2021. She also talked about how her approach to the natural environment, having a fitness regime, and kickboxing helped her overcome panic attacks and anxiety.

2023: "Miracle" number-one single

In 2023, "Miracle" was one of Ellie Goulding's chart-topping singles.

2023: Release of Higher Than Heaven

In 2023, Ellie Goulding released her fifth studio album Higher Than Heaven, which is mainly a dance-pop and nu-disco record, and incorporates tracks with synthpop, R&B and EDM influences.

2023: 'The Praeses Elit Award' from Trinity College Dublin

In 2023, Ellie Goulding was awarded with 'The Praeses Elit Award' from Trinity College Dublin, which is given to those who have left an impact in their respective fields.

2023: Future and Metro Boomin sample "Hanging On"

In 2023, Future and Metro Boomin sampled Ellie Goulding's "Hanging On" (2012) in their song "Mile High Memories".

February 2024: Separation announcement

In February 2024, Ellie Goulding and Caspar Jopling announced their separation.

May 2024: Teasing of New Single with Four Tet

On May 8, 2024, Four Tet teased a new single with Ellie Goulding, titled "In My Dreams".

July 2024: SERVED Campaign Launch

In July 2024, It was reported that SERVED was being promoted with its biggest campaign yet, the new four-week campaign consisted on several adverts under the slogan 'Summer's Too Short for Bad Cocktails', those adverts were expected to be seen by over 4.5 million adults and 46% of Londoners, achieving 160 million impressions. The campaign will also focus on advertising throughout social media, including Goulding's own social platforms which have a combined of 30m followers.

July 26, 2024: "Miracle" Certified Two-Time Platinum

As of July 26, 2024, Ellie Goulding's single "Miracle" is certified two-time platinum by the BPI.

September 2024: Release of "In My Dreams"

On September 9, 2024, Ellie Goulding's single, "In My Dreams" with Four Tet was released.

2024: Condemning False Narratives and Privacy Violations

In 2024, Ellie Goulding released a statement on her Instagram stories condemning the false narratives surrounding the end of her marriage. She criticised tabloids for violating her privacy, which has damaged her mental health, and denounced unethical practices used to gather unwarranted information on her, including paying locals from Costa Rica to snitch information on her. Goulding also talked about becoming a 'paranoid wreck' after being stalked 'over, and over' by an older man, as well dealing with a male paparazzi with 'a long lens camera wrapped on a towel', she concluded her statement saying that she "never asked for this level of intrusion".

2024: People's Postcode Lottery Advert

In 2024, Ellie Goulding starred and performed "What the World Needs Now" on a new advert for People's Postcode Lottery 2024 campaign, which thanks its players for helping to raise money for many charities in the UK.

2024: The Conservationist of the Year

In 2024, Ellie Goulding was presented with The Perfect World Foundation Award as 'The Conservationist of the Year', becoming the first musician to be recognized with this title.

January 2025: Release of "Hypnotized" with Anyma

On January 10, 2025, Ellie Goulding's song with Anyma, "Hypnotized", was released, receiving widespread critical acclaim.

April 2025: Condemnation of Supreme Court ruling on definition of woman in Equality Act

In April 2025, Ellie Goulding was among the musicians who signed an open letter condemning the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of woman in the Equality Act.

May 2025: Pledge of solidarity with trans community

In May 2025, Ellie Goulding was among the musicians who signed an open letter pledging 'solidarity with the trans, non-binary and intersex communities' and condemning the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling on the definition of woman in the Equality Act and subsequent EHRC guidance.

2025: Launch of Everystate wellness company

In 2025, Ellie Goulding partnered with wellness executive Gemma Feare, and nutrition entrepreneur Jonathan Relph, launching Everystate (stylised as every•state), a wellness company which develops mushroom supplements. According the press release the supplements will help to relax, have mental health clarity, and better skin.