Acoustic guitar firmly in hand and fiery red hair mussed to the max, Ed Sheeran has taken the pop world by storm. Born in England in 1991, the sensitive singer-songwriter earned his way to the top one independent release and one open mic night at a time. It was at one such event in L.A. that he was noticed by actor-singer Jamie Foxx, who offered both his studio and home to the struggling singer. Sheeran's first major-label release, '+,' was a sensation in his home country and garnered him serious notice stateside, with the album peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. A high-profile slot opening for BFF and collaborator Taylor Swift on her Red tour followed, as did a sold-out three-night stand at NYC's iconic Madison Square Garden. His impressive writing credits include tracks for pals One Direction, including the U.K. No. 1 'Little Things.'