Ellie Goulding, the renowned English singer, and songwriter, came into the music scene in a remarkable way. Her journey began when she crossed paths with notable record producers, Starsmith and Frankmusik. However, it was the keen eye of Jamie Lillywhite, who took on the roles of both her manager and A&R, that truly propelled her career.
In July 2009, Goulding inked a deal with Polydor Records, leading to the release of her debut extended play, “An Introduction to Ellie Goulding,” later that same year.
Goulding’s musical prowess continued to shine as she unveiled her debut studio album, “Lights,” in 2010. The album’s success was undeniable, soaring to the top of the UK Albums Chart and selling over 850,000 copies within the UK alone. This accomplishment was just the beginning of her incredible journey.
The year 2010 saw “Lights” reissued as “Bright Lights,” generating two hit singles. One of them, a mesmerizing cover of Elton John’s “Your Song,” ascended to the No. 2 position on the UK Singles Chart. Meanwhile, “Lights,” the album’s title track, reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Goulding’s highest-charting single up to that point.
Building on her initial success, Goulding followed up with her second studio album, “Halcyon,” released in 2012. The album was led by the enchanting single “Anything Could Happen.” Although it initially entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 2, it eventually claimed the top spot after 65 weeks.
In 2013, “Halcyon Days,” a repackaged edition of her second album, emerged with the chart-topping single “Burn,” which became Goulding’s first No. 1 single in the UK. Her star continued to rise as she received her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2015, thanks to her hit single “Love Me Like You Do.”
Following her extensive “Delirium World Tour” in 2017, Goulding took an indefinite hiatus. Later revelations unveiled her struggles with an anxiety disorder and the intense media scrutiny she faced due to false claims about her personal life during that period.
Throughout her five-year hiatus, Goulding released several standalone singles, including a captivating cover of Joni Mitchell’s “River,” which claimed the top spot on the UK charts. It was celebrated as the final No. 1 of the decade (2010s) in the United Kingdom.
Upon her return from hiatus, Goulding released her fourth studio album, “Brightest Blue,” in 2020. This album continued her streak of success, becoming her third to reach the No. 1 position on the UK Albums Chart. “Brightest Blue” spawned several hit singles, including “Close To Me” (with Diplo & Swae Lee), “Sixteen,” and “Hate Me” (with Juice Wrld). The latter achievement solidified Goulding’s position as the British female artist with the most entries on the US Chart, a record previously held by Dua Lipa.