Ed Sheeran became the latest superstar to join Jimmy Fallon for The Tonight Show‘s beloved subway busking segment, trading his signature ginger look for a throwback emo disguise. The pair donned straight black wigs, hoodies, and sunglasses to blend in as underground performers at a New York City subway station—until Sheeran revealed his identity to stunned commuters by belting out his hits.
The playful stunt coincided with the release of Sheeran’s new single “Azizam”—a Farsi term meaning “my dear,” inspired by his collaboration with Persian producer Illya Salmanzadeh. “We created something within the Persian culture,” Sheeran explained during a recent Tonight Show interview, noting the track also has a full Farsi version. The song made its live debut in New Orleans with a vibrant assist from the Soul Rebels brass band.
Sheeran also teased details about his next album, Play, marking a fresh creative chapter after completing his decade-long Mathematics series (+, x, ÷, =, and –). The 34-year-old revealed the concept stems from a plan he drafted at 18, with Play followed by Pause, Rewind, Fast-Forward, and Stop.
Fans can catch Sheeran and Fallon’s full subway antics on The Tonight Show (weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC, streaming next day on Peacock)—joining past busking alums like Miley Cyrus, Bad Bunny, and U2.
