On Feb. 10, 2015, Ed Sheeran was one of many superstars who celebrated Stevie Wonder's legendary career as part of An All-Star GRAMMY Salute. Almost exactly one year later, the two met again — this time, for Wonder to honor Sheeran.
Wonder announced Song Of The Year at the 2016 GRAMMY Awards, which Sheeran won for his ubiquitous ballad "Thinking Out Loud." After Wonder jokingly mocked the audience for not being able to read the braille winners card — and advocating to "make every single thing accessible to every single person with a disability" — the 25-time GRAMMY winner shared a personal story about Sheeran's GRAMMY-winning hit.
"I told my daughter Aisha that this song was a great song when I first heard it," Wonder said, "and it has won tonight. 'Thinking Out Loud!'"
In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, relive the moment Ed Sheeran received a GRAMMY from Stevie Wonder. Making the night even more special for Sheeran, it was the first time he won after three straight years of being nominated — something apparently Wonder knew himself.
"I told you you would get a GRAMMY!" Wonder said to Sheeran as the singer took the stage. (The song actually won Sheeran two GRAMMYS that night, as it also took home Best Pop Solo Performance.) The pop star brought his "Thinking Out Loud" co-writer Amy Wadge up with him, including her and collaborators Jake Gosling, Peter Gosling and Chris Leonard in his first round of thank-yous.
Sheeran also expressed his gratitude to his parents, who were in the audience — and as he quipped, their support finally paid off. "My parents, who have flown, for the past four years, to come to the GRAMMYs, every single year, and every time I lose, they go, 'Maybe next year,'" Sheeran told the crowd with a big smile on his face.
But to Sheeran, perhaps the most special thing about the win was Wonder's connection to it.
"Honestly, if you would have told my 11-year-old, five-year-old, any age, that I would have received an award from Stevie Wonder, I would have been chuffed, so thank you very much," he said as he concluded his speech.
Press play on the video above to watch Sheeran's full Song of the Year acceptance speech for "Thinking Out Loud," and keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more episodes of GRAMMY Rewind.