Chart-topping singer Ellie Goulding has bravely disclosed the intense psychological toll her sudden ascent to stardom took on her mental wellbeing, revealing she experienced debilitating panic attacks that left her unable to leave her home.
The Whiplash of Instant Fame
The 39-year-old musician, who is currently expecting her second child and first with boyfriend Beau Minniear this May, achieved immediate commercial success when her 2010 debut album soared to number one on the UK Album Charts. However, this rapid transition from complete obscurity to household name proved overwhelming for the artist.
In a candid new interview with NYLON magazine, Goulding described the stark contrast between her previous life as an unknown writer and her new reality as a double BRIT Award winner. "I went from never taking a flight, never being photographed, to singing at the royal wedding," she explained, highlighting the dizzying pace of change.
A Body and Mind Out of Sync
The singer elaborated on how her system struggled to process this dramatic shift, stating: "I don't think my body knew how to process the contrast between my old life and my new life, and I don't think I was equipped to deal with that amount of scrutiny, attention and workload - I never stopped."
Goulding detailed how she was "thrust into this mad life" within just a few months, moving rapidly from television appearances and award ceremonies to touring with major artists like Katy Perry and Bruno Mars. This relentless schedule created what she described as "the wildest time of my life" but also took a severe psychological toll.
When Anxiety Becomes Debilitating
The mental strain manifested in increasingly severe anxiety symptoms that eventually became crippling. "My body wasn't catching up with my head, or maybe the other way around," Goulding reflected. "I started getting panic attacks, to the point where I couldn't leave the house."
Her anxiety reached such extremes that even brief excursions became traumatic experiences. "I'd get in the car and the landscapes were triggering me, so I'd have to cover my face," she revealed, illustrating how ordinary environments had become sources of distress.
A Transformative Year Ahead
2026 is shaping up to be a significant year for the singer beyond her mental health revelations. She has already been honoured with an MBE for her services to biodiversity and climate action, and will welcome her second child in May. Additionally, her sixth studio album - though currently untitled and without an official release date - has been fully mastered and awaits release.
Goulding announced her pregnancy publicly while walking the red carpet at the Fashion Awards in early December. This comes following her separation from husband Caspar Jopling in February 2024, with whom she shares four-year-old son Arthur.
Personal Life in the Spotlight
Since her relationship with actor Beau Minniear became public in September 2025, the couple have been photographed holidaying together in Italy, where Minniear shared an intimate photograph of Goulding in their hotel room. He also features prominently in several scenes in her latest music video for "Destiny."
In a separate candid discussion on Brooks Nader's reality show Love Thy Nader, filmed last summer, Goulding offered frank insights into her approach to relationships. She revealed she has dated women between what she described as "toxic, fleeting and passionate" relationships with men, viewing romantic experiences as material for songwriting.
"I think the most exciting love comes for a reason, and it's toxic and fleeting and passionate and it's amazing," she mused, adding philosophically: "We should just appreciate it as the moment that it is, and then when it goes away, be appreciative that it's happened and that we got to experience it."
The full interview detailing Goulding's struggles with fame-induced anxiety is available in the latest issue of NYLON magazine.
