Singer Ellie Goulding has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's New Year Honours list. The prestigious award recognises her significant contributions to biodiversity and climate action.
From Chart-Topping Success to Environmental Advocacy
Born Elena Jane Goulding in Hereford on 30 December 1986, the artist first found fame after winning the Critics' Choice Brit Award and topping the BBC's Sound Of 2010 poll at just 23. Her debut album, Lights, shot straight to number one that same year, featuring the hit single Starry Eyed.
Goulding's successful music career spans over 15 years, with four UK number one albums including Halcyon (2012), Brightest Blue (2020), and Higher Than Heaven (2023). She has also achieved four number one singles and high-profile collaborations with artists like Calvin Harris and Major Lazer.
A Voice for the Planet
Beyond music, Goulding has established herself as a leading environmental voice. She was appointed a global goodwill ambassador for the UN Environment Programme in 2017, a role she continues to hold today. Her activism is often woven into her art, notably in the music video for her 2020 chart-topping cover of Joni Mitchell's River, which highlighted environmentalism and featured a zero-waste Christmas tree.
She has addressed world leaders at major forums like the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London and partnered with Sir David Attenborough for the Our Planet series. In a groundbreaking 2023 initiative, she collaborated with the sounds of Nature as an official 'artist' on streaming platforms to generate conservation funding.
Philanthropy and Personal Life
Goulding's philanthropic work extends to women's issues. She is a patron of The Marylebone Project for homeless women and took part in the Chime For Change concert for female empowerment. She also serves as an ambassador for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The singer, who turns 39 on 30 December, has one son, Arthur, born in 2021 with her former husband, art dealer Caspar Jopling. Her MBE honour crowns a year of professional achievement and underscores her dual legacy as a pop icon and a dedicated campaigner for the planet.
