Sam Smith confirms Christian Cowan engagement, credits new album to designer

Christian Cowan and Sam Smith attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images via AFP / Jamie McCarthy)

MANILA, Philippines — Singer-songwriter Sam Smith is set to wed fashion designer and fellow Brit Christian Cowan after around three years of dating, a couple of months since engagement reports emerged.

The Grammy winner confirmed the happy news to the New York Times while promoting their upcoming fifth album “Hazel Eyes.”

During the interview, Smith even confirmed that the album’s title was inspired by Cowan’s very own eye color and began composing the opening track “Everlasting Love” the night before their first date.

“There’s something radical about being queer in this time, in this world, and singing love songs,” said Smith, who came out as gay in 2014 then as non-binary three years later. “I’m not going to allow the poison that I read and that I see to affect my way of loving.”

The couple was first spotted together in December 2022 but did not confirm their relationship until May 2024. That month, they made their red carpet debut at the Met Gala and even attended the next edition together.

Reports about the engagement came out when Smith and Cowan attended this year’s Met Gala, with the former spotted wearing an engagement ring with a yellow diamond to with his feathery outfit designed by Cowan.

Smith is best known for their songs “Stay With Me,” “I’m Not the Only One,” “Lay Me Down,” “Money On My Mind,” “Too Good at Goodbyes,” “Dancing with a Stranger,” “How Do You Sleep?” and “Writing’s on the Wall.”

The 12-track “Hazel Eyes” will be released on August 21, three years after Smith’s last album “Gloria,” which carried the singles “Unholy,” “Love Me More,” “Gimme” and “I’m Not Here to Make Friends.”

— Kristofer Purnell