Sam Smith Engaged to Designer Christian Cowan

Grammy-winning musician Sam Smith has announced an engagement to fashion designer Christian Cowan, marking a new chapter in their three-year relationship.

Smith, 34, confirmed the engagement during an interview with The New York Times published Tuesday, July 28, referring to Cowan, 32, as their fiancé. The musician, who has publicly identified as nonbinary since 2019 and uses they/them pronouns, also disclosed that their forthcoming album Hazel Eyes takes its name from the color of Cowan's eyes.

The album, scheduled for release on August 12, draws heavily from the couple's relationship. Smith described the creative process as deeply personal, noting that the opening track "Everlasting Love" represents the first time the singer has written about requited love.

"For me, there's something radical about being queer in this time, in this world, and singing love songs," Smith told The New York Times. "I'm not going to allow the poison that I read and that I see to affect my way of loving."

The relationship between Smith and Cowan first became public in December 2022, when the pair appeared in a photograph with former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden at the White House. The occasion marked the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act, where the "Stay With Me" singer also delivered a performance.

The couple officially confirmed their romance two years after their initial public appearance together. Smith had previously maintained privacy regarding personal relationships, keeping romantic details largely out of public view.

Their red carpet debut as a couple occurred at the 2024 Met Gala, where both wore coordinated ensembles featuring metal-plated roses. Cowan designed the looks, incorporating a meaningful detail that referenced the early days of their courtship.

"Early on in our days, I gave Sam a metal-plated rose," Cowan explained to Vogue at the time. "So it was a nod to that moment."

The designer continued to create statement pieces for Smith, including a 52-pound feathered black ensemble worn to the Met Gala earlier this year. Cowan described the creation as a tribute to both fashion illustration and his relationship with the musician.

"This look is a love letter to the king of fashion illustration," Cowan wrote in a May Instagram post. "And to my love, Sam."

Smith expressed appreciation for Cowan's intimate understanding of their aesthetic preferences and physical form. "There's no one who knows my body more than this man," Smith said in a joint interview with Cowan to Vogue. "I feel very lucky to be here and to wear your incredible talent like this. It's amazing."

The engagement announcement arrives as Smith prepares to release new music that celebrates the relationship, offering fans a window into the personal life the artist has carefully guarded throughout their career.