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While many musicians might object to being called a pop star, Ed Sheeran<\/strong><\/a> is \u201c100 percent\u201d on board with the label. \u201cI love it,\u201d he told Gayle King<\/strong> in a new CBS interview. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a dirty word. When I grew up, Backstreet Boys<\/strong><\/a> and Britney Spears<\/strong><\/a> were the stuff that I listened to regularly \u2026 And I feel like people lie when they say they don\u2019t like [pop music].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n But when it comes to his own latest release,\u00a0Autumn Variations<\/i>, Ed isn\u2019t concerned about whether the album gets the public\u2019s seal of approval. \u201cYou just have to be like, \u2018I don\u2019t care what people think,\u2019\u201d he said of resisting music industry pressure to put out No. 1 song after No. 1 song. \u201cYou have to have moments of \u2026 just doing things because you want to do them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For a long time, the thing Ed, 32, seemingly wanted to do most was hang out at the pub with pals. Admitting he has an \u201caddictive personality,\u201d the singer has said he used to \u201cstay up and drink all night.\u201d But Ed had a game changing moment when wife Cherry Seaborn<\/strong><\/a> was expecting their first child<\/a>. \u201cTwo months before Lyra<\/a> was born, Cherry said, \u2018If my water breaks, do you really want someone else to drive me to the hospital?\u2019 Because I was just drinking a lot,\u201d Ed told\u00a0Rolling Stone<\/i>. \u201cIt clicked. I was like, \u2018No, actually, I really don\u2019t.\u2019 And I don\u2019t ever want to be [drunk] holding my kid. Ever.\u201d Moderation has been key. \u201cHaving a couple of beers is one thing. But having a bottle of vodka is another \u2026. I love red wine and I love beer,\u201d he\u2019s said. \u201cI don\u2019t know any old rockers that aren\u2019t alcoholics or sober, and I didn\u2019t want to be either.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nChanged Man\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n