Sam Smith Reveals Engagement to Boyfriend Christian Cowan After 3 Years of Dating

Sam Smith and designer Christian Cowan are engaged after three years of dating.

Smith, 34, confirmed that Cowan, 32, is their fiancé in an interview with The New York Times published on Tuesday, July 28. The musician, who has publicly identified as nonbinary since 2019 and uses they/them pronouns, also revealed that their upcoming album Hazel Eyes, which drops on August 12, was inspired by their relationship and named the record after the color of Cowan’s eyes.

“For me, there’s something radical about being queer in this time, in this world, and singing love songs,” Smith gushed to the outlet. “I’m not going to allow the poison that I read and that I see to affect my way of loving.”

Smith added that the album’s first track “Everlasting Love” was the result of the singer writing “about requited love” for the very first time.

Smith and Cowan were first linked in December 2022. At the time, the pair posed for a photo with former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden at the White House after the president signed the Respect for Marriage Act. The “Stay With Me” singer also performed at the historical event.

Two years later, Smith and Cowan confirmed their romance. (Smith was previously candid about keeping details of their love life out of the spotlight.)

The couple made their red carpet debut at the 2024 Met Gala. They donned coordinated looks, designed by Cowan, that featured metal-plated roses. Cowan shared that the detail was a nod to the beginning of their romance.

“Early on in our days, I gave Sam a metal-plated rose,” the designer told Vogue at the time. “So it was a nod to that moment.”

Earlier this year, Smith stepped out for the Met Gala wearing another look designed by Cowan. The Grammy winner rocked a 52-pound feathered black ensemble which Cowan shared that Smith served as his muse.

“This look is a love letter to the king of fashion illustration,” Cowan shared of the design in a May Instagram post. “And to my love, Sam.”

Smith also gushed about how special they felt when wearing something designed by Cowan.

“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.”