As they gear up for the release of their fifth studio album, Sam Smith is celebrating the start of a new life chapter.

On Monday, the singer-songwriter confirmed to The New York Times that they and Christian Cowan, a fashion designer who has dressed the likes of Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, had gotten engaged. The pair have been dating for about three years.

The news comes just weeks before the release of Smith’s new album, Hazel Eyes. In their chat with the Times, the five-time Grammy winner said the album’s title is a nod to Cowan’s eye colour, while songs like Everlasting Love and My Guy are inspired by their relationship.

Smith, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, did not divulge details of the proposal in the interview, but told the outlet, “I feel good, I feel happy.”

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

Smith and Cowan grew up about 10 minutes apart from one another near Cambridge, England, but met online in 2022.

According to People, in December of that year, Cowan accompanied Smith to the White House, where Smith performed at a ceremony on the South Lawn after then-President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law.

The couple made their red carpet debut at the 2024 Met Gala, with Smith wearing a bespoke tuxedo designed by Cowan.

“I couldn’t have dreamed of a better companion for the occasion,” Smith told Vogue at the time. “I always feel beautiful whenever I wear Christian’s clothes, both inside and out. Tonight’s is a particularly perfect fit.”

The musician also wore one of Cowan’s designs to this year’s Met Gala in May.

“I have always loved Erté. I love the way he brought costume art to the world through his visionary illustrations,” Cowan later said of Smith’s 2026 Met Gala look, alluding to the Russian-born French artist and designer known for his opera and theatre designs. “This look is a love letter to the king of fashion illustration, and to my love, Sam.”