In an unexpected turn of events, Ed Sheeran took the stage as the opening act for his own show over the weekend, stepping in for Khalid, who was involved in a car accident just hours before he was scheduled to perform at Maryland’s FedEx Field.

Khalid, the talented 25-year-old artist known for hits like “Young Dumb & Broke” and his collaboration with Ed on “Beautiful People,” unfortunately found himself in a car crash. As a result, Ed Sheeran, 32, graciously stepped in to entertain the crowd, albeit under unfortunate circumstances.

Addressing the thousands-strong audience, Ed explained the situation, expressing his well-wishes for Khalid’s recovery. He shared the news of the car accident, assuring fans that Khalid is on the mend. With a touch of humor, Ed quipped, “If people don’t know I was going to be the opening act today, people are going to walk up to me today like, ‘This show isn’t what I thought it was. I thought there’d be more fireworks.’”

Ed treated the audience to a 30-minute set, performing songs from his latest album, “Subtract,” which was released in May. He even included a special addition to his setlist, performing “Sycamore,” a song inspired by his wife Cherry Seaborn’s battle with cancer during her pregnancy with their second child.

In good spirits, Ed remarked on the daytime performance, enjoying the opportunity to see the crowd in daylight. He expressed his delight, saying, “Usually when I start playing, it’s like pitch-black, and now I get to see everyone. It’s awesome. This is pretty fun.” He also noted the difference in pressure between being the main act and the opening act, emphasizing the enjoyment of playing songs and having fun in the latter role.

As he concluded his impromptu set, Ed took a moment to reiterate his hopes for Khalid’s recovery, stating, “I just want to say, before I introduce this next song, that I really hope Khalid gets well soon and that he’ll be joining us in Boston.”

While Khalid has yet to provide an update on his condition or share details of the accident, fans have taken to social media to express their support and well-wishes. Messages of love and encouragement flooded Khalid’s Instagram, with fans hoping for a quick and uncomplicated healing process.

Ed Sheeran is set to perform next at the Boch Center Wang Theatre on June 29, with Ben Kweller scheduled as the opening act. As the music industry rallies around Khalid during his recovery, fans eagerly await his return to the stage, hoping to witness his incredible talent once again.