Ed Sheeran's Mercury Prize nomination may have divided music fans and critics and the man himself has said he is "aware he won't win" but that just being nominated has fulfilled a childhood dream.
Sheeran's third album ÷ (Divide) was a surprise inclusion on the shortlist for the prestigious prize, which sees him go up against acts including Stormzy, The xx and Alt-J.
But the singer has hit back at critics of him being chosen by saying that he does not expect to walk away with the title for the winning album in 2017.
In an Instagram post, he wrote: "My dream when I first started music was to sell out Shepherd's Bush empire and have a Mercury nominated album.
"Did the latter on the first album but have never been nominated on either album so just assumed it would ever happen, as I'm aware, I'm not the most critically acclaimed artist out there.
"But today, low and behold, woke up to find out Divide has been shortlisted.
"Now I'm aware I won't win, but to be put on the shortlist is a real honour, and something that makes both 26 year old me and 13 year old me very happy and proud.
"So thank you to whoever put me up for it, I'm sorry I can't make the ceremony as I am still touring the USA. But thank you. You rock x"
Meanwhile, Mercury Prize judge and singer songwriter Ella Eyre defended Sheeran's third album's inclusion on the list.
She told the Press Association: "He had one of the biggest albums of the year you can't deny that, you can't deny there's that many people who enjoy that album and I have to say you cannot deny that he can write a bloody good pop song.
"He is a very talented man and I think that album I really enjoyed and I think a lot of us did."
Other artists competing to win include rapper J Hus, indie pop band Blossoms, spoken word poet Kate Tempest, singer-songwriter Sampha, rapper Loyle Carner, jazz-inflected group Dinosaur, London four-piece The Big Moon and Oxford indie-rock band Glass Animals.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony on September 14 at the Eventim Apollo in London.
