‘American Idol’ alum Tori Kelly denies dating Ed Sheeran

Victoria Loren Kelly, 23, who is professionally known as Tori Kelly, and Ed Sheeran, 24, collaborated in the song “I Was Made for Loving You.” Recently, the “American Idol” alum clarified that she and the “Thinking Out Loud” singer are not dating.

Kelly will grace the cover of the February issue of Seventeen. In an interview with the magazine, she was asked if she and Sheeran were more than just friends.

“I knew that was coming, but no,” Kelly answered. “Working with him was a really cool experience because I was a fan and I didn’t know how it would go, but right away he made it super-chill.”

According to Kelly, the "Thinking Out Loud" singer has been somebody she considers a friend and a mentor since they worked together. Their collaboration song “I Was Made for Loving You” was one of the 14 tracks from Kelly’s debut studio album titled “Unbreakable Smile,” which was released by Schoolboy Records and Capitol Records on June 23, 2015.

Aside from “I Was Made for Loving You,” there are two more collaboration songs in “Unbreakable Smile.” These are “California Lovers” featuring LL Cool J and “Expensive” featuring Daye Jack.

At the age of 16, Kelly auditioned for “American Idol” Season 9, which was won by Lee DeWyze. The judges during that Season of the Fox singing competition show were Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell.

Kelly was sent home before the semifinals of “American Idol” Season 9. On the other hand, she continued pursuing a music career and did not let Cowell’s negative comments stop her.

For Kelly, she knew she was good and she could do it. She added that she needed “to get knocked down and to build up a thick skin.”

In other news, Sheeran bought his parents a car and a flat right opposite his pad in North London. Kelly’s “I Was Made for Loving You” collaborator told The Sun, “When I have kids, when they start getting a little bit irritating, I’ve got the grandparents there.”