Sam Smith has revealed they are engaged to fashion designer Christian Cowan, sharing the news in a New York Times interview alongside details about their forthcoming fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes. The Grammy-winning singer disclosed the engagement just days after releasing the single "Oh Mother" featuring The TwoCity Chorus, explaining that much of the new record was shaped by their relationship with Cowan, including the album's title, inspired by his hazel-coloured eyes.

Hazel Eyes is due for release on 21 August via Capitol Records, following 2023's Gloria, which reached number seven on the Billboard 200 and produced the chart-topping hit "Unholy" with Kim Petras. Smith said the track "Everlasting Love" was begun the night before their first date with Cowan and completed as the relationship developed, and described making the album outside the traditional pop system with collaborators including Feist. They also spoke about embracing emotional contradictions in happiness and about the significance of writing openly queer love songs amid ongoing challenges to LGBTQ+ rights.