Who is Sarah McLachlan's partner? Her love life and dating history
For decades, fans have been keen on Sarah McLachlan's partner and love life to understand her romantic inspirations. The singer is currently single, but has been married once, to her former drummer, Ashwin Sood. Sarah later dated Canadian businessman Brett Wilson and former NHL star Geoff Courtnall. She once told Spinner in an interview:
Coming to terms with the fact that my marriage was a failure was brutal and devastating. It took me a long time to move on because, for the most part, I blamed myself for everything.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Sarah McLachlan was married to Ashwin Sood for 11 years (1997–2008).
- They share two daughters: India Ann and Taja Summer Sood.
- Although McLachlan never disclosed the reason behind her split from Sood, she termed the divorce "pretty gross".
- Sarah also dated Canadian businessman and philanthropist W. Brett Wilson (from 2009 to 2011) and NHL hockey legend Geoff Courtnall (from 2012 to 2015)
- A two-time Grammy Award winner, Sarah had sold over 40 million albums worldwide as of 2015.
Sarah McLachlan's profile summary
Full name | Sarah Ann McLachlan |
Date of birth | 28 Jan 1968 |
Age | 58 years (as of 2026) |
Place of birth | Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada |
Parents | Dorice McLachlan, Jack McLachlan |
Siblings | Ian McLachlan, Stewart McLachlan |
Children | India Ann Sushil Sood, Taja Summer Sood |
Spouse | Ashwin Sood (1997–2008) |
Sexuality | Straight |
Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
Social media |
Sarah McLachlan and Ashwin Sood relationship
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Ashwin Sood
- Profession: Musician and drummer
- Date of birth: 25 Sept 1967
- Place of birth: Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Age: 58 years (as of 2026)
Sarah McLachlan's first and only husband was Ashwin Sood. She first met English-born Canadian musician and drummer Ashwin in the early 1990s.
She asked him to play drums on I Will Not Forget You on her second album, Solace. The pair exchanged nuptials on 7 February 1997 in Jamaica.
Sarah McLachlan's children
Sarah McLachlan and Sood had two daughters. They welcomed their first daughter, India, on 6 April 2002. Five years later, on 22 June 2007, they had their second daughter, Taja Sood. The family resided in British Columbia, Canada.
She announced their split while promoting Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan
While speaking to Billboard.com in September 2008, per People, Sarah shared news about her separation from Ashwin, stating:
I was not planning to do this because I have been super terrified. But I figured there is no perfect time for me to disclose that Sood and I are divorcing.
McLachlan also revealed that two songs from her Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan hits compilation were about the breakup.
U Want Me 2 is about that period when anger, confusion and sadness are the only feelings. It is the part after a relationship ends where there is no communication or closure, and the only thing left to do is figure out how to move on with grace and dignity.
She added:
Don't Give Up on Us is a plea to give a relationship another chance before calling it quits.
Source: Getty Images
Sarah lost her creative spark after the divorce
During her interview with Spinners, per Digital Spy, McLachlan revealed the effects her divorce had on her musical career, stating:
It took me a while before I was able to crawl from that deep, dark hole and be able to write again. I had to dust off the dirt, get some light in, and have some objectivity before I could start writing again.
Sarah also credited her friends for helping her navigate the heartbreak:
I had a great support system through my friends and family. I could not allow myself to drown in sorrow for the sake of my kids. So, I got out of bed every day with a deep desire to heal and be at peace with everything.
Sarah McLachlan's relationship with W. Brett Wilson
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: William Brett Wilson
- Profession: investment banker and businessman
- Date of birth: 1 Jul 1957
- Place of birth: North Battleford, Canada
- Age: 69 years (as of 2026)
Sarah reportedly started dating her longtime friend W. Brett Wilson in 2009. Although the pair was often seen gracing events together, neither party explicitly confirmed their romantic relationship.
McLachlan and Brett allegedly broke up in 2010. According to The Globe and Mail, she confirmed being single around the same time, saying:
Right now, I cannot imagine myself being anything more than a fantastic mom and a good friend. I have a busy life, and being in a relationship just seems like too much work.
Sarah McLachlan was romantically linked with ex-NHL player Geoff Courtnall
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Geoffrey Lawton Courtnall
- Profession: Former ice hockey player
- Date of birth: 18 Aug 1962
- Place of birth: Victoria, Canada
- Age: 64 years (as of 2026)
According to the Calgary Herald, Geoff and Sarah started dating around the time of her Shine On album, which was released in 2014.
The former ice hockey player was purportedly the inspiration behind some of the hits in the project. Although scant information exists about the duo's relationship, rumour has it that they dated for a couple of years before calling it quits.
Sarah McLachlan's songs
Sarah McLachlan has a long list of songs since the 80s. She was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024. Here are some of her songs.
- I Will Not Forget You (1992)
- Possession (1993)
- I Will Remember You (1995)
- Dear God (1995)
- Adia (1998)
- Angel (1998)
- Fallen (2003)
- Stupid (2004)
- River (2006)
- One Dream (2009)
- Find Your Voice (2012)
- In Your Shoes (2014)
- The Long Goodbye (2016)
- Better Broken (2025)
FAQs
- How old is Sarah McLachlan? The singer is 58 years old (as of 2026). She was born on 28 January 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her adoptive parents, Jack and Dorice McLachlan, raised her alongside two older adopted brothers, Ian and Stewart.
- Is Sarah McLachlan LGBTQ? Although Sarah has shared kisses with several women, she identifies as straight. She is a strong advocate of gay rights.
- How rich is Sarah McLachlan? According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sarah McLachlan has an estimated net worth of $50 million. She has amassed this wealth from her successful musical career.
- What illness does Sarah McLachlan have? In November 2024, Sarah cancelled a tour after medical doctors diagnosed her with acute laryngitis.
- What happened to Sarah McLachlan's marriage? Her marriage ended in divorce in 2008, after being married to Ashwin Sood for 11 years.
- Did Sarah McLachlan ever remarry? No, the singer-songwriter has never remarried, despite being linked to several high-profile relationships.
- Who was Sarah McLachlan's first husband? Sarah's first husband was English-born Canadian musician and drummer Ashwin Sood.
- Where is Ashwin Sood now? Ashwin is based in Canada, continuing his work as a musician, producer, and composer.
- What is Sarah McLachlan doing now? Sarah is touring, making new music, and running her music charity, recently winning an award for her latest album, Better Broken.
The hot topic surrounding Sarah McLachlan's partner is a reflection of the thin line between fame and public scrutiny. The legendary singer was previously married to Ashwin Sood. Although Sarah reportedly dated after their divorce, she is presently single.
Briefly.co.za highlighted Charly Arnolt's love life. She is known for working with major media companies like WWE, ESPN, and Fox. In April 2024, Charly became the first female UFC ring announcer.
Arnolt and WWE superstar Seth Rollins sparked dating rumours in 2019 after being spotted together at several WWE events. Neither of them revealed the nature of their relationship at the time. She was romantically linked with Bachelorette alum Shawn Booth in December 2018.
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
Ruth Gitonga (Lifestyle writer) Ruth Gitonga has a background experience in Mass Communication for over six years. She graduated from the University of Nairobi with a degree in Mass Communication in December 2014. In 2023, Ruth finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She has worked for Briefly.co.za for seven years now. She specializes in topics like lifestyle, entertainment, travel, technology, and sports. Email: gitongaruth14@gmail.com.
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