Singer and actress Nicole Scherzinger has allegedly begun dating recording artist Ed Sheeran after revealing to him that his music helped her emotionally recover from her recent breakup with Formula One star Lewis Hamilton, The Sun reported on Sunday.

The pair met in London on July 16 where Sheeran, 24, took the former "X Factor" judge out for a date at a pub in his home town of Framlingham in Suffolk.

Since then, the pair has been spotted several times together in public. Sheeran invited Scherzinger, 37, backstage when he performed three concerts at Wembley last month. The former Pussycat Dolls singer reportedly dedicated a performance of "Don't Cha" to Sheeran when she performed in Hollywood on July 27, saying, "This is for you, Ed."

Friends of the two claim the entertainers' friendship over the years has developed into something more.  

"As far as he's concerned they were in the early stages of dating and he's been open about it with close friends and colleagues. It may not develop beyond those dates but they're definitely tight," a friend of Sheeran's told The Sun.

A friend of Scherzinger told the newspaper, "They're extremely close. Nicole says he is the male version of her."

Scherzinger was said to be "heartbroken and devastated" when she and Hamilton broke up in February. It was the fourth time the couple had broken up during their seven-year relationship. She wanted marriage and children, and he refused.

Her heartache intensified when the Daily Mail reported in May that he and Kendall Jenner were together aboard a luxury yacht in Monaco.

Though her singing career faltered following the failure of her second album and she was dropped by record label RCA, Scherzinger has sold 60 million records, had three No. 1 billboard chart hits, and won a Grammy and Brit Award. She was also an Olivier nominee for her role as Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Cats."

Sheeran is one of the most successful musicians in the world.

A spokesman for Sheeran told The Sun his relationship with Scherzinger was not romantic. Scherzinger's representatives could not be reached for comment.