Sufjan Stevens Dedicates New Album 'Javelin' to His 'Rare and Beautiful' Late Partner Evans Richardson IV

The folk performer released his 10th studio album on Friday and seemingly came out as an LGBTQ+ community member with the dedication

Sufjan Stevens declares his new album Javelin is dedicated to his late partner, seemingly coming out as an LGBTQ+ community member in the process.

On Friday, the singer-songwriter, 48, released his 10th studio album via Asthmatic Kitty Records and shared on social media that it’s dedicated to his “beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson,” who died in April of this year.

In a rare public statement posted to Instagram about his personal life, the beloved indie artist opened up about his loss and relationship, which he called “the light of [his] life.”

The “Mystery of Love” singer shared a sweet photo of Richardson smiling in bed and began his statement in the caption, “JAVELIN is out today. Thank you for listening. I love you.”

Related: Sufjan Stevens Diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome: 'Working Really Hard to Get Back on My Feet'

“This album is dedicated to the light of my life, my beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson, who passed away in April,” Stevens shared. “He was an absolute gem of a person, full of life, love, laughter, curiosity, integrity, and joy. He was one of those rare and beautiful ones you find only once in a lifetime—precious, impeccable, and absolutely exceptional in every way.”

The Carrie & Lowell artist continued by opening up about what he learned from their relationship about cherishing loved ones. He wrote, “I know relationships can be very difficult sometimes, but it’s always worth it to put in the hard work and care for the ones you love, especially the beautiful ones, who are few and far between. If you happen to find that kind of love, hold it close, hold it tight, savor it, tend to it, and give it everything you’ve got, especially in times of trouble.”

“Be kind, be strong, be patient, be forgiving, be vigorous, be wise, and be yourself. Live every day as if it is your last, with fullness and grace, with reverence and love, with gratitude and joy,” the Oscar-nominated singer wrote.

Stevens, who has been vocal about his Christian faith and made it the subject of his songwriting throughout his career, concluded his post with a reference to Psalm 118:24. "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it," he said. “Thank you. I love you. XOS."

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According to Pitchfork, Stevens’ late partner Evans Richardson IV died at age 43 in April. He was the Chief of Staff at The Studio Museum in Harlem and also named the Chair of the American Alliance of Museums Accreditation Commission.

Steven has largely kept his personal life private since he broke out with his 2005 album Illinois, but, according to Pitchfork, Richardson joined him at the 2018 Academy Awards where he performed his Oscar-nominated song “Mystery of Love” from the film Call Me By Your Name.

In September, the indie folk artist also opened up on social media about being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that led him to be unable to walk and hospitalized.

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“Last month I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk. My hands, arms and legs were numb and tingling and I had no strength, no feeling, no mobility,” he wrote in a candid statement at the time. “My brother drove me to the ER and after a series of tests — MRIs, EMGs, cat scans, X-rays, spinal taps (!), echo-cardiograms, etc. — the neurologists diagnosed me with an autoimmune disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome.”

“It’s a slow process, but they say I will “recover,” it just takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work,” he added. “I’m committed to getting better, I’m in good spirits, and I’m surrounded by a really great team. I want to be well!”

Since sharing his diagnosis, the Grammy-nominated singer has continued to share updates with his fans about his progress.

Before he updated his fans about his personal life, Stevens announced his latest album Javelin was on the way back in August. The new record, which arrived on Friday to acclaim, marked his first, traditional album of original songs since 2020’s Ascension.

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