Legendary musician Sting has made it clear that his children won’t be relying on his fame or fortune to build their futures. In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, the iconic singer opened up about parenting, hard work, and why he believes earning your own success is one of life’s most important lessons.
Sting, whose children include musician Eliot Sumner and actor Mickey Sumner, shared the straightforward message he has always given them.
“Guys, you got to work,” Sting said. “I’m spending our money. I’m paying for your education. You’ve got shoes on your feet. Go to work.”
While some may see his approach as strict, the 17-time Grammy winner believes it comes from a place of care and respect. According to Sting, encouraging his children to become independent is not cruelty — it’s trust.
“That’s not cruel,” he explained. “I think there’s a kindness there and a trust that they will make their own way. They’re tough, my kids.”
The singer proudly praised all of his children for developing what he described as an “extraordinary work ethic.” None of them, he noted, has chosen the easy route of living off their father’s success.
In fact, Sting went as far as to call that lifestyle “a form of abuse” that he hopes never to be guilty of encouraging.
“The working class works and wants to work,” he said. “I’m one of those people. I love to work.”
Long before becoming one of the most celebrated musicians in the world, Sting held a variety of ordinary jobs. He reflected on working in offices, on construction sites, teaching in a mining village, and even performing music aboard cruise ships before finding worldwide fame.
Those experiences shaped his understanding of work and identity. Despite decades of success and global recognition, Sting insists he never saw himself as a traditional rock star.
“I wanted to make a living as a musician,” he said. “And that still is how I define myself. I’m not a rock star.”
Even at 74, Sting continues to stay creatively active. Most recently, he adapted his musical The Last Ship for the Metropolitan Opera. The production tells the emotional story of a shipbuilding community in Wallsend, Northeast England, struggling with the closure of its local shipyard.
Through both his music and his parenting philosophy, Sting continues to champion the value of resilience, discipline, and hard work — lessons he believes matter far more than fame or fortune.