Sunny Adé was born in Osogbo into the Ondo and Akure royal family of Nigeria, making her an Omoba of the Yoruba people. His father was a church organist and his mother, Maria Adegeye (née Adesida), was a merchant.
A member of the Adesida dynasty, his mother’s relatives included his father Oba Adesida I (who ruled Akure for 60 years) and later his nephew and cousin Adé, in the 1950s during Queen Elizabeth’s royal tour, Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II, who also served as King of Akure, received Queen Elizabeth in Ondo State.