We're loading the complete profile of this person of interest including their biography, achievements, and contributions.

Singer-Songwriter
Public Views
Experience
Documented career positions
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, professionally known as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential vocalists of the 21st century. Born on May 5, 1988, in Tottenham, London, she was raised primarily by her mother, Penny Adkins, in various working-class neighborhoods. Adele’s early interest in music was sparked by artists such as Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald, whose records she discovered in her early teens, alongside contemporary pop influences like the Spice Girls. Her foundational musical education took place at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon, where she graduated in 2006, counting among her classmates future stars such as Leona Lewis and Jessie J. Adele’s entry into the professional music industry began shortly after her graduation. A friend posted a three-song demo she had recorded for a class project on MySpace, which eventually caught the attention of executives at XL Recordings. She signed a recording contract with the label in late 2006. Her debut studio album, *19*, released in 2008, established her reputation for emotive, soul-influenced pop. The album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and included the commercially successful singles "Chasing Pavements" and "Hometown Glory." Her global breakthrough, however, arrived with her sophomore album, *21* (2011). Driven by the success of anthems such as "Rolling in the Deep" and "Someone Like You," the album became a cultural phenomenon, eventually becoming the best-selling album of the 21st century. *21* demonstrated her ability to blend traditional soul and balladry with modern production, earning her widespread critical acclaim and cementing her status as a global superstar. Throughout her career, Adele has maintained a legacy of artistic consistency and record-breaking achievement. Her third album, *25* (2015), shattered multiple first-week sales records in both the UK and the US, buoyed by the global hit "Hello." In 2021, she released her fourth studio album, *30*, which explored themes of motherhood, divorce, and self-reflection. Her discography has earned her extensive recognition, including 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards, and an Academy Award for the 2012 James Bond theme song "Skyfall." In 2022, she began her first concert residency, "Weekends with Adele," at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The residency, which concluded in 2024, received significant praise for its intimate production and vocal excellence. Beyond her professional achievements, Adele’s personal life has often been a subject of public interest, though she has generally sought to maintain a level of privacy. She has a son, Angelo, born in 2012, from her marriage to Simon Konecki, which ended in divorce in 2021. As of recent public disclosures, she has been in a relationship with sports agent Rich Paul. Adele is frequently cited for her powerful mezzo-soprano voice and her songwriting, which draws deeply on her own emotional experiences. Her ability to articulate themes of heartbreak, reconciliation, and personal growth has fostered a profound connection with audiences worldwide. By the mid-2020s, with over 100 million records sold, she remains a defining figure in contemporary music, distinguished by her technical vocal prowess and an enduring commitment to creating music that resonates on a deeply personal, human level.
Her album '21' is the best-selling album of the 21st century achieving diamond certification and sweeping the Grammy Awards
Won 16 Grammy Awards an Academy Award a Golden Globe and multiple Brit Awards over the course of four highly deliberate studio albums
Successfully forced Spotify to alter its core user interface globally to protect the artistic integrity of album track sequencing
Faced massive brutal backlash from fans in 2022 when she tearfully canceled the opening of her Las Vegas residency less than 24 hours before the first show citing COVID-19 delays and production failures (She later completely overhauled and successfully relaunched the show)
Subjected to intense highly invasive tabloid scrutiny and online discourse regarding her massive physical transformation and weight loss in 2020 which sparked complex debates about body image and societal expectations of female pop stars
In August 2020, Adele faced accusations of cultural appropriation after posting an Instagram photograph of herself wearing Bantu knots and a bikini featuring the Jamaican flag to celebrate what would have been the Notting Hill Carnival. While some users criticized the choice as insensitive, others, including various public figures, defended her by noting her upbringing in Tottenham and the inclusive spirit of the carnival.
News articles featuring Adele
Her Munich 2024 residency required the construction of a massive custom 80000-seat pop-up stadium breaking European attendance records
Graduated from the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in 2006.
Signed a recording contract with XL Recordings in 2006.
Won the Critics' Choice Award at the 2008 Brit Awards.
Released debut studio album 19 in 2008.
Won Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for 'Chasing Pavements' at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
Released second studio album 21 in 2011, which became the best-selling album of the 21st century.
Won six Grammy Awards in 2012 for 21 and its singles, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for 'Skyfall' in 2013.
Won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Skyfall' in 2013.
Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to music.
Released third studio album 25 in 2015, which set first-week sales records in the US and UK.
Won five Grammy Awards at the 2017 ceremony for 25, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year, making her the first artist to sweep those top three categories twice.
Released fourth studio album 30 in 2021.
Won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) in 2022 for 'Adele: One Night Only'.
In January 2022, Adele faced significant public backlash and criticism after canceling her 'Weekends with Adele' Las Vegas residency just 24 hours before the opening show. Citing production delays and COVID-19 within her team, she later described the decision as gut-wrenching but necessary because she felt the show was not good enough, leading to frustration from fans who had traveled and paid for tickets.
In December 2024, a Brazilian court issued a preliminary injunction ordering the global removal of Adele's 2015 song 'Million Years Ago' from streaming platforms following a plagiarism lawsuit. Composer Toninho Geraes alleged that the song infringed on his 1995 track 'Mulheres,' with the court ruling resulting in a potential financial penalty for non-compliance by her record labels while the legal proceedings continue.