Adele – biography, career, personal life
Adele (Adele Laurie Blue Adkins) is a British singer, songwriter, and one of the key figures of the global pop and soul scene of the 21st century.
Her incredible vocal range, emotional ballads, and the ability to turn personal experiences into worldwide hits have made Adele one of the most influential artists of modern times.
She has earned dozens of prestigious awards, including an Oscar, Golden Globe, 16 Grammy Awards, 12 BRIT Awards, and several records that remain unbeaten.
Early life and family
Adele was born on May 5, 1988 in Tottenham, London.
Her mother, Penny Adkins, worked as a masseuse and raised her daughter on her own.
Her father, Mark Evans, left the family when Adele was only two years old.
From childhood, Adele showed remarkable musicality. She adored:
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Spice Girls (her first favorite group);
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Etta James;
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Ella Fitzgerald;
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Roberta Flack;
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Mary J. Blige.
She found her first guitar by accident in a music shop near her home. As a teenager, she began writing her own songs.
BRIT School and early recordings
In 2006, Adele graduated from the famous BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology.
Other notable alumni include Jessie J, Leona Lewis, and Amy Winehouse (in different years).
Her first demo recordings ended up on MySpace, where they caught the attention of XL Recordings.
Adele signed a contract at the age of 18.
Debut and breakthrough — album 19 (2008)
The album “19” became a sensation:
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Platinum certification in the UK and the US
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Hit singles: Chasing Pavements, Hometown Glory, Make You Feel My Love
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Grammy Award 2009 for Best New Artist
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Critics praised her mature voice and introspective lyrics despite her young age
From that moment, Adele was no longer just “a promising singer” — she became a national revelation.
Global fame — album 21 (2011)
The album “21” brought Adele truly worldwide recognition and became iconic.
Key hits:
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Rolling in the Deep
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Someone Like You
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Set Fire to the Rain
Facts and records:
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The best-selling album of the 21st century
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Over 31 million copies sold worldwide
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24 weeks at No.1 on Billboard 200
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6 Grammy Awards in one night — a historic record for a female artist
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23 weeks at No.1 on the UK Albums Chart
After the release, Adele underwent vocal cord surgery — a major turning point in her career.
Skyfall (2012) — cinematic triumph
The James Bond theme song “Skyfall” earned Adele:
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Oscar
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Golden Globe
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Grammy Award
The track became one of the most iconic movie ballads of the decade.
The comeback — album 25 (2015)
After a break (giving birth to her son and recovering her voice), Adele returned with the album “25”.
Main single — Hello:
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27.7 million views on YouTube in 24 hours — a world record
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Millions of copies sold
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Global No.1
The album became one of the best-selling releases in the history of digital music.
New maturity — album 30 (2021)
The album “30” is dedicated to Adele’s personal transformation, her divorce from Simon Konecki, and her journey toward emotional balance.
Lead single: Easy on Me — an instant No.1 in the US, the UK, and many other countries.
Musically, the album is more experimental:
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jazz influences
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elements of soul
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orchestral arrangements
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recorded conversations with her son in My Little Love
WEEKENDS WITH ADELE — Las Vegas residency (2022–2024)
One of the biggest events of her career.
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Format: intimate, emotional show
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Up to $2 million revenue per show
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Fully sold-out dates
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Powerful live vocals
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A concert turned into a personal dialogue with the audience
This residency solidified her status as one of the most influential artists of our time.
Personal life
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2011–2019: relationship with Simon Konecki
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2012: birth of her son Angelo
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Divorce finalized in 2021
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Since 2021: relationship with sports agent Rich Paul
(they often call each other “husband”/“wife,” but no official marriage confirmed)
Musical style and influence
Adele is one of the few artists who achieved global fame without showmanship, visual shock value, or dance staging.
Her style is defined by:
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powerful mezzo-soprano
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intimate ballads
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elements of soul, blues, jazz, and pop
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a focus on live instrumentation
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honest, autobiographical lyrics
Her influence is often compared to Amy Winehouse, Roberta Flack, and Whitney Houston.
Major awards
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16 Grammy Awards
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1 Oscar
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1 Golden Globe
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12 BRIT Awards
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18 Billboard Music Awards
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5 American Music Awards
Commercial success
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Over 120 million records sold
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One of the highest-paid artists of the decade
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Frequent presence in Forbes rankings
Interesting facts
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As a teenager, Adele wanted to work in A&R and discover new artists.
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She personally insisted that Spotify remove the Shuffle button from album pages.
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She rarely appears on TV shows and avoids aggressive PR.
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After serious vocal issues, she completely changed her lifestyle.
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Her songs are often used in films and series due to their emotional depth.
Adele continues to tour, perform, and work on new projects. Her voice and sincerity make her one of the most respected artists of the modern era.
