BIOGRAPHY
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins MBE (pronounced /əˈdɛl/; born May 5, 1988), known by her stage name Adele, is a British singer-songwriter. After signing a contract with record label XL Recordings in September 2006, she released her first album, 19, in January 2008. Her second album, 21, was released in January 2011 and took the top spot in music charts in numerous countries, including the UK and the US. Adele has become one of the most acclaimed artists of her generation, with worldwide sales of over 100 million records.
Adele grew up in the London neighborhood of Tottenham, raised by her mother, Penny Adkins. She was inspired by artists such as Édith Piaf and the TV show The Wild Party to pursue a musical career. After studying music at the BRIT School in Croydon, she was discovered by an A&R and signed with XL Recordings. Her first single, "Hometown Glory," was released in 2007 and reached the third spot on the UK Singles Chart.
Adele experienced phenomenal success with her second album, 21, which sold over 31 million copies worldwide and won numerous awards, including a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Her single "Skyfall," released in 2012, won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Adele released her third album, 25, in November 2015. The album sold over 11 million copies in its first week, breaking sales records.
Adele is recognized as one of the greatest voices of her generation. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2013 by Queen Elizabeth II and has won numerous awards, including Brit Awards. Her music continues to reach a wide audience and she remains a prominent figure in the music industry.