Adele

U.K.-born singer/songwriter Adele, born Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, nabbed herself a recording contract with XL after a pal posted one of her demo recordings on MySpace in 2006. In the months that followed, Adele received the Brit Awards “Critics’ Choice” trophy and prepped her debut disc, 19, for a 2008 release. Also in 2008, Adele introduced herself to American audiences during a stint on Saturday Night Live, and found her record certified double platinum in the U.S. By 2009, Adele added Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy awards to her trophy case.

On the heels of the 2011 release of her sophomore effort, 21, Adele achieved the prestigious honor of winning the most Grammy Awards by a female artist in one night — six in 2012. Notable singles from 21 include “Rollin’ in the Deep,” “Someone Like You” and “Set Fire to the Rain,” all of which helped the artist become known to industry publications like Billboard, who named Adele Artist of the Year in 2011 and 2012. Her 2015 album, 25, was also critically acclaimed.

Inspired by Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald, Adele graduated from the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology in her native U.K. in 2006. She earned an Oscar and Golden Globe for her recording of “Skyfall,” which appeared on the movie soundtrack for the James Bond film of the same name.

Adele and Simon Konecki share son Angelo, who was born in 2012. The pair quietly married in late 2016 and separated in April 2019.