Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Adele
Discover the career path of Adele, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, known as Adele, is a highly acclaimed English singer-songwriter. Recognized as a British icon, she is celebrated for her powerful mezzo-soprano voice and emotionally resonant songwriting. Throughout her career, she has amassed numerous prestigious awards, including multiple Grammy Awards, Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award, solidifying her status as one of the most successful and influential artists of her generation.
1967: The Look of Love Nominated
In 2013, Adele won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the James Bond theme "Skyfall". This is the first James Bond song to win and the fifth to be nominated—after "The Look of Love" (1967).
1973: Live and Let Die Nominated
In 2013, Adele won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the James Bond theme "Skyfall". This is the first James Bond song to win and the fifth to be nominated—after "Live and Let Die" (1973).
1977: Nobody Does It Better Nominated
In 2013, Adele won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the James Bond theme "Skyfall". This is the first James Bond song to win and the fifth to be nominated—after "Nobody Does It Better" (1977).
1981: For Your Eyes Only Nominated
In 2013, Adele won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the James Bond theme "Skyfall". This is the first James Bond song to win and the fifth to be nominated—after "For Your Eyes Only" (1981).
1985: Adele's '21' is the longest-running album at number one since 1985
In March 2012, Adele's album '21' spent its 23rd week at number one making it the longest-running album at number one since 1985.
1991: Biggest Weekly Sales Increase Post Grammy win
In February 2012, Following her success in 2012 Grammy Awards, 21 achieved the biggest weekly sales increase following a Grammy win since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991
June 2006: Jonathan Dickins Becomes Adele's Manager
In June 2006, Jonathan Dickins at September Management became Adele's official representative, marking a significant step in her professional career.
September 2006: Signing with XL Recordings
In September 2006, Adele signed with XL Recordings, solidifying her entry into the music industry.
2006: Graduation and Record Deal
In 2006, Adele graduated from the BRIT School and signed a record deal with XL Recordings, marking the start of her professional music career.
June 2007: Television Debut
In June 2007, Adele made her television debut, performing "Daydreamer" on the BBC's Later... with Jools Holland, marking her first major public performance.
October 2007: Release of "Hometown Glory"
In October 2007, Adele's song "Hometown Glory", which she wrote at age 16, was released, marking her breakthrough into the music scene.
2007: Adele Performs at Little Noise Sessions
In 2007, Adele performed at the Little Noise Sessions held at London's Union Chapel, with proceeds from the concerts donated to Mencap which works with people with learning disabilities.
January 2008: Recognition and Second Single Release
In January 2008, Adele was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act in a BBC poll and released her second single, "Chasing Pavements", which reached number two on the UK chart. She was also awarded the Brit Awards Critics' Choice.
March 2008: US Deal and North American Tour
In March 2008, Adele signed a deal with Columbia Records and XL Recordings for her foray into the United States, and she embarked on a short North American tour.
May 2008: "An Evening with Adele" World Tour Begins
In May 2008, Adele began "An Evening with Adele" world tour, marking a significant step in her global career.
October 2008: Saturday Night Live Appearance
In October 2008, Adele appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, which coincided with an appearance by Sarah Palin and led to a significant boost in sales of her album and singles.
November 2008: Adele Performs at Keep a Child Alive Black Ball in New York City
In November 2008, Adele performed at the Keep a Child Alive Black Ball in New York City.
2008: Release of Debut Album "19"
In 2008, Adele released her debut album, "19", which featured hit singles and became one of the best-selling debut albums in the UK. The album included "Chasing Pavements" and "Make You Feel My Love".
2008: Touring North America
In 2008, Adele went on tour in North America, which influenced her second album, 21.
February 2009: Adele Performs at MusiCares Charity Concert
In February 2009, Adele performed at the 2009 MusiCares charity concert in Los Angeles, supporting musicians in need.
February 2009: Grammy Awards Wins
In February 2009, Adele won two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Chasing Pavements."
June 2009: "An Evening with Adele" World Tour Ends
In June 2009, Adele's "An Evening with Adele" world tour came to an end, concluding a significant chapter in her early career.
July 2009: Album Sales Success
By July 2009, Adele's debut album "19" had sold 2.2 million copies worldwide, marking a significant milestone in her early career.
September 2009: Adele Performs at VH1 Divas Event
On 17 September 2009, Adele performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, for the VH1 Divas event, a concert to raise money for the Save The Music Foundation charity.
2009: Adele Wins Grammy Awards and Receives Thank-You Letter from Prime Minister
In 2009, 21-year-old Adele won the Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. She was also nominated in the categories of Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent a thank-you letter to Adele.
2010: Recognition and Chart Success
In 2010, Adele received a Grammy nomination for "Hometown Glory," and her song "My Same" gained popularity in Germany. Additionally, her version of "Make You Feel My Love" re-entered the UK charts. She also performed a widely publicised duet of Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" with Darius Rucker during the 2010 CMT Artists of the Year special.
2010: Adele's Albums Dominate UK Charts
In 2010, Adele's 21 or 19 albums were very popular in the UK and at one stage a copy was sold every 7 seconds.
January 2011: Release of Album "21" in the UK
In January 2011, Adele released her second studio album, "21", in the UK, inspired by a breakup and influenced by country and roots music.
May 2011: Adele's Earnings
Between May 2011 and May 2012, Adele earned £23 million.
December 2011: "21" Becomes Best-Selling Album of the 21st Century
By December 2011, Adele's album "21" had sold over 3.4 million copies in the UK and became the biggest-selling album of the 21st century, surpassing Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black."
2011: Best-Selling Album Worldwide of 2011
Adele's album, 21, was the best-selling album worldwide of 2011.
2011: Adele Donates to MusiCares
In 2011, Adele donated autographed items for auctions to support MusiCares.
2011: Adele Gives Free Concert for Pride London and Participates in Comic Relief
In 2011, Adele gave a free concert for Pride London, a registered charity which arranges LGBT events in London. The same year, Adele took part in the UK charity telethon Comic Relief for Red Nose Day 2011, performing "Someone like You".
2011: Release of "21"
In 2011, Adele released her second studio album, "21", which became the best-selling album of the 21st century. The album topped charts worldwide and featured hit singles like "Rolling in the Deep", "Someone like You", and "Set Fire to the Rain".
2011: Adele Revives Music Industry
In 2011, Billboard credited Adele for reviving the music industry, highlighting her unique presence, talent, and relatable personality.
2011: "Rolling in the Deep" Wins Award
In 2012, Adele received the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year, and "Rolling in the Deep" won the award for Most Performed Work of 2011.
2011: Last tour before 2016
In November 2015, Adele's 2016 tour was announced, her first tour since 2011.
March 2012: Adele's '21' Achieves Record-Breaking Success on Australian ARIA Chart
In March 2012, Adele's album '21' reached 30 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Australian ARIA Chart, making it the longest-running number one album in Australia in the 21st century, and the second longest-running number one ever.
March 2012: Adele Achieves Historic Chart Success on Billboard
In the week ending 3 March 2012, Adele became the first solo female artist to have three singles in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Billboard also announced the same day that Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" is the biggest crossover hit of the past 25 years.
April 2012: Adele announces delay in releasing her third album
In April 2012, Adele confirmed her third album would likely be at least two years away, wanting to "live a little bit". She stated she would continue writing and composing her own material.
May 2012: Adele's Earnings Reported
Between May 2011 and May 2012, Adele earned £23 million.
July 2012: Forbes Ranks Adele Among Highest-Paid Celebrities
In July 2012, Adele was ranked sixth on Forbes list of the world's highest-paid celebrities under 30, having earned £23 million between May 2011 and May 2012.
October 2012: Adele confirms writing and recording Skyfall theme song
In October 2012, Adele confirmed she wrote, composed, and recorded the theme song for the James Bond film, Skyfall, in collaboration with Paul Epworth at Abbey Road Studios.
2012: Adele Continues Supporting MusiCares
In 2012, Adele continued to support MusiCares by donating autographed items for auctions, aiding musicians in need.
2012: Multiple Grammy Wins and Brit Award
In 2012, Adele made her live comeback at the Grammy Awards and won in all six categories she was nominated for. 21 was also the best-selling album worldwide of 2012.
2012: Adele Wins Ivor Novello Award and BMI Award
In 2012, Adele received the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year, and "Rolling in the Deep" won the award for Most Performed Work of 2011. At the 2012 BMI Awards held in London in October, Adele won Song of the Year (for "Rolling in the Deep")
2012: Release of "Skyfall"
In 2012, Adele released "Skyfall", the soundtrack for the James Bond film of the same name. "Skyfall" earned her an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
September 2013: Wiz Khalifa confirms collaboration with Adele
In September 2013, Wiz Khalifa confirmed that he and Adele had collaborated on a song for his fifth studio album, Blacc Hollywood, though the collaboration did not make the final track listing.
2013: Adele begins working on her third album
At the 2013 Grammy Awards, Adele confirmed she was in the very early stages of her third album and would likely work with Paul Epworth again.
2013: Adele performed at the Academy Awards
In 2013, Adele made her first television appearance since performing at the 2013 Academy Awards ceremony
2013: Adele Tops Richest Young Musicians List
In 2013, Adele topped the List of Richest Young Musicians under 30 in the UK and Ireland as part of the Sunday Times' annual Rich List.
2013: Adele Wins Academy Award and Brit Award for "Skyfall"
In 2013, Adele won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the James Bond theme "Skyfall". "Skyfall" also won the Brit Award for Best British Single at the 33rd Brit Awards.
May 2014: Adele hints at new album
In May 2014, on the eve of her 26th birthday, Adele posted a cryptic message on Twitter, "Bye bye 25... See you again later in the year," prompting media discussion about her next album potentially being titled '25'.
October 2014: No album release in 2014
In October 2014, XL Recordings ruled out a 2014 release in their accounts filed with Companies House.
2014: Estimated Album and Singles Sales
By the end of 2014, Adele had sold an estimated 40 million albums and 50 million singles worldwide, solidifying her status as a global music icon.
August 2015: Planned release of Adele's third studio album
In August 2015, Billboard reported that Adele's label, XL Recordings, had intentions of releasing her third studio album sometime in November 2015. Danger Mouse, Tobias Jesso Jr., and Ryan Tedder contributed to the album.
September 2015: Sia announces co-written single
In early September 2015, at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, Sia announced that her new single "Alive" was co-written by Adele and originally intended for Adele's third album.
November 2015: Planned album release
In August 2015, Billboard reported that Adele's label, XL Recordings, had intentions of releasing her third studio album sometime in November 2015.
November 2015: Adele announces 2016 tour
In November 2015, Adele's 2016 tour was announced, her first tour since 2011, including dates in Europe and North America.
2015: "Hello" becomes a global success
By the end of 2015, "Hello" had sold 12.3 million units globally and was the year's 7th-best-selling single, despite its late October release. It broke records on YouTube and topped charts worldwide.
2015: Adele Declines Endorsement Offers and Reports Tax Payment
In 2015, Adele declined lucrative endorsement offers and reported paying £4 million in tax in the UK.
2015: Release of album 25
In 2015, Adele released her third album, 25, which became the year's best-selling album, breaking first week sales records.
2015: "25" breaks sales records and tops charts
In 2015, Adele's album "25" broke sales records in the UK and US, becoming the fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the best-selling album of the year worldwide. IFPI named Adele the Global Recording Artist of the Year.
2015: Possible album release
In early August 2014, Paul Moss suggested that Adele's album would be released in 2014 or 2015.
January 2016: Adele's Carpool Karaoke goes viral
In January 2016, Adele's Carpool Karaoke with James Corden became the biggest YouTube viral video of 2016.
March 2016: Adele's tour includes Manchester Arena dates
In March 2016, Adele's tour, Adele Live 2016 included four dates at the Manchester Arena.
July 2016: Adele Ranked Among Forbes' Highest-Paid Celebrities
In July 2016, Adele was ranked number nine on the Forbes list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities in the world, showcasing her continued financial success.
September 2016: Adele Rents Apartment During Madison Square Garden Tour
During her Madison Square Garden tour in September 2016, Adele rented NBA player Deron Williams' Tribeca apartment for three weeks at a monthly rent of $60,000.
November 2016: Adele Ranks Second on Forbes' Highest-Paid Women in Music List
In November 2016, Adele was ranked second on the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid women in music, earning US$80.5 million.
2016: Sales of 21 Surpass 31 Million
As of 2016, Adele's album 21 had sold over 31 million copies worldwide, highlighting its enduring popularity and commercial success.
2016: Adele wins four Brit Awards and headlines Glastonbury
In 2016, Adele won four Brit Awards, including British Album of the Year for 25 and British Single of the Year for "Hello". She also headlined the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, calling it the best moment of her life.
January 2017: "Easy on Me" breaks record
In January 2017, Adele's "Easy on Me" had the highest first-week sales for a single since January 2017.
March 2017: Adele performs in Australia
In March 2017, Adele performed in Australia for the first time, playing outdoor stadiums. Her Sydney show on March 10 was seen by 95,000 people, with the following night breaking the record with more than 100,000 fans.
June 2017: Adele Attends Grenfell Tower Vigil and Visits Firefighters
In June 2017, Adele attended a vigil in west London for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Days later, she visited Chelsea fire station with cakes for the firefighters and paid tribute to the victims at her Wembley show on 28 June, encouraging fans to donate.
July 2017: Adele switches performance rights management
As announced on July 31, 2017, Adele switched performance rights management in the US from BMI to SESAC.
November 2017: Adele Again Ranks High on Forbes' Highest-Paid Women in Music List
In November 2017, Adele again secured second place on the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid women in music, earning $69 million.
2018: Working on her fourth studio album
By 2018, Adele was reportedly working on her fourth studio album.
2018: Adele Continues Reign as Richest Young Musician
From 2013 to 2018, Adele topped the List of Richest Young Musicians under 30 in the UK and Ireland as part of the Sunday Times' annual Rich List.
May 2019: Hints at a new album
On May 5, 2019, Adele posted a message on her Instagram account reflecting on the preceding year, hinting that a new album was on the way.
2019: Adele Valued at £150 Million on Sunday Times Rich List
On the 2019 Sunday Times Rich List, Adele was valued at £150 million (US$180.5 million) as the 22nd-richest musician in the UK despite not having toured since 2017.
February 2020: Announces new album
On February 15, 2020, Adele announced at a friend's wedding that her fourth studio album would be out by September 2020.
September 2020: Album delayed
In September 2020, Adele confirmed that her fourth album's production and release had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 2020: Hosts Saturday Night Live
On October 24, 2020, Adele made her first television appearance in almost four years by hosting the Saturday Night Live episode.
October 2021: Teasing the number "30" and announcing "Easy on Me"
In October 2021, projections of the number "30" appeared worldwide, hinting at Adele's new album. She then announced her single "Easy on Me" for release on October 15. Adele was also on the cover of Vogue and British Vogue in October.
November 2021: Announcing Las Vegas Residency
In November 2021, Adele announced her Las Vegas residency, Weekends with Adele, scheduled for January 2022 to April 2022.
November 2021: Announcing the release date of "30"
In November 2021, Adele announced that her album "30" would be released on November 19.
November 2021: Release of "30" and Global Success
On November 19, 2021, Adele's album "30" was released and achieved global success, reaching number one in 24 territories. It became the best-selling album of 2021 worldwide.
2021: Release of "30"
In 2021, Adele released her fourth studio album, "30", which featured the hit single "Easy on Me" and continued her streak of best-selling albums. "30" became the best-selling albums worldwide, including the US and the UK.
January 2022: Postponement of Las Vegas Residency
In January 2022, Adele announced the postponement of her Las Vegas residency due to "delivery delays" and the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2022: Original end date of Las Vegas Residency
In April 2022, Adele's Las Vegas Residency, "Weekend with Adele" was originally planned to end.
July 2022: Hyde Park concerts
In July 2022, Adele held two concerts in Hyde Park, London.
November 2022: Start of Las Vegas Residency
In November 2022, Adele's Las Vegas residency began running from November 18, 2022 to March 25, 2023.
2022: Adele's Record Sales Reach Over 170 Million
As of 2022, Adele has sold more than 170 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists.
February 2023: Grammy Award win for "Easy on Me"
In February 2023, Adele won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Easy on Me" at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.
March 2023: Scheduled end of Las Vegas Residency
In March 2023, Adele's Las Vegas residency was scheduled to end on March 25.
January 2024: Start of Weekends with Adele: The Final Shows
In January 2024, Adele's "Weekends with Adele: The Final Shows" began, adding 32 shows starting in January and wrapping up in June.
July 2024: Announcing indefinite break from music
On July 16, 2024, Adele revealed she would be taking an indefinite break from music after her residency, with no plans for a new album.
2024: Continued Album Success in 2024
As of 2024, all of Adele's studio albums, except "19", have topped the yearly best-selling albums chart worldwide in the 21st century, highlighting her consistent popularity and commercial success.
