Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Adele

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Adele

Discover the career path of Adele, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is a highly acclaimed English singer-songwriter, widely regarded as a British icon. Known for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and emotionally resonant songwriting, she has achieved significant critical and commercial success. Her numerous awards include 16 Grammy Awards, 12 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.

1964: Comparisons to The Beatles

Following Adele's performance at the Brit Awards in February, Adele became the first living artist to achieve the feat of two top-five hits in both the Official Singles Chart and the Official Albums Chart simultaneously since the Beatles in 1964.

1979: Kate Bush's Only Tour

In 2017, Adele stated that the release of 25 and her own comeback were inspired by Kate Bush's return to the stage in 2014, 35 years after her last live shows from her only tour in 1979.

1985: 21 Becomes Longest-Running Album Since 1985

In March 2012, Adele's album '21' surpassed all albums since 1985 by spending its 23rd week at number one.

1991: "21" achieved biggest weekly sales increase since Nielsen SoundScan tracking data began.

In 2012, following Adele's Grammy wins, her album "21" achieved the biggest weekly sales increase since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991.

1991: Largest single sales week for an album since Nielsen began monitoring sales

On 27 November 2015, "25" debuted at number one in the US where it sold a record-breaking 3.38 million copies in its first week, the largest single sales week for an album since Nielsen began monitoring sales in 1991.

1998: Inspiration from Madonna's Ray of Light Album

In 2017, Adele cited Madonna's 1998 album Ray of Light as a "chief inspiration" for her album 25, highlighting its significant influence on her work.

June 2006: Jonathan Dickins becomes Adele's Manager

In June 2006, Jonathan Dickins at September Management became Adele's official representative, which was a major draw for Adele as she was a fan of Jamie T.

September 2006: Signing with XL Recordings

In September 2006, Adele signed with XL Recordings after being recommended by Nick Huggett.

2006: Signing with XL Recordings

In 2006, Adele signed a record deal with XL Recordings after graduating from the BRIT School.

2006: Featured Vocalist on "Be Divine"

In 2006, at the age of 17, Adele was featured as a vocalist on the song "Be Divine" by Ricsta.

June 2007: Television Debut

In June 2007, Adele made her television debut, performing "Daydreamer" on the BBC's Later... with Jools Holland.

October 2007: Release of "Hometown Glory"

In October 2007, Adele's solo debut, "Hometown Glory", was released on Jamie T's label Pacemaker Recordings.

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.

January 2008: Release of "Chasing Pavements"

On January 14, 2008, Adele released her second single, "Chasing Pavements", which reached number two on the UK Chart.

March 2008: Signing with Columbia Records and XL Recordings for US Market

In March 2008, Adele signed a deal with Columbia Records and XL Recordings for her foray into the United States.

May 2008: Start of "An Evening with Adele" World Tour

In May 2008, Adele embarked on the "An Evening with Adele" world tour.

October 2008: Appearance on Saturday Night Live

On October 18, 2008, Adele appeared as the musical guest on NBC's Saturday Night Live, boosting her album sales significantly.

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November 2008: Adele performs at Keep a Child Alive Black Ball

In November 2008, Adele performed at the Keep a Child Alive Black Ball in both London and New York City to support the charity.

2008: An Evening with Adele Tour

During her 2008-09 tour 'An Evening with Adele' in North America, Adele was exposed to American country and Southern blues music, which inspired her second album, 21.

2008: Debut Album "19" Release

In 2008, Adele released her debut album, "19", which featured the hit singles "Chasing Pavements" and "Make You Feel My Love". The album became a best-selling debut in the UK.

February 2009: Adele performs at MusiCares charity concert

In February 2009, Adele performed at the 2009 MusiCares charity concert in Los Angeles.

February 2009: Grammy Awards Win

In February 2009, Adele won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Chasing Pavements". She performed "Chasing Pavements" at the ceremony in a duet with Jennifer Nettles.

July 2009: Album Sales Milestone

By July 2009, Adele's album, "19" had sold 2.2 million copies worldwide.

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

At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009, 21-year-old Adele won awards in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her debut album 19.

2010: "Hometown Glory" Grammy Nomination

In 2010, "Hometown Glory" received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

2010: Recognition and Chart Success

In 2010, Adele received a Grammy nomination for "Hometown Glory", and her song "My Same" entered the German Singles Chart after being performed on a talent show. Her version of "Make You Feel My Love" re-entered the UK singles chart after being featured on The X Factor.

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2010: Adele's Album Sales Surge

In 2010, a copy of Adele's '21' and '19' albums was sold every seven seconds in the UK, highlighting her immense popularity.

January 2011: Release of "21" Album in the UK

On January 24, 2011, Adele released her second studio album, "21", in the UK. The album was inspired by the breakup with her former partner.

May 2011: Adele's earnings between May 2011 and May 2012 were £23 million

Between May 2011 and May 2012 Adele earned £23 million, contributing to her ranking on Forbes list of the world's highest-paid celebrities.

May 2011: "Team Adele" ranked number one on The Guardian's "Music Power 100" list

In May 2011, "Team Adele" was ranked number one on The Guardian's "Music Power 100" list, recognizing the most influential people in the music industry.

December 2011: Record-Breaking Album Sales

By December 2011, Adele's album "21" had sold over 3.4 million copies in the UK, becoming the biggest-selling album of the 21st century. Adele became the first artist ever to sell three million albums in the UK in one calendar year.

2011: Adele credited with reviving the music industry

Billboard credited Adele for reviving the music industry in 2011, the year of '21's release, highlighting her unique presence and relatable personality.

2011: Alter Ego "Sasha Carter"

In 2011, Adele created the alter ego "Sasha Carter" to deal with onstage anxiety, inspired by Beyoncé's "Sasha Fierce".

2011: Adele donates to MusiCares

In 2011, Adele donated autographed items for auctions to support MusiCares.

2011: Adele performs at Pride London and Comic Relief

In 2011, Adele gave a free concert for Pride London and participated in the UK charity telethon Comic Relief for Red Nose Day 2011, performing "Someone like You".

2011: "21" Album Release and Success

In 2011, Adele released her second studio album, "21", which became the best-selling album of the 21st century and topped the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks. It featured the hit singles "Rolling in the Deep", "Someone like You", and "Set Fire to the Rain".

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2011: "21" was the best-selling album worldwide

In 2011, Adele's album "21" was the best-selling album worldwide. As of 2016, the album has sold over 31 million copies.

2011: "Rolling in the Deep" wins the award for Most Performed Work of 2011

In May 2012 at the Ivor Novello Awards, Adele's song "Rolling in the Deep" won the award for Most Performed Work of 2011. Adele was also named Songwriter of the Year at the same event.

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2011: Last Tour since 2011

In November 2015, Adele's 2016 tour was announced, marking her first tour since 2011.

March 2012: 21 Becomes Longest-Running Album 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, and became the fourth-best-selling album of the past 10 years in the US.

March 2012: Adele Achieves Billboard Chart Records

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. Adele also topped the 2012 Sunday Times Rich List of musicians in the UK under 30.

April 2012: Confirmation of Third Album Delay

On 3 April 2012, Adele confirmed that her third album would likely be at least two years away. She stated she would continue writing and composing her own material.

May 2012: Adele's earnings between May 2011 and May 2012 were £23 million

Between May 2011 and May 2012 Adele earned £23 million, contributing to her ranking on Forbes list of the world's highest-paid celebrities.

July 2012: Adele listed as one of the world's highest-paid celebrities

In July 2012, Adele was listed at number six in Forbes list of the world's highest-paid celebrities under the age of 30, having earned £23 million between May 2011 and May 2012.

October 2012: Recording and Release of "Skyfall"

In October 2012, Adele confirmed she recorded the theme song for "Skyfall", the twenty-third James Bond film. The song was written and composed in collaboration with Paul Epworth and recorded at Abbey Road Studios. On 14 October, "Skyfall" rose to number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, and entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 8, selling 261,000 copies in the US in its first three days.

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December 2012: Billboard Artist and Album of the Year

In December 2012, Adele was named Billboard Artist of the Year, and "21" was named Album of the Year, making her the first artist to receive both accolades two years in a row. Adele was also named top female artist, and the Associated Press named Adele Entertainer of the Year for 2012.

2012: Adele donates to MusiCares

In 2012, Adele donated autographed items for auctions to support MusiCares.

2012: Live Comeback at the Grammy Awards and Album Success

In 2012, Adele made her live comeback at the Grammy Awards in February after throat microsurgery. She won in all six categories for which she was nominated, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. "21" achieved the biggest weekly sales increase following a Grammy win since 1991. She received the Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist, and British Album of the Year. The album sold over 4.5 million copies in the UK and surpassed 10 million sales in the US. "21" was the best-selling album worldwide of 2011 and 2012, selling over 31 million copies as of 2016.

2012: "Skyfall" Release and Academy Award Win

In 2012, Adele released "Skyfall", the soundtrack single for the James Bond film Skyfall, which later won her the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

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2012: Adele Wins Songwriter of the Year and BMI Song of the Year

In May 2012, Adele was named Songwriter of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards, and in October 2012, "Rolling in the Deep" won Song of the Year at the BMI Awards.

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June 2013: Adele Appointed MBE in Queen's Birthday Honours

In June 2013, Adele was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to music.

September 2013: Collaboration with Wiz Khalifa

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.

December 2013: Adele Receives MBE from Prince Charles

On 19 December 2013, Adele received her MBE award from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

2013: Early Stages of Third Album

At the 2013 Grammy Awards, Adele confirmed that she was in the very early stages of her third album and would most likely work with Paul Epworth again.

2013: Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance

At the 2013 Grammy Awards, Adele's live version of "Set Fire to the Rain" won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance, bringing her total wins to nine.

2013: Adele tops the list of Richest Young Musicians

From 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", as well as the Brit Award for Best British Single.

2013: Television Appearance at the Academy Awards ceremony

On 27 October 2015, BBC One announced plans for Adele at the BBC, a one-hour special presented by Graham Norton. This was Adele's first television appearance since performing at the 2013 Academy Awards ceremony.

January 2014: Grammy Award for "Skyfall"

In January 2014, Adele received her tenth Grammy Award with "Skyfall" winning Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

May 2014: Cryptic Message and Media Speculation

In May 2014, on the eve of her 26th birthday, Adele posted a cryptic message via her Twitter account, "Bye bye 25... See you again later in the year," which prompted media discussion about her next album. Some media outlets interpreted this as her next album would be titled "25" and released later in the year.

October 2014: Ruling out a 2014 release

In October 2014, the accounts filed with Companies House by XL Recordings ruled out a 2014 release for Adele's next album.

2014: Album and Single Sales

By the end of 2014, Adele had sold an estimated 40 million albums and 50 million singles worldwide. Adele is the only artist or band in the last decade in the US to earn an RIAA diamond certification for a one disc album in less than two years.

2014: Inspiration from Kate Bush's Comeback

In 2017, Adele stated that the release of 25 and her own comeback were inspired by Kate Bush's return to the stage in 2014, 35 years after her last live shows from her only tour in 1979.

August 2015: Planned Release of Third Studio Album

On 27 August 2015, Billboard reported that Adele's label, XL Recordings, had intentions of releasing her third studio album sometime in November 2015. Danger Mouse was revealed to have contributed a song, while Tobias Jesso Jr. had written a track, and Ryan Tedder was involved after producing and co-writing 'Rumour Has It' on 21.

September 2015: Sia announces co-written song

At the 72nd Venice International Film Festival in early September 2015, Sia announced that her new single "Alive" was co-written by Adele, and had originally been intended for Adele's third album.

November 2015: Possible 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.

November 2015: Announcement of 2016 Tour

In November 2015, Adele's 2016 tour was announced, marking her first tour since 2011. The Adele Live 2016 tour included dates in Europe and North America.

2015: Adele declines endorsement offers and pays taxes

In 2015, Adele declined endorsement offers and reported paying £4 million in tax in the UK.

2015: Adele declares herself a feminist

In 2015, Adele publicly stated, "I'm a feminist, I believe that everyone should be treated the same, including race and sexuality".

2015: Release and Success of "Hello"

In 2015, Adele released "Hello" on 22 October, and it broke the Vevo record for the most views in a day on YouTube. The song went on to become the fastest video to hit one billion views on YouTube. The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 30 October, with first week sales of 330,000 copies. "Hello" also debuted at number one in many countries and on 2 November, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first song in the US to sell at least one million downloads in a week. By the end of 2015, it had sold 12.3 million units globally.

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2015: Release and Success of Adele's Album "25"

In 2015, Adele released her third album, "25", which became the year's best-selling album and broke first-week sales records in multiple markets. "Hello" became the first song to sell over one million digital copies within a week of release in the US.

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2015: "25" Album Release and Record-Breaking Sales

In 2015, Adele's third studio album, "25", broke first-week sales records in both the UK and US and earned her five Grammy Awards. The lead single was "Hello".

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2015: Surpassing Duran Duran's record

In October 2012, Adele's song "Skyfall" tied with Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill" as the highest-charting James Bond theme song on the UK Singles Chart. The record was surpassed in 2015 by Sam Smith's "Writing's on the Wall".

2015: Possible album release

In early August, 2014, Paul Moss suggested that an album would be released in 2014 or 2015. However, in the October 2014 accounts filed with Companies House by XL Recordings, they ruled out a 2014 release.

January 2016: Carpool Karaoke with James Corden

In January 2016, Adele's Carpool Karaoke through the streets of London with James Corden on The Late Late Show with James Corden was the biggest YouTube viral video of 2016, with 235 million views.

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March 2016: European Leg of Adele Live 2016

In March 2016, as part of the Adele Live 2016 tour, Adele performed four dates at the Manchester Arena in March 2016, and six dates at the O2 Arena, London, with further dates in Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands among others.

June 2016: Adele dedicates show to Orlando shooting victims

On 12 June 2016, Adele dedicated her show in Antwerp, Belgium, to the victims of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, expressing her deep connection with the LGBTQ community.

July 2016: Adele ranked among the highest-paid celebrities

In July 2016, Adele was ranked number nine on the Forbes list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities in the world.

November 2016: Adele ranked among the world's highest-paid women in music

In November 2016, Adele was in second place on the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid women in music, earning US$80.5 million.

2016: "21" album sales

As of 2016, Adele's album "21" has sold over 31 million copies worldwide. "21" was the best-selling album worldwide of 2011 and 2012.

2016: Brit Awards, New Singles, and Glastonbury Performance

In 2016, Adele received four Brit Awards, including British Album of the Year for "25" and British Single of the Year for "Hello". She released two more singles from "25": "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" and "Water Under the Bridge". She headlined the Pyramid Stage at the 2016 Glastonbury Festival on 25 June.

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January 2017: Highest First-Week Sales Since January 2017

In October 2021, Adele's single "Easy on Me" achieved the highest first-week sales for a single since January 2017, marking a significant achievement in her career.

February 2017: Grammy Awards and George Michael Tribute

At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2017, Adele won all five of her nominations. She won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for "25", and Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Hello". She also performed a tribute to George Michael.

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March 2017: Australian Tour and Stadium Records

In February and March 2017, Adele performed in Australia for the first time as part of her world tour. Her Sydney show at ANZ Stadium on 10 March was seen by 95,000 people, the biggest single concert in Australian history, a record she broke the following night with more than 100,000 fans.

March 2017: Adele confirms marriage to Konecki at concert

In March 2017, Adele told the audience at a concert in Brisbane, Australia, "I'm married now", seemingly confirming reports about her marriage to Konecki.

June 2017: Adele supports Grenfell Tower fire victims

In June 2017, Adele attended a vigil for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in west London. Four days later she appeared at Chelsea fire station and brought cakes for the firefighters. At her first Wembley show on 28 June, Adele encouraged fans to donate money to help the victims.

July 2017: Switch to SESAC

As announced on 31 July 2017, Adele switched performance rights management in the US from BMI to SESAC.

November 2017: Adele ranked among the world's highest-paid women in music

In November 2017, Adele was in second place on the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid women in music, earning US$69 million.

2017: Ed Sheeran's Divide Album Sales

In November 2021, Adele's album '30' had the largest opening week in the UK since Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' in 2017.

2018: Working on Fourth Studio Album

By 2018, Adele was reportedly working on her fourth studio album, setting the stage for future announcements and releases.

2018: Adele tops the list of Richest Young Musicians

Until 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: Adele's 31st Birthday Post

On May 5, 2019, Adele celebrated her 31st birthday by posting black-and-white pictures on her Instagram account, reflecting on the past year. The message ended with a hint that her upcoming album, "30", would be a drum n bass record.

2019: Adele's wealth valued on the 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: Album Announcement at Friend's Wedding

In February 2020, Adele announced at a friend's wedding that her fourth studio album was expected to be released by September 2020. However, it was later delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

September 2020: Original Album Release Date

Originally, Adele's fourth studio album was expected to be released in September 2020, as announced in February of that year. However, the album's production and release were later delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 2020: Saturday Night Live Hosting Debut

In October 2020, specifically on October 24, Adele made her first television appearance in almost four years by hosting the Saturday Night Live episode, with H.E.R. as the musical guest.

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October 2021: Album Title Hint and Single Release

On October 1, 2021, projections and billboards displaying the number "30" appeared in various cities, suggesting it would be the title of Adele's fourth album, which was later confirmed. On October 5, Adele announced the release of her single "Easy on Me" on October 15.

November 2021: Album Release Date Announcement

In November 2021, Adele announced the release date for her album, "30", would be on November 19. Earlier, in October, she had released the single "Easy on Me" and hinted at the album title.

November 2021: Release and Global Success of Album "30"

On November 19, 2021, Adele's album "30" was released and achieved global success, reaching number one in 24 territories. It also achieved significant sales and chart positions in the UK and the US.

November 2021: Announcement of Las Vegas Residency

On November 30, 2021, Adele announced her Las Vegas residency, Weekends with Adele, scheduled to run from January 21, 2022, until April 16, 2022, at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

2021: "30" Album Release and Success

In 2021, Adele released her fourth studio album, "30", which included the hit song "Easy on Me".

2021: Adele Named UK's Best-Selling Female Album Artist of the 21st Century

In 2021, Adele was officially named the UK's best-selling female album artist of the 21st century, based on data from the Official Charts Company.

January 2022: Postponement of Las Vegas Residency

On January 20, 2022, Adele announced that her Las Vegas residency was being postponed due to "delivery delays" and the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2022: Original End Date of Postponed Las Vegas Residency

Adele's Las Vegas residency, which was announced in November 2021, was originally scheduled to run until April 16, 2022. However, in January 2022, the residency was postponed due to delivery delays and the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2022: Hyde Park Concerts Sell Out

In October 2021, pre-sale tickets for Adele's two concerts in Hyde Park, London, scheduled for July 1 and 2, 2022, sold out in less than an hour. 130,000 tickets were sold without prior promotion, and over 1.3 million people attempted to buy tickets.

November 2022: Rescheduled Las Vegas Residency Begins

On July 25, it was announced that Adele's Las Vegas residency would run from November 18, 2022, to March 25, 2023, with eight more dates than initially planned, for a total of 32 concerts. In November, during the residency's second weekend, Adele announced two additional dates on New Year's Eve weekend bringing the total amount of shows to 34.

2022: Adele's record sales as of 2022

As of 2022, Adele has sold more than 120 million records worldwide with 70 million in album sales and over 50 million in single sales, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists.

February 2023: Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance

In February 2023, Adele attended the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, where she won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Easy on Me."

March 2023: Initial End Date of Rescheduled Las Vegas Residency

On July 25, it was announced that Adele's Las Vegas residency would run from November 18, 2022, to March 25, 2023, with eight more dates than initially planned, for a total of 32 concerts.

2023: Grammy Award for "Easy on Me"

In 2023, Adele won a Grammy Award for the song "Easy on Me", which is part of her album "30".

January 2024: Start of 'Weekends with Adele: The Final Shows' Extension

In October, Adele extended her shows one last time, stylizing the extension as "Weekends with Adele: The Final Shows". This extension added 32 shows starting in January 2024.

July 2024: Announcement of Indefinite Break from Music

On July 16, 2024, Adele revealed in an interview that she would be taking an indefinite break from music following the end of her residency, with no plans for a new album at that time.

August 2024: Adele reveals engagement to Rich Paul

During her performance in Munich on 9 August 2024, Adele revealed her engagement to Rich Paul.

2024: Chart-topping Albums

As of 2024, all of Adele's studio albums except "19" have topped the yearly best-selling albums chart worldwide in the 21st century.