Early Life and Education of Adele: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Adele, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, known as Adele, is a highly acclaimed English singer-songwriter celebrated for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and emotionally resonant songwriting. A British cultural icon, she has achieved remarkable success and recognition, evidenced by her numerous awards. These 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 respected artists in contemporary music.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

May 1988: Adele's birth in Tottenham

In May 1988, Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born to Penny Adkins and Marc Evans in Tottenham, London.

May 1988: Adele's Birth

On May 1988, Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born in Tottenham, London.

1997: Relocation to Brighton

In 1997, Adele, aged 9, and her mother relocated to Brighton on the south coast of England.

1999: Return to London

In 1999, Adele and her mother moved back to London, first to Brixton and then to West Norwood.

2002: Discovery of Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald

In 2002, at age 14, Adele discovered Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald's music in a local music store, leading her to listen to Etta James every night and develop her own voice.

2003: Inspiration from Amy Winehouse's "Frank"

Adele has credited Amy Winehouse and her 2003 album Frank with inspiring her to take up the guitar and write songs like 'Daydreamer', 'Hometown Glory', and 'Someone like You'.

May 2006: Graduation from BRIT School

In May 2006, Adele graduated from the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology in Croydon.

2006: Graduation from BRIT School and Record Deal

In 2006, Adele graduated from the BRIT School in arts and signed a record deal with XL Recordings.

November 2008: Move to Notting Hill and Giving Up Drinking

In November 2008, Adele moved to Notting Hill, London, after leaving her mother's house, which prompted her to give up drinking.

2008: Tour in North America

Adele's second album, 21, shares the folk and soul influences of her debut album, but was further inspired by American country and Southern blues music to which she had been exposed during her 2008–09 tour An Evening with Adele in North America.

2009: Adele Wins Grammy Awards and Receives Letter from Prime Minister

In 2009, at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, 21-year-old Adele won awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Also in 2009, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent a thank-you letter to Adele, acknowledging her positive impact during a financially troubled time for the country.

October 2011: Vocal Cord Issues and Tour Cancellation

In October 2011, Adele was forced to cancel two tours due to a vocal-cord haemorrhage and required an extended period of rest to prevent permanent damage to her voice.

November 2011: Vocal Cord Surgery and 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall' Release

In November 2011, Adele underwent laser microsurgery on her vocal cords. Her tour recording, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, was released and became the best-selling music DVD of the year.

2011: Adele Expresses Political Views and Tax Frustration

In 2011, Adele declared herself a "Labour girl" and criticized the Conservative Party. She also expressed frustration with paying high taxes in an interview with Q magazine, mentioning her use of the NHS and public services.

2011: Adele Gives Free Concert for Pride London and Performs at Comic Relief

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

2011: Adele Creates Alter Ego "Sasha Carter"

In 2011, Adele revealed she created an alter ego called "Sasha Carter", inspired by Beyoncé's "Sasha Fierce" and June Carter, to deal with onstage anxiety.

2011: Adele's influences

In a 2011 interview, Adele deemed Hill's record The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as her favourite album, while also stating "I was analyzing the record for about a month at the age of 8, I was constantly wondering when I would be that passionate about something, to write a record about it, even though I didn't know I was going to make a record when I was older"; while also thanking Hill "for existing" in a penned letter, that she dedicated in honour of the 20th anniversary of Hill's album.

2012: Birth of son

In 2012, Adele and Simon Konecki's son was born.

2012: Adele Buys Art Deco Villa

In 2012, Adele and then-partner Konecki purchased a $3.4 million Art Deco villa in Portslade, which she later sold in 2016.

2013: Adele Rents Paul McCartney's Former Mansion

In 2013, Adele temporarily rented Paul McCartney's 12,000-square-foot former mansion for an undisclosed price.

2015: Adele Declines Endorsement Offers and Pays Taxes

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

2015: Brockwell Park Memory

In 2015, Adele drove past Brockwell Park, a place where she spent much of her youth, and was overcome with emotion and burst into tears because she missed it so much.

2015: Adele Purchases Mansion in Malibu

In 2015, Adele purchased a $5.2 million Mediterranean-style vacation mansion in Malibu, California, and sold it in 2017 for less than its original purchase price.

2015: Adele Declares Herself a Feminist

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

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 solidarity with the LGBTQ community.

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.

June 2017: Adele Attends Grenfell Tower Vigil and Visits Firefighters

In June 2017, Adele attended a vigil for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in west London and visited Chelsea fire station, bringing cakes for the firefighters.

2017: Adele Purchases Tudor Mansion in English Countryside

In 2017, Adele and Konecki purchased a $5.3 million Tudor mansion called Ridge Hill Manor, located in the English countryside.

January 2018: Adele Officiates Alan Carr's Wedding

In January 2018, Adele became an ordained minister and officiated the wedding of comedian Alan Carr and Paul Drayton at her house in Los Angeles, California.

2018: Adele and Konecki Secretly Marry and Separate

In 2021, Adele revealed that she and Simon Konecki had married in 2018, and separated the same year.

April 2019: Adele and Konecki Announce Separation

In April 2019, Adele's representatives confirmed her separation from Simon Konecki via Associated Press, stating they would continue to co-parent their son.

May 2019: Adele's 31st Birthday Instagram Post

On her 31st birthday, May 2019, Adele posted black-and-white pictures on Instagram, reflecting on the past year and hinting at a new album with the message "30 will be a drum n bass record to spite you".

September 2019: Adele Files for Divorce

On 13 September 2019, Adele officially filed for divorce from Simon Konecki.

2019: Adele Buys Beverly Hills Mansion

In 2019 and 2021, Adele bought two more Beverly Hills mansions for $10.65 million and $10 million.

March 2021: Adele's Divorce Finalized

On 4 March 2021, Adele's divorce from Simon Konecki was finalized.

2021: Adele Buys Beverly Hills Mansion from Nicole Richie

In 2019 and 2021, Adele bought two more Beverly Hills mansions for $10.65 million and $10 million; the latter was purchased from Nicole Richie and her husband, Joel Madden.

February 2022: Adele Purchases Sylvester Stallone's Mansion

In February 2022, it was reported that Adele had bought Sylvester Stallone's 21,000-square-foot former mansion in Beverly Park, Los Angeles, for $58 million.

October 2023: Adele Reveals Borderline Alcoholism and Sobriety

On 14 October 2023, Adele revealed during a concert that she had suffered from "borderline alcoholism" since her 20s and had been sober for three months.

July 2024: Indefinite Break from Music Announced

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.