21 Interesting Facts About Adele

Last updated on April 15th, 2022 at 07:22 pm

Adele is perhaps one of the most famous singers of our time. She rose from anonymity to becoming one of the best-selling singers of all time in a matter of years thanks to a song demo she gave to a friend.

But how much do you really know about this famous singer and songwriter? Probably less than you may think.

Keep reading to learn 21 interesting facts that you probably don’t know about Adele.

Her Real Name is Adele

Yep, you read that right. Unlike most singers who sing under a pseudonym, Adele goes by her real name. Her full name however is Adele Laurie Blue Adkins. She was born in a suburb of London, England, called Tottenham, on May 5th, 1988 to English parents.

She Was Raised by a Single Mom

Adele’s parents’ names are Penny Adkins and Marc Evans, but her father left when she was still a toddler. For this reason, she was raised solely by her mother.

Adele Was a Smoker

Believe it or not, Adele used to smoke. Even though she had throat surgery because of this in 2011, she continued to smoke until 2015 when she finally quit the habit.

She Likes to Compose While Drinking

Many singers and songwriters say they need absolute silence in order to work on their craft. This isn’t true for Adele, who says her best songs were penned while she was under the influence of a few too many alcoholic drinks.

Adele Loves the Spice Girls

When she was little, Adele spent many hours listening to the spice girls. They later went on to influence her style of music. She also claims she was heavily influenced by Etta James and Dusty Springfield early in life.

Later in life, Adele claims she was heavily influenced by the vocal stylings of female artist Amy Winehouse. The two later got to perform a duo together at the Brit Awards.

Adele Loves Tea

True to her British heritage, Adele loves tea and drinks it daily. She specifically likes her tea served with two sugars.

Adele is a Dog Person

Adele currently has one pet, a dachshund named Louis Armstrong.

Adele Had Famous Friends Before She Was Famous

Adele was always destined to be famous, as she went to school with both Jessie J and Leona Lewis. The trio attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology where Adele graduated in May 2006.

She Doesn’t Have Just One Grammy

Adele is stacking those awards. She doesn’t just have one Grammy; no she actually has 15!

She also holds 3 Guinness World Records for keeping her songs number one on international charts for periods of up to twenty-one weeks!

Of her 15 Grammy Awards, Adele took home six of those in one night in 2012. Although this sounds like a lot of Grammy’s in one night, Beyonce has actually taken home just as many in one day!

Two of her Grammy Awards, Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance were awarded in 2009, which is considered quite an achievement for someone who had so recently started her career.

She Has Been Artist of the Year

Billboard crowned Adele ‘Artist of the Year’ two times; back to back. Once in 2011 and another in 2012. She has also had several ‘Song of the Year’ awards. Her record ’21’ was awarded ‘Album of the Year’.

She Was Married

Adele began dating her ex-husbands Simon Konecki in October 2011. They had a son, Angelo together in 2012. They later got married in 2018, only to get divorced on March 4th, 2021.

When asked why she divorced Konecki, Adele states that she simply “wasn’t happy.”

Adele Has Tattoos

She may not seem like the type, but Adele has five tattoos. Most people have seen the ones on her hands and wrists, which make up four of the five. The fifth tattoo is behind her left ear.

Adele’s Net Worth

Adele is the 6th highest-paid celebrity in the world. Her net worth is currently estimated to be over $210 million.

Why Her Albums Are Numbers

One thing that is unique about Adele is that most of her albums are titled with numbers. This is because Adele titles them based on the age she was when she wrote them.

So the album 19 was written by Adele when she was 19 years old.

Adele’s Top 10 Songs

Adele has had numerous songs which have taken social media and the charts by storm. One of her most famous songs, Rolling in the Deep, is also her debut song in America.

• Rolling in the Deep – 2010
• Someone Like You – 2011
• Chasing Pavements – 2008
• Hello – 2015
• Send My Love (To Your New Lover) – 2016
• Skyfall – 2012
• Make You Feel My Love – 2008
• Set Fire to the Rain – 2011
• Rumour Has It – 2011
• Easy On Me – 2021

“Someone Like You” would go on not only to be one of Adele’s most successful songs of all time, but it would also be her most-watched music video.

Adele Has Written Songs for Movies

Adele’s song “Skyfall” was originally written for the 2012 James Bond movie, and the artist herself was originally doubtful when approached for the project.

She needn’t be nervous, however, because “Skyfall” quickly reached widespread acclaim winning the artist a Grammy Award and an Academy Award for Best Song. 

Not to mention that the song later won an Oscar in 2013 for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe award for Best Song. 

When Adele Was First Scouted, She Thought it Was a Scam

After graduating from the Brit School, Adele recorded four songs and gave them to a friend who posted them on Myspace.

A talent scout from XL Recordings contacted the friend who put him in contact with Adele. 

At that time, the only recording studio Adele had heard of was Virgin Records, so she asked a friend to accompany her to the interview because she thought it was a scam.

She would later record her first song, Daydreamer with the studio, and go on to perform it on BBC.

Adele’s Albums Were First Popular in the UK and the Netherlands

Adele has almost as many best-selling albums as she does songs. Funnily enough, they didn’t take off in all countries right away.

While she won the Brit Awards Critic’s Choice award for the best potential artist in 2008, she wouldn’t become widely popular in her home country until the next year.

Surprisingly, her debut album, 19, which was released following her debut single Chasing Pavement, was an immediate hit in the Netherlands. The album would go on to top the UK charts later in 2008.

It wasn’t until late 2008, early 2009 that Adele would break into American music markets thanks to a deal with XL Recording’s American office.

She would schedule an American tour during this time period, which she would later subsequently cancel most of.

Adele Likes the Story of the Titanic

Based on the heart-breaking ballads the singer-songwriter releases, it should come as no surprise that Adele is a fan of the Titanic.

In fact, for her 30th birthday party, she hosted a Titanic-themed party in which she dressed up as the character Rose. 

Adele Was on Saturday Night Live

In 2020, Adele joined the cast of Saturday Night Live for a parody re-enactment of the Bachelor.

Although fans were disappointed that she wasn’t there to sing some of her amazing songs, the cast did work many of her lyrics into the skit. 

She’s the Best Singer of the 21st Century

After so many award-winning albums and songs that top the charts, and continue to top the charts for months to come, it should come as no surprise that Adele has been named one of the best female artists of the 21st century.