Adele Laurie Blue Adkins MBE (born 5 May 1988) is a British singer and songwriter. Adele was offered a recording contract from XL Recordings after a friend posted her demo on Myspace in 2006. The next year she received the Brit Awards "Critics' Choice" award and won the BBC Sound of 2008. Her debut album,
19, was released in 2008 to commercial and critical success. It certified four times platinum in the UK, and double platinum in the U.S.
Adele released her second studio album,
21, in early 2011. earning the singer numerous awards in 2012 including a record-equalling six Grammy Awards, The album has sold 30 million copies worldwide.
The success of
21 earned Adele numerous mentions in the
Guinness World Records. Adele is the first female in the history of the
Billboard Hot 100 to have three singles in the top 10 at the same time as a lead artist, and the first female artist to have two albums in the top five of the
Billboard 200 and two singles in the top five of the
Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously.
21 is the longest running number one album by a female solo artist on the UK and U.S. Albums Chart. In 2011 and 2012,
Billboard named Adele Artist of the Year. In 2012, Adele was listed at number five on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music,