Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born 5 May 1988 and is known mononymously as Adele. She is an English singer and songwriter. She was the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics entitled Sound of 2008. Since her debut album 19, Adele has received much recognition both commercially and critically.
The album debuted at number one, and has been certified 4x platinum in the UK. Adele's career in the US was boosted by a viewer record–breaking Saturday Night Liveepisode in late 2008. At the 2009 Grammy Awards, Adele won the awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.