Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (; born 5 May 1988) is an English singer and songwriter. Regarded as a British cultural icon, she is known for her mezzo-soprano vocals and sentimental songwriting. Her accolades include 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards (including three for British Album of the Year), an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. After graduating from the BRIT School in 2006, Adele signed a record deal with XL Recordings. Her debut album, 19... [more on Wikipedia]