Happy Birthday! Adele is 25 on May 05
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Adele: Snapshot

Name: Adele
Date of Birth: May 05, 1988
Birth Place: Tottenham, North London, UK

When Adele's brassy, sultry contralto burst upon the music world in 2008, few could believe they were hearing the voice of a 19-year-old Londoner. But no one could doubt the authenticity of her soulful musings, which propelled the young singer to win eight Grammys and release the best-selling album of the new millennium.

Born in North London, Adele attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, which turned out musical powerhouses Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis. But it was through MySpace that the teenager nabbed a record deal that spawned the 2009 release of her debut album, 19, and the mega-selling follow-up, 21.

While riding high on the success of her sophomore album, Adele was sidelined by ongoing medical issues involving her vocal cords. Following successful throat surgery, Adele made a triumphant return to the 2012 Grammys, where she picked up six awards for 21 and performed a rousing a cappella rendition of her hit "Rolling in the Deep." By her side to celebrate her storybook evening was her new love, British philanthropist Simon Konecki.

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Adele: Five Fun Facts

Adele almost accidentally ran over Diddy with a golf cart during a video shoot for 21.
Adele said her favorite childhood band the Spice Girls "made me what I am today."
When a record executive contacted her on MySpace about her music, the aspiring singer shrugged it off. "I thought it was just some perv on the Internet," Adele explained.
The first band Adele ever saw live was The Cure. She was 3.
What does Adele do on her time off? She plays Twister and watches The X Factor with friends.

Adele: Biography

2002: School Ties
Adele is accepted to the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, a high school that has turned out musical superstars like Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis and Jessie J. In 2006, she records three songs for a class project and sends them to a friend, who then uploads the tracks to MySpace. The songs become an Internet sensation and land her a deal with XL Records.
2008: January 28
Numbers Game
Adele releases her debut album, 19, which boasts the soulful singles "Chasing Pavements" and "Hometown Glory." Rolling Stone raves that her voice is "a voluptuous, slightly parched alto that swooped and fluttered like a Dusty Springfield student trying to upstage her teacher, or at least update the rules."
2009: February 08
Twice as Nice
At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, the 20-year-old newcomer takes home the Grammy for best female pop vocal performance for her hit "Chasing Pavements" and the coveted best new artist trophy. "Thank you so much. I'm going to cry," she says during her acceptance speech.