Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born on 5 May 1988 in the

2018–present: Upcoming fourth studio album
Adele was reportedly working on her fourth studio album by 2018.^[165] On 5 May 2019, her 31st birthday, Adele posted several black-and-white pictures of herself on her Instagram account celebrating the occasion along with a message reflecting on the preceding year. The message ended with, "30 will be a drum n bass record to spite you". Media outlets took the post as an indication that a new album was on the way.^[166][167] On 15 February 2020, Adele announced at a friend's wedding that her fourth studio album would be out by September 2020.^[168] However, she later confirmed the album's production and release has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[169]
Adele made her first television appearance in almost four years by hosting the 24 October 2020 episode of Saturday Night Live, with musical guest H.E.R..^[170]
Artistry
Influences and favourite musicians

Adele credits the Spice Girls as a major influence on her love of music.
Adele has cited the Spice Girls as a major influence in regard to her love and passion for music, stating that "they made me what I am today".^[171] During childhood, she impersonated the Spice Girls at dinner parties.^[172] She says she was "heartbroken" when her favourite Spice Girls member, Geri Halliwell aka "Ginger Spice", departed from the group.^[173][174] Growing up she also listened to Sinéad O'Connor,^[175] the Cranberries,^[176] Bob Marley,^[177] the Cure,^[178] Dusty Springfield,^[179] Celine Dion,^[180] and Annie Lennox.^[181] One of Adele's earliest influences was Gabrielle, who she has admired since age five. During Adele's school years, her mother made her an eye patch with sequins which she used to perform as the Hackney born star in a school talent contest.^[182] After moving to south London, she became interested in R&B acts such as Aaliyah, Destiny's Child, and Mary J. Blige.^[183] Adele has stated that one of the most defining moments in her life was when she saw Pink perform at Brixton Academy in London. She says: "It was the Missundaztood record, so I was about 13 or 14. I had never heard, being in the room, someone sing like that live [...] I remember sort of feeling like I was in a wind tunnel, her voice just hitting me. It was incredible."^[184][185] She also cites Jeff Buckley's album Grace as an influence, saying: "I remember falling out with my best friend when I was like seven and listening to Jeff Buckley, because my mum was a huge fan. Grace has always been around me".^[186]

In her teens, Adele would listen to Etta James while developing and practising her singing abilities.
In 2002, 14-year-old Adele discovered Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald as she stumbled on the artists' CDs in the jazz section of her local music store. She was struck by their appearance on the album covers.^[187] Adele states she then "started listening to Etta James every night for an hour," and in the process was getting "to know my own voice."^[187] She has credited Amy Winehouse and her 2003 album Frank with inspiring her to take up the guitar, saying: "If it wasn't for Amy and Frank, one hundred per cent I wouldn't have picked up a guitar, I wouldn't have written 'Daydreamer' or 'Hometown [Glory]' and I wrote 'Someone Like You' on the guitar too."^[188] She also states that her mother, who is very close to her, exposed her to the music of Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, and Alicia Keys, all of whom inspired her as well.^[175] On the rock band Queen, she says: "I love them. I'm the biggest Queen fan ever. They're the kind of band that's just in your DNA, really. Everyone just knows who they are."^[189] She has also expressed admiration for Lana Del Rey, Grimes, Chvrches, FKA Twigs, Alabama Shakes, Kanye West, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Frank Ocean, and Stevie Nicks.^{[190][191][192][193]} In 2017, she described Beyoncé as a particular inspiration, calling her "[the] artist of my life" and added "the other artists who mean that much to me are all dead."^[194] Adele cited Madonna's 1998 album Ray of Light as a "chief inspiration" for her album 25.^[191] She mentioned that Max Martin's work on Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" was the inspiration behind her song "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)", saying: "I was in New York, writing 'Remedy' with Ryan Tedder. We were having lunch, and 'I Knew You Were Trouble' came on the radio – Taylor's song that she did with Max Martin and Shellback. I was like, 'Who did this?' I knew it was Taylor, and I've always loved her, but this is a totally other side – like, 'I want to know who brought that out in her.' And he said Max Martin. I was unaware that I knew who Max Martin was. I Googled him, and I was like, 'He's literally written every massive soundtrack of my life.' So I got my management to reach out. They came to London, and I took my guitar along and was like, 'I've got this riff,' and then 'Send My Love' happened really quickly. Max Martin, I just could hang out with him forever. He's so beautiful and lovely and funny and generous and warm and caring. He's a really amazing man."^[195]