Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, known mononymously as Adele, is an English singer and songwriter who rose to fame due to her distinctive voice and has become one of the best-selling artists of her time. Born in England, she was raised by a young single mother in various working-class neighborhoods of London. She enjoyed singing contemporary pop music from an early age, drawing inspiration from artists like the Spice Girls, before later developing an interest in jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James. While studying at the BRIT School, she began honing her skills as a musician. Her talent eventually caught the attention of record labels, and after graduating, she signed with XL Recordings. After generating buzz in Britain with well-received live performances, Adele released her debut album, 19, in 2008. The album received critical acclaim and eventually topped the UK Albums Chart in 2009 after her Grammy win. In 2011, she released her second album, 21, which featured several hit singles, including Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You. Both songs topped charts worldwide and broke multiple sales records. Someone Like You became the first UK single to reach No.1 based solely on digital downloads. The album itself became one of the best-selling records of the decade. Adele continued her success with the James Bond theme Skyfall, which she wrote and performed for the 2012 Bond film of the same name. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2013, making her the first Bond theme artist to win an Oscar. With an incredible voice, deeply emotional lyrics, and an outspoken personality, Adele has become one of the most popular performers of her generation.