Adele’s 10 Most Devastating Life Moments

Adele had a devastating childhood; after her father left her, she lost her grandfather at the young age of 10. His death made her want to become a heart surgeon, but her career has helped her heal wounds in a whole new way. After she released her debut album “19,” her mother called her a surgeon, saying she was fixing people’s hearts in a new way.

1. In her 20s, she was a ‘borderline alcoholic’

Adele admitted to Vogue in 2021 that the pandemic led her to drink more often and earlier in the day. She called being sober “boring” but admitted to a crowd at her Vegas residency, “I was literally borderline alcoholic for quite a lot of my 20s, but I miss it so much.”

2. Adele had throat surgery

Vocal cords are precious for singers, but in 2011, she performed live and felt something pop in her throat. She was diagnosed with a haemorrhaged polyp on her vocal cord, which required laser surgery. It happened again during her world tour in 2017, and she had to cancel the remainder of her tour. In 2024, she had to go on vocal rest once more.

3. The album “21” was inspired by a heart-wrenching breakup

A breakup inspired her album 21 with Alex Sturrock, a 31-year-old photographer, for a summer romance back in 2008. The relationship was reportedly intense, but Sturrock didn’t want to call Adele his girlfriend. After they split, he got engaged to someone else, and she turned her focus not just on her music but on alcohol, leading to honest and vulnerable lyrics.

4. She’s experienced postpartum depression

Adele is no stranger to mental health struggles. After losing her grandfather, she grieved so intensely that she required clinical help. She also struggled with postpartum depression, saying in a 2021 interview with The Face that she experienced a sense of losing herself, saying that a community of new mothers helped, and as her son got older, she was able to make more time for herself.