Grammy glory for Adele ...the record breaker
POP star Adele led a successful British charge at the Grammys, bagging an extraordinary five awards before revealing she has secretly married.
Crowning a year of achievements, the 28-year-old singer joined David Bowie – who took four posthumous awards – in being feted by the music industry.
Accepting her awards, Adele said: “I appreciate it, the Academy. I love you, my manager, my husband and my son. You’re the only reason I do it.”
Adele’s choice of words confirmed rumours that she tied the knot with partner Simon Konecki at Christmas.
The couple got together in 2011 and have a four-year-old son, Angelo.
Dressed in a green gown, Adele won album of the year and best pop vocal album for 25. She won record and song of the year and best pop solo performance for Hello, taking her total Grammy wins to 15.
She also became the first artist to win the top three honours – best song, best record and best album – twice following her success in 2012 with album 21 and single Rolling In The Deep.
Her 25 dominated the charts in 2016, selling more than nine million copies, while Adele packed in a mammoth 107 shows in 10 months.
Her live tour now continues across Australia and New Zealand, closing with four shows at Wembley Stadium in June and July named “The Finale”.
Friends say she is planning a 10-year break to spend time with her family, as Angelo starts school next year and will be unable to join her on the road.
There was more British success as David Bowie won best alternative music album, best rock performance and best engineered non-classical album for his last release, Blackstar.
The star, who died of cancer in January 2016 aged 69, also won best rock song for single Blackstar, while the album won a Grammy for its artwork.
Bowie’s Grammys were his first since winning best music video in 1985 for Jazzin’ For Blue Jean and a lifetime achievement award in 2006.
British export James Corden hosted the ceremony in Los Angeles, recreating his popular Carpool Karaoke, singing Sweet Caroline with famous faces including JLo and Neil Diamond.
But stars including Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Drake – who won twice for Hotline Bling – did not attend the awards.
Another rapper, Busta Rhymes, took aim at US President Donald Trump as he performed, saying: “I just want to thank President Agent Orange for perpetuating all of the evil that you’ve been perpetuating throughout the United States.
“I want to thank President Agent Orange for his unsuccessful attempt at the Muslim ban.”