Adele Steps Back from Spotlight — A Look at Her Previous Breaks

Adele is once again preparing to take a break from the spotlight.

At a recent concert in Munich, the 36-year-old “Hello” singer informed fans that she would be stepping away “for an incredibly long time” following the end of her Las Vegas residency in November. In a TikTok video shared by fans, Adele said, “I have 10 shows to do, but after that, I will not see you for an incredibly long time, and I will hold you dear in my heart.”

Adele is scheduled to perform the final 10 shows of her “Weekends with Adele” residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace from October 25 to November 23. This residency began in November 2022.

The “Easy on Me” singer has taken several breaks from the public eye in the past, including a six-year gap between her albums “25” and “30.”

In 2020, Adele announced her return to music while at her best friend’s wedding. Captured in an Instagram video, she told friends to “expect my album in September.” Before this, Adele had not released new music since 2015’s “25,” which featured hits like “Hello” and “Send My Love (To Your New Lover).” The album earned her five Grammys in 2017, including Album of the Year. She then toured from February 2016 to June 2017.

In the years in between, Adele largely remained out of the public eye, although she made headlines over her weight loss. “She looked like herself but also so different — beautiful but almost unrecognizable,” a source told PEOPLE regarding Adele’s appearance at an Oscars afterparty. During this hiatus, she also confirmed her split from ex-husband Simon Konecki after more than seven years together.

In November 2021, Adele released “30.” When she announced its official release date, she opened up about her experiences over the recent years. “I was certainly nowhere near where I’d hoped to be when I first started [this album] nearly 3 years ago,” she wrote on Instagram. “Quite the opposite, actually. I rely on routine and consistency to feel safe; I always have. And yet there I was knowingly — willingly, even — throwing myself into a maze of absolute mess and inner turmoil!”

She added, “I’ve learned a lot of blistering home truths about myself along the way. I’ve shed many layers but also wrapped myself in new ones. Discovered genuinely useful and wholesome mentalities to lead with, and I feel like I’ve finally found my feeling again. I’d go as far as to say that I’ve never felt more peaceful in my life.”

In May 2014, Adele hinted at the end of her 25th year by sparking rumors about her 2015 album titled “25.” “Bye bye 25. See you again later in the year x,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a photo of herself lying in bed giving a thumbs up.

This post marked Adele’s subtle return after she released “21” in 2011, an album that earned her six Grammys. During the four years since that release, Adele spent much of her time raising her now 11-year-old son Angelo.

Earlier in 2014, Phil Collins suggested she would return to the spotlight soon. He mentioned that he was working on writing songs with Adele. “I live in a cave, but she’s achieved an incredible amount. I really love her voice,” the musician reportedly said.

At the Hollywood Reporter’s Women In Entertainment gala in December 2023, Adele discussed the break she took. “The real reason that I’ve only had four albums and I don’t think that many people know this – they know that I have a child – my son is 11 years old,” she said. “So, if you do the math, that means that at the height of ’21’… I fell pregnant. To many, that would be, and it was, considered career suicide.”

She further added, “It was there and then that I chose to reject the scarcity of success, and the idea that you have to be constantly relevant to be successful.”

Adele’s decision to step away again has left fans with a sense of anticipation mixed with a sense of loss, eagerly awaiting what the future holds for the beloved singer.

Source: PEOPLE