Music goddess Adele beats the Grammy curse [Video]

When Adele won the Grammy for best new artist two years ago it looked like she might become another victim of the curse that seems to be dogging one of the Recording Academy's four highest awards.

Adele -– let's be honest -– isn't glamorous. She is chunky and, back then, she was relatively obscure compared with some of the other nominees in that Grammy race, such as the Jonas Brothers and Lady Antebellum. It wouldn't have been too surprising if Adele ended up following other past best new artist winners to quick oblivion, much like Paula Cole, Marc Cohn, A Taste of Honey and Starland Vocal Band.

But Adele has recently experienced an impressive career jump. The L.A. Times says that her sophomore album "21" (which refers to her age when she recorded it) is "marvelous," adding, "Overall, '21' shows that Adele, now 22, is towering in the same landscape where some of her contemporaries, beehived or not, have lost all their bearings."

The CD is now topping the sales charts both in the U.S. and in her native Britain, a rare accomplishment matched only by a few artists in the past, including the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Eminem, Coldplay, Susan Boyle and Madonna.

Adele's performance of "Someone Like You" at the Brit Awards last month, below, triggered a sales stampede that drove her CD to the top of the British charts. On this continent, her sales were boosted by TV appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "Jimmy Kimmel Live," CBS' "Early Show" and "Chelsea Lately."

-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: Adele's "21" CD cover. Credit: Columbia Records

Comments

[Will, london]

She isnt glamorous because she is chunky?? What a pathetically shallow comment highlighting exactly what the music industry is like.
Why does an artist have to conform to a certain image? Isnt it better/more appealing (and more of a role model to others) so have 'real' artists with pure talent like Adele than someone with more talent for showing off their tits at any opportunity. Judge her voice, sure if you want judge her style but for goodness sake dont bring weight into it. Its irrelevant..

[Tara]

I disagree with your comment that "she isnt glamourous - she is chunky". It is very sad to see that people in LA have been brainwashed into thinking that anorexic looking bodies define "glamour".
Here in Britian Adele defines everything about "Glamour" , stunningly beautiful, not fake, no surgical adjusted body and the best part - she's got SOUL.

[Jalal]

You are completely wrong about her not being glamorous. You obviously don't even know what glamorous is. Just because she is bigger doesn't mean she isn't glamorous. Go look at her photoshoots and then rethink your opinion.