A lot has happened between Adele’s two albums 25 and 30—and the singer herself can provide the receipts.
The 33-year-old, renowned for her goosebump-inducing songs about love, loss and heartbreak, has bared her soul to the world via her chart-topping albums. And in the six long years that have passed since 25 was released, Adele has experienced all three—not necessarily in that order.
Adele began dating her former husband Simon Konecki in 2012 and they welcomed their son, Angelo Adkins that same year. They married in 2018 and announced their divorce in 2021—unsurprisingly, the experience inspired the Grammy Award winner’s next album, 30.
Adele herself confirmed the feat, revealing in a now-iconic Instagram Live that the album’s overriding narrative was based on “divorce babe, divorce”.
But waiting for her at the end of that difficult tunnel was a new chapter of her life—one that involved another person who makes things easy on her (Adele’s words, not ours).
In May 2021, rumours began circulating about a romance between Adele and agent to the athletes, Rich Paul. While the pair’s relationship remained under wraps for a while, all was eventually confirmed. Now, Adele has reportedly confirmed that the two are married!
So, in celebration, we take a look back at Adele and Rich Paul’s relationship timeline—from being acquaintances to a full-blown couple.
A “couple of years” ago
In a special CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, aptly titled Adele One Night Only, the singer explained she and 39-year-old Paul met at a birthday party on a dance floor. Clearly, it had all the makings of a textbook romance—though things took a while to progress.
Adele explained, “We met a couple years later. We went out for dinner, which he says was a business meeting and I’m like ‘A business meeting about what?'”
Presumably, this was one of the initial meetings which sparked romance rumours earlier in 2021, taking us to the exact time frame of…
May 2021
The New Yorker published a profile on Paul where he told the reporter he was “hanging out” with a major pop star.
He was quick to reiterate that it wasn’t anything serious at the time, insisting: “I’m not dating, I’m single. Put that in the story.”
July 2021
Much like many celebrity couples before them, the pair didn’t last long before their relationship went public… kind of.
In July, they were spotted attending a basketball match between the Milwaukee Bucks the Phoenix Suns. During the game, Adele and Paul spoke animatedly to each other and certainly looked the image of a budding new romance.
August 2021
The confirmation was all-but there when US Weekly reported Adele and Paul had been dating “for months”. According to an unnamed source, the pair had been travelling between Los Angeles and New York to see each other.
September 2021
Finally, the humble Instagram soft launch arrived. After attending NBA star Anthony Davis‘ wedding to Marlen P. together, the singer shared several images from the big day—and hidden at the end of her carousel was a sweet picture of Adele and Paul cosied up together in a photobooth.
October 2021
Now the relationship was out in the open, Adele spoke about her affection for Paul a little more openly. In an interview with Vogue, the mum-of-one explained how Paul makes her feel “safe”.
“I don’t feel anxious or nervous or frazzled. It’s quite the opposite. It’s wild. I’m a 33-year-old divorced mother of a son, who’s actually in charge. The last thing I need is someone who doesn’t know where they’re at, or what they want. I know what I want. And I really know what I don’t want.”
She added: “I just love being around him. I just love it. He was like, ‘What are people going to say?’ And I was like, ‘That you signed me. As an athlete. You’re my agent.’ And he was like, ‘OK, cool.'”
November 2021
During her CBS special with Oprah Winfrey where she spoke about how she and Paul first met, Adele also elaborated on their relationship dynamic.
“He’s just hilarious. Oh, he’s so funny, he’s hilarious, yeah. And very smart. You know, he’s very, very smart. It’s quite incredible watching him do what he does.”
And the best part? Adele said the relationship has only made her more sure of herself.
“It’d be interesting to see what my reaction is like in general to anything that hurts me now that I feel so secure in myself, and I’m talking outside of romance as well.”
We truly love that for her.
May 2022
Adele chose to commemorate their first anniversary as a couple with a carousel of photos on Instagram captioned ‘Time Flies’. In it, the pair revealed that they have seemingly purchased their first home together. They were seen out the front of a beautiful Beverly Hills mansion with their hands in the air, flashing the keys to the abode.
She also shared a photo of a fortune cookie that read: “You have found good company – enjoy.” Awwww.
June 2022
In an interview with E! News, Paul revealed that the idea of becoming a father again was something he would entertain.
“If I was to have more kids, I’m looking forward to being a different dad,” Paul said. He highlighted that he would love to be a “more patient dad” if he was to be blessed with more children.
August 2022
In an interview with ELLE, Adele revealed that she hopes to marry Paul and have more children with him.
While she said she wasn’t married yet, she added that she was “just in looove! I’m happy as I’ll ever be.”
“I’m a homemaker and I’m a matriarch, and a stable life helps me with my music,” she said, adding, “I’ve never been in love like this. I’m obsessed with him.”
December 2022
While performing during her Las Vegas residency, Adele took the opportunity to dedicate her very own version of ‘Happy Birthday’ to her beloved.
“I love you more than life itself. We wish you a happy birthday,” she said, on behalf of her and her son.
August 2023
Adele paused a concert during her Las Vegas residency to chat with a pregnant fan in the audience. She divulged that she was keen to have her second child, and had already started brainstorming baby names.
“I really want to be a mum again soon, so I’ve actually been writing a list [of baby names],” she said. “Every time I see a name that I like, I write it down on my phone.”
Adele revealed that while she likes the name Spencer, Paul is a fan of the name Parker.
September 2023
In September 2023, Adele started rumours that she may actually be secretly married to her boyfriend Rich Paul.
During a concert at her Las Vegas show she referred to her paramour as her ‘husband’. When a fan tried to propose to her she made a joke, slipping in the moniker.
“You can’t marry me, I’m straight, my love,” adding: “And my husband’s here tonight.” Adele did not elaborate on the name any further, but it sent fans into high excitement that the beloved singer may have finally tied the knot again.
November 2023
All the rumours are true. According to reports, Adele told the audience at Alan Carr’s comedy show that she was married recently. Onlookers told celebrity gossip monger DeuxMoi that Adele admitted to her secret marriage when a question was prompted to the audience.
“I was at Alan Carr’s comedy show in LA tonight and Adele was in the audience. Alan asked the crowd if anyone got married recently and Adele shouted ‘I did’,” they said.
The informants added that Adele appeared to be having the time of her life watching Carr perform, given they’re good friends. “Adele was sitting right behind me with a friend having the best time. Her security only came in to bring her snacks.”
Sounds like a women after our own hearts!
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