When Adele announced earlier this year that she’d split with husband Simon Konecki, her fans were, of course, devastated for the British songstress.
That was until they realised a break-up would mean a whole lot of material for a new album.
“Bunch of f** savages, 30 will be a drum’n’bass record to spite you. Chin up, eh!” she jokingly posted to Instagram, admitting her 30th year had tested her like no other.
“Thirty tried me so hard, but I’m owning it and trying my hardest to lean into it all… I’ve changed drastically in the last couple years and I’m still changing and that’s okay.”
With Simon in happier times in 2013.
(Credit: Shutterstock)
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But now, six months on from her split with businessman Simon − who is the father to her six-year-old son Angelo and whom she secretly married in 2016 − Adele has never been happier, say sources close her.
“She’s free and spirited and feels like a new person,” a pal tells, while another insider adds, “She just seems happy being a mum and working.”
While Adele and Simon’s seven-year relationship began strongly, the pair drifted apart as the singer’s career went from strength to strength, with the pair finally realising they had little in common, aside from their son.
“As she became a bigger and bigger star, he was okay [with] being in the background,” a source says. “But when she started doing massive tours and her schedule intensified, they just grew further apart.
“Their marriage was clearly working for a very long time. Whenever she was out at big openings and special events he was usually with her and they looked really happy together and in love.
“They were into the marriage pretty much until they decided it wasn’t working any more.”
Notoriously secretive about her personal life – until she turns it into a song, anyway – Adele has done her utmost to shield Simon from the glare of celebrity, and has publicly never spoken of their romance, apart from confirming their split in May.
However, according to friends, she’s been exceptionally candid to her pals about the relationship officially ending.
“Publicly, she’s saying as little as possible about the split. But privately, she’s been very open about the fact that she and Simon have already divorced. She’s been telling friends the marriage is done and dusted – ‘I’m divorced now, so I’m trying to find my new normal.'”
She even celebrated her new single status with an outrageous divorce party, hosted by girlfriend Jennifer Lawrence (29), where the pair downed shots, partied with drag queens and did karaoke.
“Jennifer was one of the first people she told,” a friend says.
The pair later arranged a double celebration – Adele to raise a glass to her future, and Jennifer to celebrate her engagement to Cooke Maroney.
“The girls have the same dark sense of humour that made them think it was funny. It was a brilliant night.”
Adele has indeed turned her attention to the future, and while it does include a new album to follow up the hugely successful 25 – she was spotted heading into a New York recording studio last month – her life revolves around Angelo, with the two spending the summer gallivanting around the United States.
The mum and son spent the school holidays in Utah, where they enjoyed boat rides on the lakes and hiked the famed canyons.
She’s also just bought a new home in Beverly Hills, worth a cool $16.9 million, and can count Jennifer and Nicole Kidman as neighbours.
It means a lot of travelling between her native London and LA, but the jet-setting lifestyle seems to agree with her, with one American music executive remarking, “She’s perky as hell!”
The singer has also embarked on a new diet and exercise regime – not with the goal of losing weight, friends insist – rather, Adele’s just keen to lead a healthier lifestyle for Angelo, and while Pilates is a firm favourite she’s also employed a personal trainer to keep her on track.
And it seems she’s open to finding love again and has asked friends to look out for potential suitors.
“She’s been excited to speak to men again and is very much in the courting phase. She’s attracted to other men and accepts it’s over with Simon for good this time, there is no going back.
“[But] she doesn’t want to rush or get into something too serious too soon. [However], in reality, this was a marriage where the romantic love ended many years ago.”
