Adele's first public singing performance was in a school presentation where she sang "Rise" by Gabrielle. She graduated from The BRIT School for performing arts & technology in Croydon in May 2006, which was the same performing arts school attended by Amy Winehouse Katie Melua Leona Lewisand Kate Nash Adele credits the school with nurturing her talent. A month later, she published two songs on the fourth issue of online arts publication PlatformsMagazine.com. Since then Adele has played in small UK gigs, and has toured with best friend Jack Peñate, as well as Jamie T, Raul Midon, Amos Lee and Devendra Banhart. Adele went on her first UK headlining tour in October 2007. During her teenage years she recorded demos and gave it to her friend Lyndon. He eventually put it on MySpace and it became very successful there. Adele got a record deal through MySpace.

Adele's first record, "Hometown Glory", in which she sings the praises of Tottenham, was released on 22 October 2007 as a limited edition 7" vinyl on Jamie T's label Pacemaker Recordings, with B side "Best For Last". "Hometown Glory" was featured as the single of the week on iTunes. Since launching her MySpace page on Christmas Eve 2004, Adele became popular on the site which she used as a media focus and test point for songs. She then signed to independent music label XL Recordings. In January 2008 released her second single "Chasing Pavements", hitting #2 for 4 weeks in the UK Chart and still in the Top 40 14 weeks after release.

Adele performed Daydreamer on BBC Two's Later With Jools Holland, alongside Paul McCartney and Björk. On 28 January 2008 her debut album 19, was released in the United Kingdom. The album went straight to #1 in the UK charts and was certified platinum within a month of its release.

In March 2008 Adele signed to Columbia Records in America, and embarked on her first live shows in North America and Canada, playing two sold out shows at Joe's Pub in New York, a sold out show at LA's Hotel Cafe, as well as two sold out shows at Cabaret in Montreal and Rivoli in Toronto.

On 10 December 2007, Adele was awarded with the first Brit Awards Critics' Choice Award and has been nominated for a 2008 Mercury Prize award for her album 19.