By the time superstar vocalist Adele took the stage at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards to accept the most coveted award of the night, Album of the Year, for her third album, 25, the singer had already accepted four other awards honoring her work. Still, she dedicated her final thank you to Queen B.
After making a few comments about her difficulties adjusting to motherhood, Adele took an unexpected turn and offered her victory to the woman she felt should have received it, namely fellow pop diva Beyoncé.
“I can’t possibly accept this award,” Adele said, her voice choked with tears. “I’m very humbled and very grateful and gracious, but my artist of my life is Beyoncé … the Lemonade album was so monumental, and so well thought-out, and so beautiful and soul-baring.”
“We all got to see another side of you that you don’t always let us see, and we appreciate that,” Adele continued. “And all us artists [expletive] adore you. You are our light. And the way that you make me and my friends feel, the way you make my black friends feel is empowering, and you make them stand up for themselves. And I love you. I always have. And I always will.”
Beyoncé and her husband, rapper Jay Z, watched from the audience and applauded, clearly touched. Beyoncé was actually in tears, clasping her hand to her chest and mouthing the words “Thank you.”
