Adele makes Billboard history, named 2011 top artist

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – British singer Adele made  Billboard history yesterday when she became the first female  singer to be named top artist, have the top album, “21,” and  score the top single, “Rolling in the Deep,” all in one year.

The 23-year-old chanteuse was followed in the top artist  group by No. 2 Rihanna, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga in that order,  while Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown,  Lil Wayne and Bruno Mars rounded out the top ten.

“I think one of the things that sets me apart from other  artists who have had the same kind of success is that my life  isn’t speculated about” by the media, Adele said in an  interview with Billboard.

Adele

Her smash hit album “21,” which was described by  Billboard’s Julianne Escobedo Shepherd as a “break-up requiem,”  was written in the aftermath of the singer’s failed  relationship, and it features underlying themes of love,  heartache and moving forward.

“I’m incredibly private but I’m also incredibly honest, and  I think that creates a kind of ‘meet in the middle’ respectable  ground,” said the singer.

The singer’s rousing soul and blues-fused single “Rolling  in the Deep,” which was named the No. 1 song, beat pop and  dance tracks like LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem,” Katy Perry’s  “Firework” and “E.T.” featuring Kanye West, as well as  Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything.”