Adele was the Grammy Awards' big winner, picking up all six categories that she was nominated for including the trifecta of record, song and album of the year -- a feat last accomplished by Beyonce.

View Photos [80]
View Profile
View All News

"It hasn't really sunk in," an elated Adele told reporters after the show.

With her voice nearly back to 100 percent after undergoing throat surgery in June, she added that the weeks of mandatory silence was "a bit traumatic at first -- being silent in such a noisy world," but then became, "a blessing in disguise -- I was able to enjoy being quiet, especially because I'm so mouthy."

Indeed, it was her brokenhearted words to an ex-lover that made 21 resonate as no other album had in recent years. When asked how her former flame might be feeling tonight, she answered: "I think he'd be very happy for me."

But the happiest in the room had to be Adele and her millions of fans, which included fellow artists such as Lady Antebellum. Asked why her music has impacted the American public so deeply, Charles Kelly said, "It's nice to see, as music keeps evolving, something as authentic as what she's putting out and still be relevant. More than just relevant, dominating. It's great to see. We all knew it was going to be her year, there's no surprise."