Watch Adele Tearfully Accept Her Album Of The Year Grammy And Tell Beyoncé “You Are Our Light”

“The way you make my friends feel and the way you make my black friends feel is empowering and you make them stand up for themselves. I love you.”

February 13, 2017

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Adele had a huge night at the 2017 Grammys, scoring awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and more, winning every award she was nominated for on Sunday night. The British singer also took home the most coveted honor, winning the Album of the Year award for 25.

In a tearful acceptance speech, Adele spoke about the last time she was on the Grammys stage. "Five years ago, when I was last here, I also was pregnant, and I didn't know," she said. Adele also said she "couldn't possibly accept" the award for Album of the Year because Beyoncé’s Lemonade was "so monumental" (but appeared to take home the statue anyways). Watch the speech above and read below.

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As you can see it took an army to make me strong and willing to do it, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Five years ago, when I was last here, I also was pregnant, and I didn't know. I was awarded that shortly after I found out, which was the biggest blessing of my life. And in my pregnancy, and through becoming a mother, I lost a lot myself. I struggled, and I still do struggle being a mum - it's really hard. Tonight, winning this kind of feels full circle and like a bit of me has come back to myself. But I can't possibly accept this award. And I'm very humbled and grateful and gracious but the artist of my life is Beyoncé. And this album for me, the Lemonade album, was so monumental and so well thought out and so beautiful and soul bearing. We all got to see another side to you that you don't always let us see, and we appreciate that. All us artists here appreciate you. You are our light. The way you make my friends feel and the way you make my black friends feel is empowering and you make them stand up for themselves. I love you. I always have, and I always will. Grammys, I appreciate it. The Academy - I love you; My manager, my husband and my son - you're the only reason I do it. Thank you so much. Thank you very much, to everybody.

During a post-show backstage interview, Adele continued her comments on the Album of the Year award. "I felt like it was her time to win," the singer said, according to New York Times writer Ben Sisario. "What the fuck does she have to do to win album of the year?"

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Thumbnail image: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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Watch Adele Tearfully Accept Her Album Of The Year Grammy And Tell Beyoncé “You Are Our Light”