Esperanza Spalding C Brandon/Redferns via Getty Images hide caption

Nina Simone in the recording studio in approximately 1967. Gilles Petard/Redferns/Getty Images hide caption

Adele performs at Wembley Stadium June 28, 2017 in London, England. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for September Management hide caption

Cover Stories, a new compilation of artists covering Brandi Carlile's The Story, comes out May 5. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Adele performs at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on March 18. Graham Denholm/Getty Images hide caption

Men and women mark International Women's Day in Oakland, California. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images hide caption

Adele performs onstage during the Grammy Awards on February 12, 2017. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

Beyoncé performs at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 12. She won the award for best urban contemporary album, but was shut out of the major categories, which were all given to Adele. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS hide caption

Adele broke her Album Of The Year Grammy in an effort to share it with Beyoncé. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

For the second time, Adele swept the major categories at the Grammys, winning Album, Song and Record of the Year. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

Drake performs on February 28, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images hide caption

Chance the Rapper performs in L.A. in November 2016. His mixtape Coloring Book can't be bought — but by Billboard's rules, it was streamed enough times last year to equal 500,000 album "sales." Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

Top row, left to right: Cover art for Wilco, Kamasi Washington and Grimes; Middle row, left to right: Sufjan Stevens, Chvrches and Kendrick Lamar; Bottom row, left to right: Father John Misty, Joanna Newsom, Courtney Barnett Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Adele's new album, 25, is out now. Alasdair McLellan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Adele's new album is 21. Courtesy of Sony Music hide caption

Adele has described 25 as a "make-up album," and though the heartbreak that dominated previous albums lingers, the new album radiates absolute confidence. Courtesy of Columbia Records hide caption

Adele's new album, 25, is available today. Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

The cover image of Adele's third album, 25. Album cover hide caption

Adele in a video for "Hello." Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Sia's latest single is called "Alive," a song she originally wrote for Adele. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Adele. Courtesy of the artist hide caption