The charts have a much-publicized newcomer near the top, but vampy pop chanteuse Lana Del Rey is a distant No. 2. Her Interscope debut "Born to Die" lands in the runner-up spot with more than 76,000 copies sold in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. Adele holds the top spot. Her "21," in week No. 50, sold another 122,000 copies.

With nothing more than a piano, a little black dress and a microphone, Adele rouses crowds using her emotions and her voice.

By Sean Daly, Times Pop Music Critic Wednesday, February 8, 2012 right in the middle of Super Bowl hoopla and the Republican primary and fervent Oscar overkill, the Recording Academy giddily trumpeted its most relevant news in almost a decade: "ADELE TO MAKE MUCH ANTICIPATED RETURN TO THE STAGE ON THE 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS." If watercooler chat that day started with whispers of Mitt, Manning ...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Grammys in recent years have targeted young audiences even as older acts won key awards to the surprise of some music fans, but this Sunday's honors will shine its spotlight on Adele, whose popularity crosses all age boundaries.

This Monday's honors will shine the spotlight on Adele's first performance since throat surgery.