The 'Rolling in the Deep' hitmaker makes Billboard history by taking 2011 top artist title and scores top single and top album of the year.
- December 10, 2011
AceShowbiz -
Adele is crowned this year's top artist by Billboard in its year-end chart. The British pop sensation is declared an artist who unmistakably owns 2011 for having top single with "Rolling in the Deep" and top album with "21". The brunette beauty becomes the first female artist who stakes her claims to the three biggest year-end honors at once.
Adele's title as the top artist of 2011 additionally marks the third year in a row a woman receives the honor. She follows the footsteps of Lady GaGa and Taylor Swift who took the crown in 2010 and 2009 respectively. The other lady who took the reign was Whitney Houston who earned it in 1993, thanks to "The Bodyguard" soundtrack and "I Will Always Love You" single.
"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," Adele told Billboard. "I'm incredibly private but I'm also incredibly honest and I think that creates a kind of 'meet in the middle' respectable ground."
In respective order, Rihanna, Katy Perry, GaGa and Nicki Minaj fill in the rest of the top 5. Swift prolongs the female domination by occupying the No. 6 position. The 21-year-old singer is also dubbed Top Country Artist of the Year due to impressive chart performance of her album "Speak Now" which leads the year-end Top Country Albums recap.
Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Bruno Mars put the female domination to an end by claiming the next spots on the top 10 list. Bieber is at No. 7, Breezy trails behind the Canadian popstar at No. 8, and Weezy who shares top R&B/Hip-Hop artists of 2011 with Minaj sits at the ninth place. Meanwhile, Mars rounds up the top 10.
Elsewhere in Billboard's year-end list, U2 is crowned top touring artist by having the highest-grossing and biggest ticket seller in the history of the business with their 360 tour. New act Mumford & Sons top rock artist list, while music vet Shakira is top Latin artist. She gets boost from being Top Latin Digital Artist and having Latin Digital Song.
