Adele praises influential women after being honored at THR’s Women in Entertainment gala

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Adele expressed her heartfelt appreciation for influential women during her recognition at THR’s Women in Entertainment gala. She paid tribute to the women who played pivotal roles in shaping her life and personality from a young age, including her mother, grandmother, and aunts.

The renowned singer went on to commend actor Kerry Washington and was deeply impressed by singer Dua Lipa as they both received accolades at The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment breakfast gala. Adele was presented with the prestigious Sherry Lansing Leadership Award by Helen Mirren for her outstanding contributions as a trailblazer and her philanthropic endeavors in Hollywood.

Addressing Lansing, the first female to lead a Hollywood studio, Adele stated, “You are the absolute epitome of what it is to open doors and, more importantly, leave them open.” Adele herself has been an advocate for LGBTQ and women’s rights and has been involved with an organization dedicated to providing clean water to countries in need.

Helen Mirren, an Oscar winner, praised Adele’s musical talent and confessed to feeling a “shiver” down her spine when she first heard Adele’s debut single, “Hometown Glory.” She described Adele as a brilliant and game-changing artist, stating, “I thought, ‘Wow, a goddess walks amongst us.'”

Adele’s candid speech, peppered with a few F-bombs, elicited laughter and applause from the audience. She attributed her strong and fearless character to the women in her family, describing them as formidable and unyielding individuals who had to learn the challenges of womanhood the hard way. Their strength served as her armor, shaping her character into what it is today.

Notable previous honorees at this gala have included Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, and Barbra Streisand.

In her speech, Adele expressed her gratitude towards Kerry Washington, who received the Equity in Entertainment Award for her efforts in amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities in the entertainment industry. Actor Ariana DeBose, who presented Washington with the award, lauded her for breaking traditional stereotypes as a Black woman in Hollywood. Will Ferrell even humorously suggested that Washington should run for president.

Washington, in her acceptance speech, emphasized the importance of creating equity, a concept her 9-year-old daughter recently learned about. She stressed that equity is nurtured by making room for each other’s truths and by sharing stories from diverse backgrounds in media and culture.

During the event, Dua Lipa, Camila Cabello, Billie Lourd, and Lily Gladstone presented four full-ride scholarships to Chapman University and Loyola Marymount as part of THR’s Women in Entertainment mentorship program. Over $1 million in university scholarships were awarded to female high school seniors from underserved communities in Los Angeles, who will also be paired with top-level female entertainment executives, lawyers, and agents as part of the program’s mentorship initiative.

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More about Influential Women

• Adele celebrates influential women at THR’s Women in Entertainment gala
• Sherry Lansing Leadership Award
• Helen Mirren
• Kerry Washington
• Equity in Entertainment Award
• Dua Lipa
• Camila Cabello
• Billie Lourd
• Lily Gladstone
• THR’s Women in Entertainment mentorship program