3. Adele Takes a Mulligan: A year after her performance on the same stage was marred by technical difficulties, the now 15-time Grammy winner opened the show flawlessly with “Hello”…but for what could have been a variety reasons—the unfamiliar arrangement, lack of prep time, nerves, emotions, who knows?—she stopped mid-performance of George Michael‘s “Fastlove,” unhappy with the sound.
“I know it’s live TV, I’m so sorry, I f–ked up, I can’t do it again like last year,” she said. “I’m sorry for swearing and I’m sorry for starting again. Can we please start it again? I’m sorry,” Adele apologized again, shaking her head, as the audience erupted in applause. “I can’t mess this up for him. I’m sorry. I can’t, I’m sorry for swearing…I’m sorry, Ken [Erlich, executive producer].”
Adele proceeded to start over, and was perfect. Still, she looked visibly distressed even as she received a standing ovation, then she hurried offstage.
The night immediately perked up once again, with Adele winning Song of the Year for “Hello”; she once again apologized (believe us, dear, you are forgiven) and mouthed “I love you” to Beyoncé (after beating her in the category). Co-writer Greg Sulkin was immediately cut off, however, resulting in a chorus of boos just as Solange of all people was getting the spotlight to present.
So when Adele won for Record of the Year later, she let Sulkin kick things off. “You cut him off last time!” she scolded the show.