Adele Stages Thrilling Grammy Comeback Performance

Music fans had a lot to celebrate with all the excitement of the 2012 Grammy Awards, but the night largely belonged to this year's unequivocal Grammy darling Adele.

Not only did the British songbird pick up multiple Grammys for Best Pop Solo Performance ("Someone Like You"), Song of the Year ("Rolling in the Deep") and Best Pop Vocal Album, the 21 singer brought the house down with her first vocal performance since undergoing vocal cord surgery last November.

Onetime Grammy performer Gwyneth Paltrow introduced the showstopper, describing Adele's impact on the industry as a "global musical phenomenon." "We are so thrilled her voice is back and ready to share it with us one more at the Grammy awards," the actress said.

The chosen comeback performance song was "Rolling in the Deep," which she began acoustically. She was gradually joined by members of her backing band as the song reached its powerful chorus. The audience was brought to its feet for a rousing standing ovation at the song's conclusion, with celebrity fans Rihanna and Paul McCartney spotted in the audience cheering enthusiastically for the chart-topper.

Adele, who was sporting a shorter and blonder version of her classic bouffant hairdo, looked pleased as punch to be up onstage again. Throughout the performance, she seemed to smile at specific members in the audience, soaking up her standing ovation with an even bigger smile. She even repeatedly mouthed the words "thank you."

Look for the reactions to Adele's performance and her wins on Sunday night to be reflected in even more sales of her record-breaking 21.