How Adele's loved-up boyfriend could affect her new album after split from husband

With the release of Adele's highly-anticipated next album finally upon us, there's one question on everyone's lips is—will her new boyfriend influence the record? 

As the buzz around the British superstar's next masterpiece sweeps the world, we can't help but wonder how Adele's fourth studio album will be impacted by her current—and recent—relationships. 

The Hometown Glory singer has always been forthcoming in her lyrics when it comes to her love life, often using heartbreak and unrequited feelings to create her hit songs. Having split from her ex-husband, Simon Konecki, in 2019, you'd be forgiven for assuming Adele 30—which has been promoted with mysterious signs all over the globe—would be a catalog of gutting tearjerkers and vengeful anthems. 

However, agreements following the couple's divorce have reportedly limited the singer from confessing their secrets in the recording booth. With these rumored restrictions in place, it looks like Adele's new boyfriend, Rich Paul, could replace Simon as the album's go-to supporting character. 

Who was Adele's ex-husband and could their divorce have inspired her new album?

Adele married charity CEO Simon Konecki in 2015, only to file for divorce four years later citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’ The Hello singer and her New Yorker husband kept their relationship relatively low-key for the most part, preferring to show their mutual affection in private rather than in front of the cameras. 

Adele did, however, confirm their nuptials at the Grammys in 2017, thanking Simon—who is the father of her son Angelo—during her acceptance speech for Album of the Year. She also gushed about him during an interview with 60 Minutes shortly after they first got together, crediting his ‘love’ as the writing inspiration for ‘everything I’ve ever done.’ 

It seems that as well as being supportive, Simon was also non-judgemental of Adele’s career decisions. “He cares about me more than anything, but he doesn’t care about the style of music that I make and stuff like that,” she revealed. 

Unfortunately, their relationship went south after a few years of marriage. While the exact reasons behind their split remain unknown (irreconcilable differences could mean a lot!), some celebrity insiders have speculated it may have been influenced by their 14-year age gap. 

There have also been rumors that the couple’s transatlantic lifestyle put a strain on their relationship. Adele is said to prefer living in the US, while Simon, who holds British citizenship, is happier in London. It didn’t help that the charity director reportedly had to travel far distances for work, which often saw him overseeing projects in Africa and the Indian sub-continent for weeks at a time. 

After confirming the separation in 2019, the couple officially finalized their divorce in 2021. According to court papers, they agreed on joint custody of their five-year-old son, whom they are “committed” to raising together “lovingly.” 

While divorce is often a stressful and upsetting ordeal for couples, Adele may just be able to use the experience to her advantage. 

The powerhouse vocalist has a long history of channeling painful emotions into hit songs, receiving worldwide acclaim for her heartbreak-inspired ballads Someone Like You, Take it All, and Chasing Pavements. She has even joked in the past that she would happily use a divorce to inspire music material, telling the Mirror in 2011, "If I ever get married, it'll be, 'Darling, I need a divorce,'" she joked. "'It's been three years—I've got a record to write.'” 

However, ten years on, it appears Adele may have changed her tune on the matter. According to a celeb insider, the British superstar is determined to safeguard her child’s privacy—and therefore won’t be focusing on her split from Simon in her upcoming album. 

“'They’re [Adele and Simon] both aware their son Angelo should be protected and that’s why Adele has agreed not to sing about their relationship,” the inside source told the Sun. 

“Her new album will have a different sound anyway, so it hasn’t bothered her too much that Simon quietly expected her to keep their relationship out of her music.” 

Who is Adele dating now?

Adele shared an Instagram photo with her boyfriend, Rich Paul, last month, in an official social media confirmation of her new relationship. She has reportedly been dating the American sports agent, who hails from Ohio, since July, and has been spotted on multiple occasions with him since. 

Adele has yet to speak about her feelings for Rich, but that doesn't mean she won't sing them. With the subject of her ex-husband Simon supposedly off-limits for her upcoming album, her new beau could provide some inspiration for her famously passionate lyrics. 

When is Adele releasing a new album?

In light of the bonafide masterpieces that were 19, 21, and 25, it’s no wonder fans are desperate to know the release date of Adele’s new album. Unfortunately, while there’s been plenty of hype surrounding the record—and even a musical teaser—it hasn't been confirmed when it will actually hit shelves. Rumor Has It (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves) that the album is scheduled for a Christmas release, but Adele and her team have yet to make any promises.