The singer was shocked and surprised to see her English teacher amidst the audience and just couldn't hold back her tears.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on November 22, 2021. It has since been updated.
Though it's usually the audience that shed a few tears at Adele's concerts, thanks to her songs that tug at your heartstrings, it was the singer's turn this time, to shed a few tears at her concert after she was reunited with her favorite teacher and childhood mentor. The reunion happened at the singer's ITV concert special called An Audience With Adele. The singer was asked by actor Emma Thompson if there was someone who'd supported her, inspired her, or protected her "from all the trials and tribulations of life" when she was younger, according to TODAY.
"Yeah, I had a teacher at Chestnut Grove who taught me English," the 33-year-old singer responded, almost immediately. "That was Miss McDonald."
"Did you ever keep in touch?" Thompson asked, to which Adele replied that she last saw her when she was 12, and she started praising her.
"She was so bloody cool, so engaging," Adele said, recalling that McDonald often wore sequins and gold bracelets. "She really made us care, and we knew that she cared about us." She added that McDonald was "so relatable and likable that I really looked forward to my English lessons," according to PEOPLE.
"Yeah, cause it's odd, actually, funny enough…" Thompson said, and Adele immediately started looking into the crowd, scanning for her favorite teacher's face, and asked "Is she here? Is Miss McDonald here?". Sure enough, McDonald emerged from amidst the crowd to loud cheers and applause. As McDonald walked towards the stage, Adele broke down in tears and said, "Hi! You look amazing darling!"
The two hugged and McDonald replied, "Oh my God, I'm so proud of you." Adele, who couldn't hold back her tears, said she never expected to meet her teacher here, McDonald assured her, "That's OK. It was supposed to be a surprise," prompting a teary laugh from the Easy On Me singer. "Thank you for remembering me," McDonald shared, adding that she no longer teaches, but takes care of her children.
"You really did change my life," Adele replied. "Mum, can you believe it?" she added. Before McDonald returned to her seat, Adele asked for her number. She then said, "I've still got my books you know! I've got all my books from when you were my teacher."
After the special aired, the singer tweeted about the meaningful evening and included a shoutout to her former mentor. She wrote, "Home Sweet Home. I've always dreamt of doing 'An Audience With…' There was so much love in the room for each other, it felt like such a gig! Everyone was raucous and bang up for it! And my teacher Ms. McDonald was there, it was just heaven," along with a heart emoji. Adele still remembered McDonald, despite the fact that they hadn't met in about two decades. This just shows that teachers really do leave a lasting impact on the children they teach.
References:
https://www.today.com/popculture/adele-breaks-tears-surprised-inspiring-teacher-rcna6293
https://people.com/music/adele-bursts-into-tears-onstage-during-reunion-former-teacher/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Kevin Winter
