Adele took home the Grammy for Album of the Year (along with four other awards), but she nearly refused to accept it, since she believed Beyoncé deserved to win. “My album of the year was Lemonade, so a piece of me did die inside, as a Beyoncé fan,” she said in the press room after her big win, according to the New York Times.
She gave a touching tribute to Bey in her acceptance speech:
“But I can’t possibly accept this award, and I’m very humbled and very grateful and gracious but my life is Beyoncé, and the album to me, the Lemonade album, Beyoncé, was so monumental, and so well thought out. And so beautiful and soul-bearing and we all got to see another side of you that you don’t always let us see, and we appreciate that.”
To prove she meant what she said, Adele broke her Grammy award in half on stage (which the broadcast didn’t show) and seemed to offer one part to Beyoncé, who was seated in front of her.
By Harper’s Bazaar