Overwhelmed Adele made an emotional return to the stage, wept tears of joy and kept apologising to fans as they finally got to welcome her back after a 10-month wait.
The singer admitted she was “sh***ing herself ” on her first night at Caesars Palace – the Las Vegas venue where she announced in January that her shows just couldn’t go on.
But the Londoner had clearly come a long way since then, as she told the audience: “It is really mad to be from Tottenham and be in f***ing Las Vegas.”
The 34-year-old superstar defended her decision to call off her residency in Sin City with just 24 hours notice because of problems caused by Covid.
She said: “It is the worst feeling I have ever had, but the best decision I have ever made when it comes to my career.
“And I do stand by it all. I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I caused.”
Judging by the number of standing ovations she received during her two-hour set on Friday night, she had been well and truly forgiven.
The audience of more than 4,000 fans were already on their feet after Adele kicked off the show with two of her chart-toppers, Hello and Easy On Me.
Their response reduced the Cry Your Heart Out singer to more tears.
She told them: “I should be giving you a standing ovation.
“Thank you so much for coming back to me. You look amazing and it looks just how I imagined. It is perfect. Thank you.”
Joking that her tears meant she would have to stay on stage with a “sh***y face of make-up” she added: “I am so scared. So nervous. But I am so happy .
“I do not know what the f*** I was thinking putting piano ballads at the top of the set.”
Adele packed the show with more greatest hits and showstopping spectacle.
As she belted out Set Fire To The Rain, the stage was drenched by a downpour before a piano burst into flames and collapsed.
Another big moment came when Adele sang her Oscar-winning hit Skyfall against a backdrop of James Bond footage playing on a giant screen.
Fans said her 10-year-old son Angelo was in the crowd.
Her sports agent partner Rich Paul was also there, along with her talkshow pal James Corden and the Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos.
And at one point, Adele walked through the audience, gave Rich a kiss and told him “I love you.”
There were funny moments too.
Adele was wearing a glamorous black embroidered gown – but joked some of the audience could see she had teamed it with a pair of big socks.
She asked front-row fans: “Do you like my posh socks?
“Some of you have really dressed up. I am really loving it. My boyfriend loves dressing up.”
She also praised fans for dancing to her music and moved two from seats at the very back of the venue down to the front row. But one man in the audience had to be calmed down by security after he kept screaming at the singer: “Do you remember me?”
Adele told him: “I am sorry. Right now I don’t remember you. “But there is so many people here, my love . And you are being so loud I cannot even hear myself.”
In a night packed with heartfelt revelations Adele said long-term Vegas headliner Celine Dion had inspired her to perform at the Palace’s iconic Colosseum venue because it is an intimate space.
She told the audience: “I am not going to lie, I feel like Celine Dion.
“That is the only reason I ever wanted to sing in here.
“This show grows and I wanted to make it feel for you what it is like in the studio for me.”
She added: “So it might be a bit wobbly tonight because my nerves are out of control.”
Adele also spoke about her stress last week when it looked like illness might mean the opening night of her five-month run at the Colosseum would have to be postponed yet again.
She told fans: “Talking of not being able to breathe. “Last week I was sick as a f***ing dog. I was like: ‘No, f***, s***… I am done. I am just going to fall off the face of the Earth.”
She added: “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming back and seeing me tonight.”
The star, who has written four No1 albums – 19, 21, 25 and 30 – to coincide with her age through the years, told the audience:
“I had no idea when I wrote 21 that my life would end up becoming what it is. There are so many amazing things to it as well.
“And some that aren’t amazing. I am sure you know that about me. That is why I f*** off for six years at a time.”
Adele talked about her rise to stardom, telling the audience: “I was flailing around London when I was 21 and I wrote an album that ended up changing my life for ever.
“I actually didn’t do very much. I was so shocked by it all.”
She added: “The whole reason I wanted to play a small room was so I could be so close to you, and walking through the crowd with you lot and see you all. You don’t get that when you play big rooms.
“I have no idea what I am embarking on for five months, but I cannot f***ing wait. Thank you for being here the first night. Thanks for being so good to me.”
Adele also revealed she’s a big fan of a zombie TV show – and footie – as she joked with fans.
She told them: “It is a bloody massive week for me this week – it is The Walking Dead finale on Sunday Can you believe that? I have been obsessed for over a decade.
“Obviously it’s opening night, Grammys, World Cup… f***ing hell there is a lot going on.”
The I Drink Wine singer added: “I am talking this much because I am sh***ng myself. It looks like I am drinking wine.
“I am not. I am drinking hot honey. I don’t drink when I am working – but I’ll definitely need a shot after this.”
