Adele's Speech at the Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter of The Year (Ma...

Adele @ Ivor Novello Awards

The Ivor Novello Awards 2012

A tearful Adele was named songwriter of the year at the Ivor Novello Awards - and promptly gave the gong away.

Presented with the award by Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox, Adele said she learned from the reviews of her first album.

She said: "The main thing was, my songs weren't as good as my voice, which I hadn't realised but I took it on board and now I'm songwriter of the year."

She dedicated the award to her manager Jonathan Dickins and said: "This award is going on your shelf, not mine."

The Grammy Award-winning singer also picked up the award for most performed work for her song Rolling In The Deep at the central London ceremony and joked she never expected it to be a hit.

She said: "I really didn't think it was going to do anything anywhere."

There were also awards for Take That who were honoured for their outstanding contribution to British music, and Lana Del Rey, who won best contemporary song for Video Games. The annual awards are highly prized because they are voted for by songwriters and composers.

Speaking backstage at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Gary Barlow said the award was the one "that really matters". He added: "We go to a lot of award shows but if you were to see the pleasure on the recipients' faces when they get an Ivor, it's just something different and special and its a beautiful award show and I'm proud to be here and proud to win one."

Ed Sheeran won the award for best song musically and lyrically for The A Team, and PJ Harvey's Mercury Prize-winning Let England Shake was named best album.

Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp was presented with the award for outstanding song collection, while Siouxsie Sioux picked up the Ivors Inspiration award.

Adele interview Today Show tells Matt Lauer: 'I don't want to be a celebrity'

The eight-time Grammy winner talks with TODAY's Matt Lauer about her career highs, the downsides of fame, and the vocal surgery that saved her voice.

By Courtney Hazlett

Eight-time Grammy winner Adele is set to perform in her first network special, NBC’s "Adele Live in London," and ahead of that Tuesday, June 5 broadcast, the singer sat down with Matt Lauer to talk about her phenomenal rise to fame.

Calling her recent Grammy performance — her first since having surgery on her vocal chords — her "most elegant night," Adele points out that fame has brought with it an abundance of rumor.

"I was adopting an Ethiopian child … that’s not true. My house was haunted, that wasn’t true. God, there’s been so many (rumors)," she told Lauer. "I don’t want to be a celebrity … I don’t want to be in people’s faces, you know, constantly on covers of magazine that I haven’t even known I’m on."

Despite her status, Adele said that she’s managed some modicum of anonymity from time to time, even walking through tourist haven Trafalgar Square without being recognized.

"I was a bit worried. I was in my pajamas. I was in color. I’m always in black. I threw pumps on, this massive green coat and then little pink pumps. Nobody recognized me," she said. "A couple looked round but they were like, 'No, she’s in color.' And what would she be doing walking through a packed Trafalgar Square on a Saturday?"

Although Adele’s success has brought with it some perks (such as celebrity friends like Elton John, offering his support during her recovery from surgery), Adele has a singular focus: music.

"I just wanna make music. I don’t want anyone chatting about me, really. I still hope I have a little bit of clout in 10 years. All I’ve ever wanted to do is sing."

Happy 24th Birthday, Adele!

Daydreamers Drop4Drop Birthday Project: The Journey

 Thank you so much ♥