One of the most soulful, emotional singers in recent history, you might assume Adele has already used up all her harrowing stories, and shocking anecdotes for pop songs. What's the old expression? Why by the pop singer's biography when you can just find the stories in her songs for free?

With its tales of life before "21," Adele's Grammy-award-winning album, "Adele: The Biography" aims to surprise even the singer's most devoted fans. Author Chas Newkey-Burden delves into the British singer's past, tracing her childhood years growing up in London to the experiences that inspired her music. He covers Adele's struggles and triumphs, including obstacles that came close to ending her promising career.

The tales in the biography appear to predate Adele's current relationship with Simon Konecki, with whom the singer is having a child.

Surprising facts from "Adele: the Biography," via USA Today

Adele says her grandfather was her biggest influence: "I painted him as this Jesus figure in my life."

The singer lauds her mother's sacrifices: "She fell pregnant with me when she would have been applying for uni(versity), but chose to have me instead."

Big surprise: Adele loves love songs. "When I was a girl, I loved love songs. And I always loved the ones about horrible relationships. Ones that you could really relate to and made you cry."

Adele reveals her vocal influences: "I taught myself how to sing by listening to Ella Fitzgerald for acrobatics and scales, Etta James for passion and Roberta Flack for control."

What changed for Adele when she finally cut that big record deal? "I used to smoke rollies but then I got a record deal and switched to Marlboro Lights."

Adele discusses how she views her weight: "I read a comment on YouTube that I thought would upset me 'Test pilot for pies' - but I've always been a size 14-16 and been fine with it. I would only lose weight if it affected my health or sex life, which it doesn't."

Why did she cancel those U.S. shows in 2008? "I was drinking far too much and that was kind of the basis of my relationship with this boy. I couldn't bear to be without him, so I was like, 'Well OK, I'll just cancel my stuff then.' "

The singer says getting her own place was huge mistake: "After my first record ("19") I moved to Notting Hill (in London) on my own. My life fell apart. My phone got cut off, my credit card got cut off, the home was a mess. It was awful. I couldn't function without my mum so I moved back in with her."

Adele still won't name just who the inspiration was for her record "21," but admits, "It was the biggest deal in my entire life to date."

"... He made me totally hungry. ... He was older, he was successful in his own right, whereas my boyfriends before were my age and not really doing much. He got me interested in film and literature and food and wine and traveling and politics and history and those were things I was never, ever interested in. I was interested in going clubbing and getting drunk."

The fallout from the end of the relationship convinced Adele to try her hand at online dating. "I just signed up for eHarmony. I can't put a photo of myself, so I don't get any e-mails! I must have written him about five or six letters at different stages and everything, but never sent. I've got a little box of stuff that reminds me of us and they're still in there."

Despite her acclaim, Adele reveals she isn't immune to stage fright. "I'm scared of audiences. One show in Amsterdam, I was so nervous I escaped out of the fire exit. I've thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels, I projectile vomited on someone."

While she's currently in a happy relationship, she does admit to still having a celebrity crush. "I'm after Prince Harry. I know I said I wouldn't go out with a ginger, but it's Prince Harry! I'd be a real duchess then. I'd love a night out with him, he seems like he'd be a right laugh."

"Adele: the Biography" is available now.