Rumor has it that Adele is gearing up to return to the studio and begin recording the follow-up to her bazillion-selling 2011 sophomore album, '21,' and Heat magazine even claims that her third album could be out by the end of 2013. The news comes just a few days after reports that Adele may make her return to the stage next month by performing her James Bond theme song 'Skyfall' at the Oscars.

“Adele is making a start on another album after going off the radar since giving birth,” a source told Heat. “Even though she’s been busy enjoying family life with Simon [Konecki, her partner] and the baby, she’s also been writing during her time off, so arrived at the studio ready to start working hard straight away. The album could even be released later this year.”

The singer, whose '21' album is one of the best-selling in recent memory, took most of 2012 off after undergoing throat surgery and becoming pregnant with her first child, which she gave birth to in October.

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