Paula Abdul's Biography

Paula Abdul was born on 19 June 1962 in San Fernando, California.

After joining the L.A. Lakers cheerleaders, Paula Abdul was hired by The Jacksons as assistant dance director and choreographer on a range of Jackson videos and tours.

Paula Abdul's first album was "Forever Your Girl" and featured the single "Straight Up", which dramatically increased her popularity.

"Straight Up" was the first of six number one singles and with "Forever Your Girl", Paula Abdul became the first female artist to have an album in the top ten for more than 50 weeks.

Paula Abdul has had a couple of short-lived marriages, including one to actor Emilio Estevez.

Paula founded her own dance company and in 2005 she was made a 'correspondent' on the TV show, So You Think You Can Dance, hosted by Lauren Sanchez.

However, Abdul's publicist Ken Sunshine said that she would be too busy promoting an American Idol DVD and working on the show's new season to participate in So You Think You Can Dance.

Paula Abdul became a regular expert judge on American Idol. In her years on the show she has become more opinionated and feisty. Increasingly she has rows with Simon Cowell.

In response to the controversy generated by her behaviour, Paula Abdul told the media that she has been fighting chronic pain after a cheerleading accident that left her with an injured disc in her neck when she was 17.

After a couple of car crashes and a plane crash in 1992 the pain worsened and led to seizures, bulimia and depression.

Abdul explained that she has had 12 operations.

Paula Abdul said that she had been diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

American Idol provided an impetus to Paula Abdul's career in other areas leading to her recording a follow-up to 1995's "Head Over Heels", and making jewellery.

In March 2005 Paula Abdul was fined and placed on probation after a hit-and-run incident in California, that took place in December 2004.

Spring 2005 also featured rumours of an affair between Paula Abdul and an American Idol contestant, which Abdul has denied. She was duly cleared of having an inappropriate relationship with ex-Idol contestant Corey Clark.

In January 2006, it was announced that Paula Abdul would be the subject of a CBS special on Valentine's Day where she teams up with Dr. Phil to look for love.

In January 2007, Paula Abdul was awarded an AMY (fashion industry award) for her support of young people seeking a higher education.

In 2007, Bravo scheduled a new reality TV show called Hey Paula, to run from June 28. The show follows Paula Abdul as she films a new season of American Idol.

Paula, who appeared on The Friday Night Project in the UK, told Metro that Simon Cowell was like a brother to her and related how she:

"Tripped over her and tore some cartilage in my nose. I was going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and tripped over my chubby chihuahua, Tulip. I landed on my face and hit my nose and dislocated my hip."

In April 2008, the BBC reported on how Paula Abdul left people scratching their heads after giving feedback on two songs to a contestant who had only performed once.

In August 2009, it was revealed that Paula Abdul was leaving American Idol. The producers commented:

"Paula Abdul has been an important part of the 'American Idol' family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show."

In May 2011, it was revealed that Paula Abdul would be one of the judges in the US version of The X Factor, alongside Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Antonio LA Reid.

In 2020, it was revealed that Paul Abdul would be a panelist on The Masked Dancer.

In December 2024, Paula Abdul settled her sexual assault lawsuit against British television producer Nigel Lythgoe.