Paula Abdul

At 61 years old, Paula Abdul has this physical status:

Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American singer, composer, dancer, choreographer, and television presenter.

She began her work as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 18 and then became the Laker Girls' head choreographer, where she was discovered by The Jacksons.

Janet Jackson's choreographing music videos, Abdul became a choreographer during the music video era and soon thereafter, she was signed to Virgin Records.

"Forever Your Girl" (1996), her debut studio album, was one of the most successful debut albums at the time, selling 7 million copies in the United States and setting a record for the most number one singles from a debut album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Straight Up," "Forever Your Girl," "Cold Heart," and "Opposites Attract" became one of the most popular debut albums from a debut album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,

Abdul, one of the original judges on the Billboard Hot 100, has ties her with Diana Ross for seventh among the female solo artists to have topped the chart, and she has since appeared as a judge on The X Factor, Live to Dance, and So You Think You Can Dance.

Notably, she appeared in many films, including Can't Buy Me Love (1987), The Running Man (1988), and American Beauty (1999).

She has received five MTV Video Music Award nominations, including twice winning, as well as receiving the Grammy Award for Best Music Video for "Opposites Attract" in 1991.

She received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography twice for her appearances on The Tracey Ullman Exhibition and her own appearance at the American Music Awards in 1990.

Abdul was honoured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as the first entertainer to be honoured with the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards' Hall of Fame Award.

Early life

Abdul was born in San Fernando, California, to Jewish parents. Harry Abdul, Abdul's father, is of Syrian Jewish origins and was born in Aleppo, Syria, and immigrated to the United States. Lorraine's mother, Lorraine, was a concert pianist. Wendy is Abdul's older sister. Abdul was inspired by Gene Kelly's film Singin' in the Rain as an avid dancer.

Abdul began taking dance lessons at an early age in ballet, jazz, and tap. She attended Van Nuys High School, where she served as a cheerleader and an honor student. She received a scholarship to a dance camp near Palm Springs and appeared in Junior High School, a low-budget independent musical film. She graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1980. Abdul studied broadcasting at the California State University in Northridge. She was chosen from a field of 700 candidates for the Los Angeles Lakers' cheerleading squad — the coveted Laker Girls — in her freshman year. She was hired as head choreographer within a year. She remained with the Laker Girls until 1986.

Personal life

Emilio Estevez, a 1992 actress who divorced him in 1994, married him in 1994. Abdul said in 1995 that the reason for their divorce was that she wanted children, but Estevez, who had two children from a previous marriage, did not. In 1996, Abdul married clothes designer Brad Beckerman at the New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, Connecticut. After 17 months of marriage, they divorced in 1998, citing irreconcilable inconsistency.

Abdul was diagnosed with bulimia nervosa in 1994, but it became more prominent as a teenager and then escalated after she became a pop star. Me and my body have been on two fronts. We've never been on the same page until recently. I discovered that I didn't fit in physically at an early age. I learned through years of rejections from auditions. "Why can't I be tall and thin like the other dancers?" I'd ask myself. I was jittery and out of place, and all I could think about was food. Fear and anxiety were heightened by food. I'd eat and then run to the toilet, then run to the toilet. I thought, 'God, I'm not perfect.' I'm going to disappoint people. That's what I thought. For me, it was a living hell. I needed to get help. I want to avoid weighing myself on the scales. I was spitting out the food and the emotions whether I was stuck in the toilet or exercising for hours a day.

Abdul is observant of her Jewish faith and proud of her roots. "My father is a Syrian Jew whose family immigrated to Brazil," she once said. My mother is a Canadian with Jewish roots. My dream is to go to Israel for a true holiday." As Israeli Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog welcomed her to Israel in November 2006, Abdul said, "I will arrive; you have made my dreams come true." Abdul had her bat mitzvah in Safed, Israel, at the International Center for Tzfat Kabbalah, a museum, and spiritual retreat for Kabbalah studies in 2013. Abdul was described as a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation in 2003.

Abdul was driving her Mercedes-Benz on a Los Angeles-area freeway in December 2004 when she changed lanes and hit another vehicle but no one was able to stop or render assistance. The driver and passenger took a snapshot with a cellphone camera and wrote down the vehicle's license plate number, which was traced to Abdul. Abdul was fined US$900 and 24 months of informal probation after pleaded no contest to misdemeanor hit-and-run driving in March 2005. For harm to the other vehicle, she was told to pay US$775.

Abdul claimed that she suffers from a psychological disorder known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which causes chronic pain in April 2005.

According to Los AngelesPD spokesman Lt. Paul Vernon, Abdul filed a report at a Hollywood police station in April 2006 claiming she had been a battery survivor at a private party around 1 a.m. on April 2, 2006. "According to Abdul, the guy at the party argued with her, grabbed her by the arm and threw her against a wall," Vernon said. "She said she suffered from a concussion and spinal injury."

Paula Goodspeed, a 30-year-old woman, was discovered dead in her car outside Abdul's Los Angeles home on Sunday. The death was ruled a suicide by heroin overdose, and she was discovered surrounded by prescription pills, as well as pictures and CDs of Abdul. On season 5 of American Idol, Goodspeed was an ardent fan of Abdul, having legally changed her name to Paula, viewed numerous photographs of her, and auditioned for Abdul. Goodspeed had been accused in the press of being a celebrity stalker, but her relatives had denied this.

Abdul is a dog lover who raised the awareness of National Guide Dog Month in May 2009, and she and Dick Van Patten joined together in May 2009 to enable people with blindness to have more freedom by offering guide dogs. She does not wear real fur.

According to ABC's news magazine Primetime Live, season two American Idol contestant Corey Clark that he and Abdul had an affair during the year, and she had advised him on how to do well in the competition. Clark came forward when some were selling a CD and attempting to get a book deal, but Clark claims that his work was being biased due to his relationship with Abdul, which is why he came forward to clarify his identity. Abdul refused to comment on Clark's charges for the most part. "It was just someone using her to get a lot of press for an appalling record, not full stop," Simon Cowell defended Abdul's defense, calling Corey Clark a freak and claiming, "It was just somebody using her to get a lot of buzz for an appalling record." Abdul appeared in a Saturday Night Live skit mocking the situation. Abdul received numerous calls from celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and Kelly Ripa; Barbara Walters said she was sad to be a part of an investigation that would reveal Clark's flimsy tabloid claims under the guise of a news story. Abdul's return to the show in August 2005 had revealed that the probe had found "insufficient evidence" that Mr. Clark and Ms. Abdul in any way aided his development.

Allegations of bullying arose as a result of Abdul's "erratic conduct" during American Idol episodes. Abdul told People in April 2005 that she suffered from chronic pain after a "cheerleading crash" at age 17 and was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) in November 2004; she later reported she was pain-free following anti-inflammatory therapy. During a series of interviews, allegations emerged again in January 2007. Abdul appeared to sway in her chair and slur her voice on the internet. During the recording of the interviews, Abdul's publicist attributed his exhaustion and technical difficulties. Abdul had not been sleeping, although perhaps suffering from some mild form of insomnia, according to Bravo's Hey Paula, which had followed Abdul with a video camera before to the interviews. Abdul told Us Weekly in February 2007 that she had never been inebriated or used illicit opioids, and that the allegations were "lies." Abdul joked that her scrutinized behavior was triggered by her being "abducted by aliens" during her appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in March 2007.

Abdul has denied allegations that she was seriously injured in a plane crash in 1993, necessitating 15 cervical surgeries. Abdul responded in an onstage monologue at her Forever Your Girl Vegas residence in 2020, including Jezebel, who was on the plane with me. So, I really don't care what people say. I don't know anything about it." As detailed reports of aircraft incidents are maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration and other international regulatory bodies, and as there is no evidence of any such occurrence as reported, the charge has been dismissed as untrue.

Ladies' Home Journal published an article on its website in May 2009 stating that Abdul told them she stayed at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California, for three days to recover from physical dependence on prescription pain drugs. A pain patch, nerve stimulation, and a muscle relaxant were among the drugs that were prescribed due to injuries and her RSD diagnosis. According to the story, Abdul said that the drugs made her "get weird" at times, and that she suffered from physical withdrawal symptoms during her recovery. In an interview with Detroit radio station WKQI, Abdul denied the article's authenticity later this week. She told the radio station that she never checked into a rehab center and never had a heroin use disorder problem.

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Career

Abdul was discovered by The Jacksons after a few of the band members had spotted her while attending a Los Angeles Lakers game. She had been asked to do the choreography for the film "Torture" by the singer. Abdul recalled being compelled to tell the Jacksons how to dance, saying she was "not positive how [she] got through it." The success of the choreography in the video led to Abdul's career as a choreographer of music videos, particularly Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done for Me Lately" and "Control" videos. It was also due to the popularity of the video that Abdul was chosen to be the choreographer for the Jacksons' Victory Tour. For the big keyboard scene involving Tom Hanks' character in Big (1988), Abdul also choreographed sequences.

Abdul used her savings to produce a singing demonstration in 1987. She was signed by Jeff Ayeroff, who had worked in A&M Records with Janet Jackson, shortly thereafter. Abdul was an untrained dancer and choreographer, and she worked with many coaches and record designers to improve her vocal skills. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Ayeroff recalled signing Abdul to a recording deal years later, boasting: "She said, 'I can sing,'" she said. I want to do an album.' Paula is a consultant with us. Here's a woman with a personality and a stunning figure, as well as a dancer. If she can sing, she may be a Hollywood celebrity. She stepped into the studio and cut a demo record, and she could sing."

"Straight Up" -- Abdul's debut studio album (1988) would be the most successful debut album of a debut album in the United States, with four of them: "Straight Up," "Forever Your Girl," "Cold Hearted," and "Opposites Attract" is among the Billboard Hot 100 chart's top ten songs in the United States, with four of them going top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, with four of them The RIAA has now rated the album as 7 in platinum. Shut Up and Dance: Mixes, a remix album, was also released and debuted in the United States, becoming one of the most popular remix albums to date. Abdul received her first Grammy Award for Best Music Video for her album "Opposites Attract." She was also selected for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance on "Straight Up," but she fell short of Bonnie Raitt's "Nick of Time." In 1991, singer Yvette Marine filed a lawsuit against Abdul and the Virgin label, alleging that it was her vocals that were used on several tracks from Forever Your Girl, most notably "Opposites Attract." A jury sided with Abdul and the brand two years ago in 1993, rejecting Marine's claim to credit and copyright compensation.

Abdul's second studio album Spellbound (1991), which included two additional number-one singles "Rush Rush" and "The Promise of a New Day," followed. For the third week in a row, a single single "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" reached number six. Spellbound issued 7 million copies around the world, retaining Forever Your Girl's dance-pop sound and adding R&B elements. "Rush Rush"'s music video featured a Rebel Without a Cause theme, starring Keanu Reeves in the James Dean role. "Vibeology" and "Will You Marry Me?" are two of the album's other singles, as well as "Will You Marry Me?" "I had moderate success on the Billboard Hot 100, with the top 20." In 1991, Abdul appeared in a famous Diet Coke commercial in which she danced with a digital picture of her idol, a young Gene Kelly. In December 1991, Abdul was honoured as a guest on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Abdul introduced Spellbound, which was voted by an MTV fan contest. The tour was almost cancelled due to an accident during rehearsals, but it resumed in October 1991 and ended in August 1992.

Abdul's career came to a short halt after she began seeking medical attention for personal and physical problems. Head over Heels (1995), her third studio album, retained both pop and R&B elements and saw modest commercial success, peaking at number 18 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and later becoming her lowest-selling version. "My Love Is for Real," Head Over Heels' lead single, featured a mash-up of R&B and traditional Middle Eastern instruments, and it was performed by Yemeni-Israeli singer Ofra Haza. As a prelude to the film Clueless, it was accompanied by Lawrence of Arabia-inspired music video in theaters around the world. The single debuted well on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts, where it debuted at number one and peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it debuted at number one. The album's second and third singles, "Crazy Cool" and "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up," were released. Head over Heels has sold over 500,000 copies in the United States to date. Abdul's Get Up and Dance, a 1995 dance workout DVD, was released in Pakistan. A fast-paced, hip-hop style workout that was originally released on DVD in 2003. Abdul co-wrote "Spinning Around," a song that was supposed to be her comeback single from a new album, but the project was later sent to Kylie Minogue. Abdul appeared in the ABC television film Touched By Evil this year, portraying a businesswoman who finds that her boyfriend is a serial rapist. She released Cardio Dance, her second workout film, in 1998, (re-released on DVD in 2000). Abdul was the choreographer for several film and theater productions, including the 1998 musical Reefer Madness and the cheerleading scenes in American Beauty (1999).

Virgin Records, with whom Abdul was no longer associated, released the first of two compilation albums by Abdul, Paula Abdul: Greatest Hits in 2000. Abdul co-produced the 2001 pilot for Skirts, an MTV television series about a high school cheerleading squad; Abdul was also scheduled to serve as the head coach. The pilot never appeared on television. She first appeared as one of three judges on Fox's American Idol in 2002, where she was recognized as a compassionate and compassionate judge and mentor. She was particularly generous toward fellow judge Simon Cowell, who was often dismissive of the contestants' results. Abdul was disgusted and considered leaving the series as she discovered that Cowell's over-the-top judging style had been heartbreaking for several young contestants. Although their differences often resulted in tense on-air exchanges and clashes, Cowell claims he was instrumental in persuading Abdul not to leave the series. Abdul accepted a second assignment as a reporter for Entertainment Tonight while serving as a judge on American Idol. Abdul developed Cardio Cheer, a cheerleading/fitness/dance DVD series that is targeted to children and teen girls involved in cheerleading and dancing in December 2005. In a series of Burger King television commercials that aired during the 2005–06 NFL season, Abdul also choreographed The King's touchdown celebration. Abdul appeared on the third series of The X Factor UK as a guest judge during the auditions, alongside judges Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh.

The Virgin brand, which also produced most of Abdul's songs under their banner and iTunes, released a second compilation album titled Straight Up! That year, Bravo began airing a reality television series centered on Abdul, Hey Paula, which followed her from day to day life. Comedian Rosie O'Donnell's behavior was described as "erratic" by viewers and analysts, and Hey Paula was canceled after a single season.

Paula Abdul Jewelry made its national market debut on QVC in 2007, with the tagline "fashion jewelry made with heart and soul." Abdul's first QVC appearance resulted in 15 sellouts of her first jewelry collection, which featured more than 34,000 pieces. With the single "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow," the first track on the album Randy Jackson's Music Club Vol. 2, Abdul returned to music charts for the first time in nearly three years. 1. Ryan Seacrest performed the song on Air, and Abdul performed it during Super Bowl XLII's pre-game show. Abdul's "Dance Like There Is No Tomorrow" was a modest comeback hit, peaking at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, with a modest decline. Abdul began work on a new album due to his moderate success, but it never came true. Abdul appeared on a few episodes of the British television series Hotel Babylon, which aired in the United Kingdom in February 2008.

"RAH!"

"Unfortunately, it does not appear that she's going to be back on Idol" in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in July 2009. This came as a result of stalled talks between Abdul and the group. Abdul revealed in August that she would not return to Idol for its ninth season after lengthy labor talks. According to the Times, Abdul had been earning as much as $5 million a year and that she was reportedly seeking as much as $20 million to return. Ellen DeGeneres replaced Abdul Abdul. Abdul said that her departure from Idol was not about money, but that she had to stand on principle.

At the 11th Anniversary show of The Carnival: Choreographer's Ball, Abdul gave choreographer Julie McDonald a Lifetime Achievement Award in January 2010. In November, Abdul founded AuditionBooth.com, a website that helps young actors connect with casting directors, producers, and managers.

Abdul began appearing on the short-lived CBS reality competition series Live to Dance, where she was also an executive producer. Live to Dance, according to Abdul, is less about "comprehension" than "celebration" than "independence." CBS has cancelled it after its first season of seven episodes. Abdul will appear on the first season of The X Factor's American version in May 2011. Abdul revealed in January 2012 that she would not return as a judge for the series's second season. Demi Lovato took over Abdul's place. During week four of Dancing with the Stars, Abdul appeared as a guest judge on week four. Abdul appeared on the Top 5 results show of season 12 of American Idol in April 2013.

Abdul was a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance (season ten) on July 9, 2013. Abdul was appointed as a judge on Australia's newly redesigned So You Think You Can Dance Australia, which aired on Network Ten from February 9 to May 1, 2014. For all episodes of this season, Abdul appeared as a permanent member of the judge's panel. She became a permanent judge of the American version in its twelfth season. Abdul revealed in January 2017 that she would not be returning as a judge for the fourteenth time due to her tour schedule.

Abdul was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race in April 2014, reunites her with former Idol contestant Adore Delano. Abdul made a cameo appearance on Australian soap opera Neighbours in June 2014 and shared scenes with established actor Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher). Abdul appeared on the comedy sitcom Real Husbands of Hollywood on season 4 of the Comedy Come On The Insider's Top-Up in 2015. She was seen in a comedic scene with Arsenio Hall, where she was attempting to compel Hall out of her pool house. Abdul, along with Charles "Chucky" Klapow, Renee Richie, and Nakul Dev Mahajan received the World Choreography Award for Outstanding Choreography Digital Format for the film 'Check Yourself" on November 16, 2015. Abdul and Donnie Wahlberg formally presented Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock at the 43rd American Music Awards on November 22, 2015; Abdul received the award at the 1990 AMAs, which was presented to her by Wahlberg.

Abdul performed a complete headline set at the Mixtape Festival in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on August 6, 2016. New Kids on the Block announced in November 2016 that Abdul will be touring with them and Boyz II Men on their Total Package Tour in 2017; her first tour in 25 years. The tour began in Columbus, Ohio, on May 12 and concluded on July 16, 2017, in Hollywood, Florida, for a total of 47 shows. Abdul said in an interview with Elle magazine, "I took a long break and had suffered some injuries in the past." With American Idol, I returned to television, but it took up a good decade of my life. As well, I went out to watch more television. I always wanted to get back on stage because I had missed it. I wanted to get back to close friends with those who have helped me throughout my career and be able to see them again. In addition, I was getting asked all the time if I'd ever do it again. You know what, I want to, and I'm going to make it a priority, and I'm finally going to make it a priority. I'm really passionate about it and it's fun, and I want to interact with my followers around the country." Abdul revealed in July 2018 that she will embark on a solo headlining tour around North America named Straight Up Paula! in honor of her 30th birthday of her debut studio album Forever Your Girl. The tour started in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on October 18 and concluded in Los Angeles, California, on June 7, 2019, totaling 25 shows.

At the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, Abdul performed a medley of her greatest hits, ultimately closing out the show. Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl, Abdul's first Las Vegas residency, was announced on May 1, 2019. The residency's first leg began in August 13, the first of 20 dates, and will continue in January 2020. Abdul opened LA Pride on June 7, 2019.

Abdul appeared at the fourteenth series finale of America's Got Talent with Light Balance Kids, Brian King Joseph, and Tyler Butler-Figueroa to surprise Cowell. In October 2020, it was announced that Abdul would participate in Fox's reality competition, The Masked Dancer, as a panelist. ABC announced in April 2021 that Abdul will return to American Idol as a guest judge, but Luke Bryan was out sick after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

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