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Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul is a pop singer, dancer and choreographer whose songs, music videos and years on American Idol connect generations of fans.

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Paula’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.

Known for

Overview

Born: June 19, 1962, in San Fernando, California
Creative roots: Los Angeles Laker Girls dancer and choreographer
Breakout: Forever Your Girl (1988), followed by the chart success of Straight Up
On television: Original American Idol judge, 2002–2009

Mini bio

How it started.

Paula grew up in North Hollywood and remembers watching Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain at four. She joined the Laker Girls and soon took on their choreography. The Jacksons saw her work at Lakers games, helping open the door to choreography for their family, including Janet Jackson.

Finding her own voice.

Her debut album Forever Your Girl arrived in 1988. Straight Up helped turn it into a breakthrough, and the album produced four US number-one singles: Straight Up, Forever Your Girl, Cold Hearted and Opposites Attract. She followed it with Spellbound in 1991 and Head Over Heels in 1995.

A familiar face for new fans.

As an original American Idol judge from 2002 to 2009, Paula brought her experience as a performer and choreographer to aspiring singers. She continues to appear on television, celebrate dance and support charitable causes, with recent appearances on Canada’s Drag Race and a return to Idol’s judges’ table.

Creditschronological, newest first

Television

2026American Idol: Class of 2006 reunionGuest judge
2025Canada’s Drag Race, season 6Guest judge
2025The Golden Bachelor, season 2 premiereGuest cheerleading judge
2002–2009American IdolOriginal judge, seasons 1–8

Music

1991Rush, RushRecording artist
1989Opposites AttractRecording artist and dancer
1988Forever Your GirlRecording artist

Awards

Quotes

My whole goal was to get rid of the pom-poms and make us a dance team.Paula Abdul, Los Angeles magazine

In a 2011 interview, Paula recalled taking responsibility for the Laker Girls’ choreography.

Trivia

She traces her early fascination with performance to seeing Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain at age four.
She described Opposites Attract as a video homage to Gene Kelly and later rehearsed with him for a Diet Coke commercial.