Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul is an artist who has been recognized, awarded, and celebrated both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. As a choreographer, dancer, songwriter, performer, designer, actor, and businesswoman, this two-time Emmy Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist has continuously entertained her fans for over two decades.

Abdul's career launched in the San Fernando Valley, California, where she developed a passion for dance and cheerleading. After college, Abdul joined the Los Angeles Lakers cheerleaders and quickly became the head choreographer. Her innovations in cheerleading, which combined classic cheering with contemporary music and dance, earned her a reputation as a ground-breaking choreographer. Top music artists, directors, and producers later recruited Abdul to choreograph music videos, tours, and films.

Abdul achieved worldwide fame with her first CD, "Forever Your Girl," after the single "Straight Up" ascended the charts. The album quickly went multi-platinum, boasting four number-one singles. Paula's second album "Spellbound" was released in 1991 and achieved similar worldwide success with two number-one singles. This success continued with her third album in 1995, "Head over Heels." Throughout her music career, Abdul has won numerous awards, including a Grammy, seven MTV video awards, two Emmy awards, and two People's Choice awards, and has sold over 60 million records worldwide.

In recognition of her 20-plus years in dance and choreography, Abdul was honored in 2008 with a Lifetime Achievement award from the distinguished Tremaine Dance Company, as the "Tremaine Entertainer of the Year 2008" and was presented the Always Next, Forever Now Icon Award, reserved only for the most beloved of pop icons in 2010.

In addition to her career in entertainment, Abdul is an established businesswoman. She teamed up with the Home Shopping Network to launch a groundbreaking lifestyle line called "Forever Your Girl" and launched the Paula Abdul Jewelry Collection for QVC. Abdul also became a co-founder and partner in the interactive video service Auditionbooth.com, an online talent discovery platform that connects aspiring talent directly with casting directors, agents, and managers for high-profile television shows, web series, and advertising campaigns.

Abdul is also very active in her community. She is a spokesperson for national charity organizations such as the American Humane's Pets and Women's Shelters (PAWS) Program, Natural Balance Pet Food and Petco foundations, and the National Eating Disorders Association. Abdul courageously speaks out about her own past battles with eating disorders, hoping to encourage young women to seek help.

Following her departure from "American Idol" in 2010, Abdul served as executive producer and creative partner for the CBS reality competition series "Live To Dance." Abdul has also been a judge on other reality competition series, such as "The X Factor" and "So You Think You Can Dance," and has made appearances on "The Masked Dancer" and "Dancing with the Stars." In 2019, Abdul launched her Las Vegas residency, Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl, and in 2023, she joined the production team of the Broadway musical "How to Dance in Ohio." Despite facing controversies and personal challenges, including a 1992 plane crash that necessitated 15 cervical surgeries and a diagnosis of a neurological disorder causing chronic pain in 2004, Abdul continues to make contributions to the music, film, and television industry.