History of Paula Abdul in Timeline
Paula Abdul is a multifaceted American entertainer known for her success as a singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. She gained initial recognition as a Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader and choreographer before transitioning to choreographing music videos, notably for Janet Jackson. This led to a recording contract with Virgin Records. Her debut album, Forever Your Girl (1988), was a commercial triumph, selling seven million copies and yielding a record four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. Her success continued with the album Spellbound (1991), which produced two more chart-topping hits. With six number-one singles, Abdul is among the female solo artists with the most chart-toppers on the Hot 100.
June 19, 1962: Paula Abdul's Birth
On June 19, 1962, Paula Julie Abdul was born. She is an American singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality.
1978: Appearance in Junior High School
In 1978, Paula Abdul appeared in a low-budget independent musical film, Junior High School.
1980: High School Graduation
In 1980, Paula Abdul graduated from Van Nuys High School.
1986: Departure from the Laker Girls
In 1986, Paula Abdul ended her time with the Laker Girls, where she had served as head choreographer.
1987: Choreography Credits
In 1987, Paula Abdul received choreography credits in films such as "Can't Buy Me Love" and "The Running Man."
1987: Signing with Virgin Records
In 1987, Paula Abdul was signed to Virgin Records America, marking the start of her singing career.
1988: Choreography for Big
In 1988, Paula Abdul choreographed sequences for the giant keyboard scene involving Tom Hanks's character in Big.
1988: Debut Album Release: Forever Your Girl
In 1988, Paula Abdul released her debut album "Forever Your Girl", which became a huge success. It sold seven million copies in the United States and set a record for the most number-one singles from a debut album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1988: Release of Forever Your Girl
In 1988, Paula Abdul's debut studio album, "Forever Your Girl," was released and became a major success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
1990: Emmy Award for Choreography
In 1990, Paula Abdul received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for her work on The Tracey Ullman Show, and her own performance at the American Music Awards.
1990: Won AMA Award
In 1990, Paula Abdul won an American Music Award, which was presented to her by Donnie Wahlberg.
October 1991: Under My Spell Tour Begins
In October 1991, Paula Abdul's Under My Spell Tour began, promoting her second album, Spellbound.
December 1991: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In December 1991, Paula Abdul was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1991: Choreography Credits
In 1991, Paula Abdul received choreography credits in the film "The Doors."
1991: Release of Spellbound
In 1991, Paula Abdul released her second album "Spellbound," which produced two more chart-topping hits.
1991: Lawsuit Filed Against Paula Abdul
In 1991, singer Yvette Marine filed a lawsuit against Paula Abdul and the Virgin label, alleging that it was her vocals that were used on several tracks from Forever Your Girl.
August 1992: Under My Spell Tour Concludes
In August 1992, Paula Abdul's Under My Spell Tour concluded.
1992: Injured in Plane Crash
In 1992, Paula Abdul has said that she was injured in a plane crash during her Under My Spell Tour.
1992: Married Emilio Estevez
In 1992, Paula Abdul married actor Emilio Estevez.
1993: Verdict in Lawsuit
In 1993, a jury sided with Paula Abdul and the Virgin label, rejecting Yvette Marine's claim to credit and copyright compensation in the lawsuit regarding vocals on "Forever Your Girl."
1994: Filed for Divorce from Emilio Estevez
In 1994, Paula Abdul filed for divorce from Emilio Estevez.
1994: Sought Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa
In 1994, Paula Abdul sought treatment for bulimia nervosa, which she revealed had developed during her teens.
1995: Release of Head over Heels and Workout Video
In 1995, Paula Abdul released her third studio album, Head over Heels, and a dance workout video entitled Paula Abdul's Get Up and Dance!.
1995: Reason for Divorce Revealed
In 1995, Paula Abdul stated that the reason for her divorce from Emilio Estevez was her desire to have children, while he did not.
1996: Married Brad Beckerman
In 1996, Paula Abdul married clothing designer Brad Beckerman.
1996: Choreography Credits
In 1996, Paula Abdul received choreography credits in the film "Jerry Maguire."
1997: Co-writing Spinning Around and Touched by Evil Appearance
In 1997, Paula Abdul co-wrote the song "Spinning Around" and appeared in the ABC television film Touched By Evil.
1998: Filed for Divorce from Brad Beckerman
In 1998, Paula Abdul filed for divorce from Brad Beckerman, citing irreconcilable differences.
1998: Release of Cardio Dance and Choreography Work
In 1998, Paula Abdul released a second workout video called Cardio Dance and served as the choreographer for the musical Reefer Madness.
1999: Choreography for American Beauty
In 1999, Paula Abdul choreographed the cheerleading scenes in the film "American Beauty."
1999: Choreography Credits
In 1999, Paula Abdul received choreography credits in the film "American Beauty."
2000: DVD Re-release of Cardio Dance
In 2000, Paula Abdul released the DVD version of her second workout video called "Cardio Dance".
2000: Release of Greatest Hits Compilation
In 2000, Virgin Records released Paula Abdul: Greatest Hits, a compilation album.
2001: Co-Production of Skirts Pilot
In 2001, Paula Abdul co-produced the pilot for Skirts, an MTV television series about a high school cheerleading squad, though the pilot never aired.
2002: American Idol Judge
In 2002, Paula Abdul became one of the original judges on the television series American Idol.
2003: Practitioner of Transcendental Meditation
In 2003, Paula Abdul was reported as a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation.
2003: Re-release of Get Up and Dance! on DVD
In 2003, Paula Abdul's dance workout video, Get Up and Dance!, was re-released on DVD.
November 2004: Diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
In November 2004, Paula Abdul was diagnosed with a neurological disorder, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), following a cheerleading accident at age 17.
December 2004: Hit-and-Run Incident
In December 2004, Paula Abdul was involved in a hit-and-run incident on a Los Angeles-area freeway.
March 2005: Fined for Hit-and-Run
In March 2005, Paula Abdul was fined and given probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor hit-and-run driving.
April 2005: Addressed Substance Abuse Allegations
In April 2005, Paula Abdul addressed substance abuse allegations by telling People about her RSD diagnosis and treatment.
May 2005: Corey Clark's Allegations
In May 2005, Corey Clark claimed he and Paula Abdul had an affair during season 2 of American Idol and that she had coached him on how to succeed in the competition.
August 2005: Returned to 'American Idol'
In August 2005, Fox network confirmed that Paula Abdul would be returning to 'American Idol', as the investigation found 'insufficient evidence' of Clark's allegations.
December 2005: Launch of Cardio Cheer DVD Series
In December 2005, Paula Abdul launched a cheerleading/fitness/dance DVD series called Cardio Cheer.
2005: Discussed RSD Diagnosis
In 2005, Paula Abdul discussed her reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) diagnosis in response to allegations of drug use.
2005: Paula Goodspeed Auditions for American Idol
In 2005, Paula Goodspeed auditioned for Paula Abdul on season 5 of American Idol in Austin, Texas, but was dismissed from the show.
April 2006: Filed Battery Report
In April 2006, Paula Abdul filed a report at a Hollywood police station stating she had been a victim of battery at a private party, sustaining a concussion and spinal injuries.
November 2006: Invited to Israel by Tourism Minister
In November 2006, Israeli Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog invited Paula Abdul to Israel, and she accepted.
2006: Guest Judge on The X Factor UK
In 2006, Paula Abdul appeared on the third series of The X Factor UK as a guest judge during the auditions.
January 2007: Videos Circulated Online Causing Concern
In January 2007, videos circulated online of Paula Abdul appearing to sway and slur her speech during interviews, leading to renewed substance abuse allegations.
February 2007: Denied Allegations of Drug Use
In February 2007, Paula Abdul told Us Weekly that she had never been drunk or used illegal drugs, calling the allegations "lies".
2007: Paula Abdul Jewelry Launch
In 2007, Paula Abdul Jewelry launched its nationwide consumer debut on QVC.
2007: Release of Greatest Hits: Straight Up! and Hey Paula Premiere
In 2007, Paula Abdul released "Greatest Hits: Straight Up!" and premiered her reality television series, Hey Paula, on Bravo.
February 2008: Guest appearance on Hotel Babylon
In February 2008, Paula Abdul made a guest appearance on an episode of the British television series Hotel Babylon.
November 11, 2008: Death of Paula Goodspeed
On November 11, 2008, Paula Goodspeed, an obsessive fan of Abdul, was found dead in her car outside Abdul's Los Angeles home due to a drug overdose. The death was ruled a suicide.
January 2009: Hosting "RAH!" Cheerleading Competition
In January 2009, Paula Abdul hosted "RAH!," a cheerleading competition on MTV.
May 2009: Ladies' Home Journal Article
In May 2009, Ladies' Home Journal posted an article stating Paula Abdul recovered from physical dependence on prescription pain medications, which she later rejected as inaccurate.
May 2009: Debut of 'I'm Just Here for the Music'
In May 2009, Paula Abdul debuted her latest original song to date, "I'm Just Here for the Music," on the Ryan Seacrest Radio KIIS-FM show and performed the single on the American Idol.
May 2009: Raised Awareness for National Guide Dog Month
In May 2009, Paula Abdul raised awareness about National Guide Dog Month.
July 2009: Reports of Abdul's Departure from Idol
In July 2009, reports surfaced that Paula Abdul would not be returning to American Idol due to stalled contract negotiations.
2009: Departure from American Idol
In 2009, Paula Abdul ended her run as a judge on American Idol.
January 2010: Presented Lifetime Achievement Award
In January 2010, Paula Abdul presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to choreographer Julie McDonald at the 11th Anniversary show of The Carnival: Choreographer's Ball.
January 2011: Appeared on 'Live to Dance'
In January 2011, Paula Abdul began appearing on the CBS reality competition series 'Live to Dance', where she was also an executive producer.
May 2011: Joined 'The X Factor'
In May 2011, it was announced that Paula Abdul would rejoin Simon Cowell on the first season of the American edition of 'The X Factor'.
January 2012: Left 'The X Factor'
In January 2012, Paula Abdul announced that she would not return as a judge for the series' second season of 'The X Factor'.
October 2012: Guest Judge on 'Dancing with the Stars'
In October 2012, Paula Abdul served as a guest judge during week four of the All-Stars version of 'Dancing with the Stars'.
April 2013: Appeared on 'American Idol'
In April 2013, Paula Abdul appeared on the Top 5 results show of season 12 of 'American Idol' to compliment contestant Candice Glover.
July 9, 2013: Guest Judge on 'So You Think You Can Dance'
On July 9, 2013, Paula Abdul was a guest judge on season ten of 'So You Think You Can Dance'.
October 2013: Judge on 'So You Think You Can Dance Australia'
In October 2013, Paula Abdul was named as a judge on the revamped 'So You Think You Can Dance Australia'.
2013: Had Bat Mitzvah in Israel
In 2013, at the age of 51, Paula Abdul had her bat mitzvah in Safed, Israel.
April 2014: Guest Judge on RuPaul's Drag Race
In April 2014, Paula Abdul was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, episode 'Queens of Talk'.
May 1, 2014: Appeared on 'So You Think You Can Dance Australia'
On May 1, 2014, Paula Abdul appeared as a permanent judge on 'So You Think You Can Dance Australia'.
June 2014: Cameo on 'Neighbours'
In June 2014, Paula Abdul made a cameo appearance on the Australian soap opera 'Neighbours'.
November 16, 2015: Won World Choreography Award
On November 16, 2015, Paula Abdul won the World Choreography Award for Outstanding Choreography Digital Format for the video 'Check Yourself'.
November 22, 2015: Presented Award at AMAs
On November 22, 2015, Paula Abdul and Donnie Wahlberg presented Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock at the 43rd American Music Awards.
August 6, 2016: Headline Performance at Mixtape Festival
On August 6, 2016, Paula Abdul performed a full headline set for the first time in 26 years at the Mixtape Festival in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
November 2016: Announced Tour with New Kids on the Block
In November 2016, New Kids on the Block announced that Paula Abdul would be touring with them and Boyz II Men on their Total Package Tour in 2017.
January 2017: Left 'So You Think You Can Dance'
In January 2017, Paula Abdul announced that she would not be returning as a judge for the fourteenth season of 'So You Think You Can Dance' due to her tour schedule.
July 16, 2017: Concluded Total Package Tour
On July 16, 2017, Paula Abdul concluded the Total Package Tour with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men in Hollywood, Florida, after 47 shows.
July 2018: Announced 'Straight Up Paula!' Tour
In July 2018, Paula Abdul announced that she would embark on a solo headlining tour across North America that fall, entitled 'Straight Up Paula!'.
May 1, 2019: Announced Las Vegas Residency
On May 1, 2019, Paula Abdul announced her first Las Vegas residency, 'Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl'.
June 7, 2019: Concluded 'Straight Up Paula!' Tour
On June 7, 2019, Paula Abdul concluded her 'Straight Up Paula!' tour in Los Angeles, California, after 25 shows.
January 2020: End of Las Vegas Residency
In January 2020, the first leg of Paula Abdul's Las Vegas residency, 'Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl', concluded after 20 dates.
October 2020: Panelist for 'The Masked Dancer'
In October 2020, it was announced that Paula Abdul would serve as a panelist for Fox's reality competition, 'The Masked Dancer'.
2020: Responded to Doubts About Plane Crash
In 2020, Paula Abdul responded to gossip sites questioning the veracity of her claim of being injured in a plane crash in 1992.
April 2021: Guest-Judge on 'American Idol'
In April 2021, Paula Abdul returned to 'American Idol' as a guest judge while Luke Bryan was out sick.
December 29, 2023: Paula Abdul Files Lawsuit Against Nigel Lythgoe
On December 29, 2023, Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit accusing producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault during their time working together on American Idol. Lythgoe denied the allegations.
2023: Joined 'How to Dance in Ohio' Producing Team
In 2023, Paula Abdul joined the producing team of the Broadway musical 'How to Dance in Ohio' and appeared on 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'.
September 2024: Cancelled Straight Up! to Canada Tour
Paula Abdul's Straight Up! to Canada Tour that was scheduled to commence in September 2024 has since been cancelled.
December 2024: Settlement Reached in Sexual Assault Lawsuit
In December 2024, it was reported that the sexual assault lawsuit filed by Paula Abdul against Nigel Lythgoe had been settled. Abdul expressed gratitude and optimism that her experience could inspire other women.
2025: Ranking Among Female Artists
As of 2025, Paula Abdul, along with Diana Ross and Lady Gaga, ranks seventh for the most number-one singles by female artists in the U.S.
