Paula Abdul, a choreographer and singer, started life as a poor child from a broken home. Her dreams of song and dance began at the tender age of four when she saw Gene Kelly on television performing "Singing in the Rain". Unknown to her mother, Paula began taking ballet lessons free of charge at the age of seven by cleaning the mirrors and floors of the dance studio.



Paula Abdul began choreographing musicals when she was five years old, before ever taking any classes. From her condominium, she would conduct neighborhood friends and invite adults to watch her shows. Paula would practice dancing while her mother cooked by holding onto the kitchen sink.

Paula Abdul's mother was always upfront about the hardships of life as a performer. She frequently saw dreams shattered in would-be stars while working as a personal assistant to Billy Wilder. Paula knew she'd have to find success on her own without the help of her mother.

Paula Abdul was accepted to Juilliard on a dance scholarship while she was still in high school. After traveling to New York for the first time, she decided she didn't want to live that sort of life. She knew she wanted to dance, but to get a dancing career, she would have to have an agent. While teaching at cheerleading camps, she decided to try out for a spot as a Laker Girl for the Los Angeles Lakers. She knew competition would be tough, because she didn't have the body of a typical cheerleader.

Nearly 1000 showed up for Laker Girl auditions. Against all odds, not only was Paula Abdul was chosen for one of only 12 spots, but in her rookie season, she was asked to take over and form a dance squad. In no time, season ticket holders saw the changes and began calling Paula for corporate events.

Paula Abdul went on to choreograph for movies and music. She started out with a movie called "Can't Buy Me Love," and when she was only 17 years old, she began working with the Jackson Five. Paula received choreography awards choreographing the musical groups ZZ Top and Duran Duran. In turn, she worked with almost all of the big-name artists of the time choreographing their tours, videos, and live performances.

Paula Abdul even got to work with her Gene Kelly, her idol since childhood, during the last two years of his life. During the same year, she was chosen to choreograph the Academy Awards, and she received an Emmy nomination. In secret, so not to give up choreography job leads, Paula began making recordings starting with a song called "Straight Up." Her voice became one of the hottest in her time.

In 1995, Paula Abdul disappeared. She paid off the media not to tell the world about a plane crash she was in. She knew she was in bad shape and would need time to focus on her health without the public knowing. Today, Paula can be seen on "American Idol," a reality television show with Simon Cowell. In the show, thousands of singers audition for just one winning spot as a new American icon, or "American Idol." Paula, the "judge with a heart" gives constructive criticism in a positive way unlike Simon, who is at times extremely harsh. Paula's foreword can be read in the book "Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul."