Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. She began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at age 18 and became a prominent choreographer in the 1980s during the music video era. Abdul had several pop music hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with six number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, tying her with Diana Ross for seventh among female solo performers. She won a Grammy for Best Music Video – Short Form for "Opposites Attract" and twice received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography.
After initial success, Abdul experienced professional and personal setbacks before gaining renewed fame as an original judge on American Idol in the 2000s, leaving after the eighth season. She starred on CBS's Live to Dance in 2011, judged the first season of the American X Factor, and served as a guest judge on Dancing with the Stars in 2012 and So You Think You Can Dance in 2013. She later became a permanent judge on So You Think You Can Dance and its 2014 Australian revival.
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