Sunday night’s edition of American Idol revealed the official top seven finalists. However, before getting closer to naming a victor, the singing competition show celebrates the past. Following Disney Night, American Idol will reunite with previous winners, runners-up, and fan-favorite judges, including Paula Abdul.
Paula Abdul is regarded as a cheerful and engaging judge on American Idol, so it’s not surprising that fans are curious about what happened to her after she left the series. Before being a regular in the early seasons of American Idol, Abdul was a well-known singer, dancer, and choreographer.
Abdul began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers. She later met The Jackson 5 and began choreographing music videos for Janet Jackson. In 1991, Abdul received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. By the early 1990s, Abdul was considered a successful pop star.
American Idol started in 2002 with judges Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson ten years later. With the assistance of home viewers who vote for their favorite performers, AI has propelled several victors to fame. Kelly Clarkson (season 1), Carrie Underwood (season 4), Jordin Sparks (season 6), Phillip Phillips (season 11), and Candice Glover are a few examples (season 12).
MONDAY 8/7c: Tune in on ABC as we welcome back @PaulaAbdul, @YO_RANDYJACKSON & tons of iconic former Idols to celebrate 20 years of #AmericanIdol! 💙 pic.twitter.com/d1up5C5S2W
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) April 30, 2022
As judges, Paula and Randy were more laid-back than AI’s Simon, who was known for his severe manner and harsh criticism. In particular, Abdul consistently amused audiences with her eccentric demeanor and sage advice. Abdul quit the show after the eighth season, unable to negotiate a new contract after years of success with the series.
Abdul continued to appear on various reality programs after leaving the American Idol judging panel in 2009. In 2011, Abdul served as the head judge and executive producer of the CBS dancing competition Live To Dance, whose first season was canceled.
Then, Abdul served as a judge on season 1 of The X Factor in the United States, with Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, and Nicole Scherzinger, until she was replaced by Demi Lovato for season 2. After serving as a judge on the American and Australian versions of So You Think You Can Dance, Abdul appeared as a guest judge on season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2014. The first season of The Masked Dancer aired from December 2020 to February 2021, with Abdul joining Ashley Tisdale, Ken Jeong, Brian Austin Green, and host Craig Robinson as a judge.
Since leaving American Idol, in addition to finding her identity as a judge, Abdul has embarked on other musical tours. In 2017, Abdul embarked on her first tour in over two decades, joining New Kids On The Block and Boyz II Men on the two-month Total Package Tour. After headlining her Straight Up Paula! Solo tour in 2018, Paula Abdul announced her first Las Vegas residency, titled Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl, for 2019. According to the 59-year-official old’s website, he has also been on Lip Sync Battle and The Late Late Show With James Corden.
Luke Bryan contracted COVID-19 during season 19 of American Idol, prompting Paula Abdul’s brief return as a guest judge, and Abdul and Jackson are scheduled to reunite for a special reunion episode. Longtime fans have missed Abdul’s motherly demeanor, but American Idol season 20 has been one of the most dramatic. Due to the elimination of fan-favorite Kenedi Anderson and the disappointing elimination of Tristen Gressett, only ten vocalists remain, and the crown is up for grabs.