Paula Abdul

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Contact: Paul Freundlich PaulF@PFAMedia.net

PAULA ABDUL

Never before has there been an artist who has been equally recognized, awarded and celebrated both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, as has Paula Abdul.  As a ground-breaking choreographer, dancer, cheerleader, song writer, performer, designer, actor, business women and well-known host on the most popular television show in the world, Paula has continued to find new ways to entertain her loyal fans for over 20 years.

In 2009 she made ratings soar when she appeared on Lifetime’s new series Drop Dead Diva and because of the overwhelming response producers brought her back for the highly anticipated season finale. She’s hosted Vh1 Diva’s Live and brought her incredible comedic wit and hosting abilities to the New York theater and to television sets around the world.

But in 2010 the bar was raised even higher.  The year was filled with new landmark achievements for Paula.  In May, after speculation, which led to a media feeding frenzy usually reserved for political declarations, Paula announced her return to network television.  Only this time she wasn’t to just be the on-air mentor and coach for CBS’ 2011 reality-competition series “Live To Dance”.  She would be the show’s executive producer and creative partner, a role reserved only for television’s elite.

Immediately following the breaking news of Paula’s new program, she surprised all of America with her return to the American Idol stage as she bid farewell to Simon Cowell.  The appearance would serve to further emphasize Paula’s love affair with her fans as it produced one of the only standing ovations of the evening.  Several weeks later Paula received the Always Next, Forever Now Icon Award, reserved only for the most beloved of pop icons, before jetting to New York City to present the Tony Award for Best Choreography.  With the presentation of that award, Paula had not only come full circle, back to her first love of choreography, but she had marked a seminal moment in her career.  2011 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in Paula’s career, one on which her fans will no doubt go, but one that doesn’t come by way of chance. For it’s her passion and her love for what she does that drives her and there’s nothing that anyone can or would want to do to slow her down.

Paula grew up in the San Fernando Valley, California. She began taking dance lessons when she was eight. She attended Van Nuys High School, where she was senior class president and head cheerleader. After graduating in 1980, Paula started college at Cal State-Northridge, majoring in TV and radio. At the same time, she joined the Los Angeles Lakers cheerleaders, where she so impressed the team ownership that she became head cheerleader/choreographer after only a few months.  Very quickly, she became widely known as “re-inventing” cheerleading by combining classic cheering with contemporary music and dance in a way that had not been seen before.

While in her role with the Lakers, Paula began to be recruited by the top music artists, directors and producers in the world to choreograph their music videos and tours and films.  For example, she was recruited by The Jacksons to choreograph their 1984 “Torture” video, the first in a long list of videos and movies she would choreograph.  Her most celebrated works in choreography include her Emmy-winning contributions to The Tracey Ullman Show, and Paula’s own performance as an artist opening the American Music Awards: as well as an Emmy nomination for choreographing the Academy Awards.  Other highlights include her award winning work with Janet Jackson, which garnered two MTV Video Awards; and working with such musicians as Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Luther Vandross, INXS, Heart and Prince.  In fact, her favorite memory is choreographing and dancing along side her idol Gene Kelly for a Diet Coke commercial. The television spot was inducted into the Coca-Cola Hall of Fame Museum as one of the most award winning commercial campaigns.

Her choreography contributions in film include the Academy Award-winning American Beauty, working with Cuba Gooding, Jr. on his Academy Award-winning performance in Jerry McGuire, and transforming Val Kilmer into Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors.  She also had a blast while working with Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in the show-stopping African Wedding Dance scene in Coming to America. Paula has also choreographed such notable actors as Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Dan Aykroyd, Sally Field, Minnie Driver, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey, Martin Lawrence, James L. Brooks, Sam Mendes, David Fincher, Joel Silver and John Landis.

In recognition of her 20 plus years in dance and choreography, Paula was honored in 2008 with a Lifetime Achievement award from the prestigious Tremaine Dance Company, as the “Tremaine Entertainer of the Year 2008.”

In Front of the Camera and Microphone

In 1989, Paula started on her road to stardom in front of the camera and microphone.  She quickly became a worldwide singing sensation with her first CD, “Forever Your Girl” after the single “Straight Up” exploded onto the charts.  Paula’s record quickly went multi-platinum and had an astonishing 4 number one singles.  Paula’s second album “Spellbound” was released in 1991 to similar worldwide success with two number one singles and followed with her third album in 1995 “Head over Heels.”  Throughout her music career, Paula has won many musical awards such as a Grammy, seven MTV video awards, two Emmy awards and two People’s Choice awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide.

Paula is also known for providing aspiring pop-singers with her extensive musical expertise while receiving acclaim as “the heart and soul” of the number one show on television, American Idol. As one of the former celebrity judges on the record-breaking FOX series, contestants and TV viewers alike gave Paula high praise for her positive and insightful feedback to the hopeful young singers.

2011 will bring the long anticipated debut of Paula’s CBS series “Live To Dance”.  She is the program’s executive producer, creative partner, mentor and coach.  It is to be one of the most inclusive talent searches on television.

Business Woman

A true renaissance woman Paula Abdul’s myriad of business endeavors have made her as equally successful in the business world.  For example, in December 2008, Paula teamed up with the Home Shopping Network to launch a groundbreaking lifestyle line called “Forever Your Girl.” Paula was not only the inspiration behind the collection, but she also played a vital role in the conceptualization, design and creation processes. Her line consists of handbags, jewelry and accessories that launched to record sales.  The launch marks the return of Paula to the fashion world. The Paula Abdul Jewelry Collection for QVC received record-breaking sales and public acclaim upon its debut in 2006.

More recently Paula has become one of the top public speakers in the industry, touring the country where called upon, to bring her own passion, drive and work experiences to the lives of those walking the halls of companies throughout America.  Her speeches have been widely attended and much heralded for their honesty, integrity and poignant candor.

In November 2010, Paula announced her role as co-founder and partner in the interactive video service Auditionbooth.com.  The groundbreaking online talent discovery destination serves to connect a full spectrum of aspiring talent directly with casting directors, agents and managers for high-profile television shows, Web series and advertising campaigns.

Charitable Work

Paula is known as one of the most generous artists in the entertainment industry.  Throughout her career, she has regularly committed time and resources to children’s and animal causes.  In 2008, Paula agreed to become the spokesperson for the American Humane’s Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS)^™ Program.  The PAWS program is the first national initiative to promote on-site housing of pets at women’s shelters.  The ultimate goal of PAWS is to enable more domestic violence victims to leave abusive households without leaving their pets behind and at risk.

Last year 2009, Paula became the spokesperson for the foundations of Natural Balance Pet Food and Petco in their effort to raise millions of dollars to help raise critically needed money for non-profit guide dog schools throughout the country.  Paula has played an integral role in promoting May 2009 as the National Guide Dog month and even surprised “American Idol” fans nationwide by gifting visually-impaired contestant Scott McIntyre with his own Seeing Eye dog.

With the efforts of her appearance on CNN, Larry King Live “Haiti :What Can You Do” she helped in raising over 9 million dollars. In addition to that, Paula has donated “The Official Michael Jackson Opus” to support the US Fund for UNICEF & The American Red Cross on-line which is estimated to raise over $100,000. She recently co-hosted the auction for the 16^th Annual Make A Wish Ball, which raised nearly $1 million, enough to transform 180 heartfelt wishes into amazing experiences.  The Ball is one of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s biggest events, proceeds of which help to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.