From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Paula 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 the age of 18 and later became the head choreographer for the Laker Girls where she was discovered by The Jacksons After choreographing music videos for Janet Jackson Abdul became a choreographer at the height of the music video era and soon thereafter she was signed to Virgin Records Her debut studio album Forever Your Girl 1988 became one of the most successful debut albums at that time selling 7 million copies in the United States and setting a record for the most numberone singles from a debut album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart Straight Up Forever Your Girl Cold Hearted and Opposites Attract Her six number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 tie her with Diana Ross for seventh among the female solo performers who have topped the chart Abdul was one of the original judges on the television series American Idol from 2002 to 2009 and has since appeared as a judge on The X Factor Live to Dance and So You Think You Can Dance She has received five MTV Video Music Award nominations winning twice as well as receiving the Grammy Award for Best Music Video for Opposites Attract in 1991 She received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography twice for her work on The Tracey Ullman Show and her own performance at the American Music Awards in 1990 Abdul is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame