Paula Abdul

Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American dancer, singer-songwriter, choregrapher, and television personality.

In the 1980s Abdul went from Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader to a sought-after choregrapher at the height of the music video era, working with various artists from the Jacksons to Janet Jackson to Heart among others. Abdul then launched a singing career of her own, scoring such hits as "Straight Up" & "Rush, Rush". Abdul has won two Primetime Emmy Awards as well as a Grammy.

After suffering several professional and personal setbacks, Abdul regained attention as a judge on the hit singing show American Idol. As a judge Abdul became known for her sweet, almost motherly type of personality. Contestants judged by her often described her as caring and as someone who wanted them to succeed. She left American Idol after 8 seasons. She then became a judge on her own dance competition show called Live to Dance, which later ended up cancelled by CBS.

Abdul has rejoined fellow former Idol judge Simon Cowell on the American version of his hit UK talent show The X-Factor, which has been renewed for a second season. Abdul, however, announced on January 30, 2012 that she will not be returning to the show. Host Steve Jones and fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger will also not be returning for the show's second season.

For season 1 of The X-Factor, Abdul mentored the Groups catagory, which consisted of Lakoda Rayne, The Stereo Hogzz, and inTENsity.