Paula Abdul

Well before soothing the wounds inflicted on American Idol contestants by Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul kicked off her career at age 19, as a Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader.

The pint-sized dancer eventually became the squad's choreographer before releasing her debut album, Forever Your Girl, which sold 12 million copies and generated four No. 1 singles. But the path to success was anything but smooth, as Abdul suffered from bulimia, two divorces (one with actor Emilio Estevez), and claims that she had a secret relationship with a former Idol contestant.

But none of this topped the headlines she made in 2007, after exhibiting some bizarre behavior that had many speculating she abused alcohol and prescription medication. Abdul adamantly denied the claims, and in 2009 decided to leave American Idol after eight seasons in 2009.


Paula Abdul has a tip for anyone trying out for her new show: Don't bore her.

"We want people that are unique and passionate about dancing and ones that will show me something I haven't seen before," Abdul told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Monday of her new competition show on CBS, Live to Dance.

The former American Idol judge says viewers will be treated to a no-holds-barred approach to dance.

"We're looking for all forms of dance and you can be any age, any style of dance, [and] any number of people or individuals can get on stage," she says. Abdul also recommends that dancers "fuse styles together," suggesting a tap-dancer could perform with a hip-hop group in the same number.

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Despite her excitement for the new project, Abdul confesses to Seacrest that she still pines for the days she worked with him and Simon Cowell on Idol, telling the radio host, "I miss you guys so much."

Live to Dance will premiere on CBS in January.

Got rhythm? The next round of auditions will be Thursday at 8 a.m. at CenterStaging in Burbank, Calif.