Pick a Day

Paula Abdul (her real name) is born in Los Angeles, California.

Paula Abdul's debut album, Forever Your Girl, is released. An accomplished cheerleader and choreographer, she proves successful as a singer as well, as the album produces four #1 hits: "Straight Up," the title track, "Cold Hearted" and "Opposites Attract."

Paula Abdul makes her first appearance on the US Albums chart when Forever Your Girl enters at #184. Sixty-four weeks later, it rises to #1, setting a record for most weeks on the chart before hitting the top spot.

Former Laker girl Paula Abdul scores her first #1 hit in America with "Straight Up."

Paula Abdul notches her second #1 US hit with "Forever Your Girl," the title track to her debut album. The song is written by Oliver Leiber, son of Jerry Leiber of the Leiber & Stoller songwriting team.

Thanks to a saucy Flashdance-inspired video directed by David Fincher, Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted" goes to #1 in America.More

Paula Abdul's first album, Forever Your Girl, hits #1 in America. The album was released on June 13, 1988 and first appeared on the chart July 23 that year. It took 64 more weeks to hit the top spot, a record for the longest climb to the top.

Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract," a duet with MC Skat Cat (Minnesota DJ Derrick "Delite" Stevens), goes to #1 in America, where it stays for three weeks.

Paula Abdul hits #1 in America with the ballad "Rush, Rush," her fifth chart-topper. A young Keanu Reeves is in the video.

Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound, hits #1 in America. The ballad "Rush, Rush" and the rosy "The Promise of a New Day" both go to #1 on the Hot 100.

Paula Abdul lands her sixth (and final) #1 US hit with "The Promise of a New Day."

Paula Abdul marries actor Emilio Estevez in what at the time is an A-list union. The marriage lasts two years.

American Idol premieres on the FOX network. A singing competition judged by three hosts, it becomes one of the most popular network reality shows and launches a number of careers, with many contestants - and not just winners - becoming stars.More

Paula Abdul gets caught in a hit-and-run when she clips another car with her Mercedes and drives off. In March 2005, she is charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

After 15 years of memorable performances, cringeworthy auditions, and shocking eliminations, the American Idol stage finally goes dark, but not before one more winner is crowned: Trent Harmon.More