Paula Julie Abdul started her career as an LA Lakers cheerleader then became a respected choreographer. She dropped out of the California State University in Northridge to focus completely on her dance career until she caught the attention of The Jackson 5, who hired her as an assistant dance director for their Victory tour. Abdul became a bona fide star when her debut album, Straight Up exploded onto the charts in December 1988 but she stayed out of the spotlight until 2002 when she joined the panel of judges on the immensely popular show American Idol.
Date of Birth: June 19, 1962
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Now, Paula is the American pop singer and ground-breaking choreographer who won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video for her song Opposite Attract. She is also a dancer, performer, actress and business woman who has bagged two Emmy Awards and an American Music Award in addition to her Grammy award.
Paula is today a multi platinum recording artist with over two decades of experience. We all know her as America’s Sweetheart from her eight consecutive seasons on American Idol, her time as an executive producer on CBS’s Live to Dance followed by her work with the X Factor. Let’s see all there is to know about the family life of the famed Paula Julie Abdul.
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Paula Abdul parents
Harry Abdul (father)
Year of Birth: 1933
Date of Death: April, 2019 (aged 85)
Harry was the owner of a sand and gravel business. He bought and sold livestock for a living but is known basically as the father of the Forever Your Girl singer. He divorced Lorraine when Paula was only seven but they both raised their children observing the Jewish High Holidays.
He suffers from Alzheimer’s and his daughter in 2016 said she considers precious any time her father recognizes her. Even though both Abdul parents were not together, it is evident that Paula loves both her parents.
Harry died at his Los Angeles home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 85 years old.
Lorraine M. Abdul (nee Rykiss) (mother)
Year of Birth: 1932
Date of Death: January 14, 2018 (aged 85)
Although best known for supporting her daughter, Lorraine was like her daughter, a woman of many talents. She was a regular face at her daughter’s side on some of her biggest moments in the spotlight, including the day the pop princess received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 1991. Lorraine grew up in one of the only two Jewish families in Minnesoda, Mannitoba, Canada and grew up to be a concert pianist.
She died in 2018 at 85 with Paula by her side, able to comfort her in her final moments. Her death was indeed heart-wrenching for the former American Idol judge who had been pretty close with her mom. Lorraine had raised her kids as a single mom and her daughters see her as strong and fierce, adding that her influence made them the women they are today.
Paula Abdul siblings
Wendy Abdul (elder sister from same parents)
Year of Birth: 1955
There are just two of them and as expected, both sisters share a sweet relationship. Paula mentioned once that she would travel round the world on foot for her mom’s latkes and her sister’s beef brisket. Nothing compares!
Paula Abdul husband
Emilio Estevez (former spouse)
Duration of Marriage: April 29, 1992 – May 10, 1994 (2 years)
Date of Birth: May 12, 1962
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Estevez is an actor, director and writer. He is well known for being a member of the acting Brat Pack of the 1980s, starring in movies like The Outsider (1983), The Breakfast Club (1985), St. Elmo’s Fire (1985) and a few other. He was in a three-year relationship with Wilhelmina model Carey Salley and they had two kids together; Taylor Levi (born June 22, 1984) and Paloma Rae (born February 15, 1986).
In 1991, Paula and Emilio began dating and they decide to take their relationship up a notch by walking down the aisle in 1992. They were together happily for over a year but things did not last for so long as both lovers finalized their divorce in May 1994. They had no kids all through their two years and Paula stated that she had wanted children with him but the Bobby (2006) writer and director who already had two kids did not want more.
Brad Beckerman (former spouse)
Duration of Marriage: October 24, 1996 – 1998 (2 years)
Brad is the CEO for a suburban L.A.-based clothing manufacturer and he met Paula on a blind date. They fell hard for each other, dated for about eight months and were married in no time. In Beckerman’s words, he saw his future in her the first time he set his eyes on her and the fading diva equally said he knocked her off her feet. When they got wedded in October it seemed like they were destined for happily-ever-afterness but within seventeen months, they had parted ways on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.
Paula Abdul doesn’t have kids
On kids, Abdul mentioned in a 2007-interview that she loves kids and had planned that she would have had at least three to five but things did not work out as she had planned.
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