

1 Billboard Hot 100 singles - including “Straight Up,” “Cold Hearted,” “Opposites Attract” and the title track - making Abdul the first female artist to ever achieve such a feat. The LP, made on a paltry $72,000 budget from the label and released the next year, was a surprise hit and spawned four consecutive No. Of course, Abdul eventually became a pop star herself, signing a contract in 1987 with Virgin Records to record Forever Your Girl, her debut album and the Las Vegas residency’s namesake.

Of her groundbreaking work with Jackson - which has ultimately inspired generations of female entertainers, from Britney Spears and Beyoncé to Normani - Abdul said in her show, “If it weren’t for Janet, I probably wouldn’t be here with the career that I have. Abdul later established herself as a sought-after choreographer for the likes of Elton John, George Michael and Janet Jackson. Indeed, the petite yet powerful performer - whose passion for entertainment began at the age of 4 when she first became enamored with Gene Kelly in one of his many classic MGM musicals - willed her way to becoming captain of the NBA’s beloved Laker Girls dance team in the ’80s, regardless of initial rejection. And even though I was never the obvious choice, that didn’t stop me from manifesting my dreams.” I was put on this earth to dance, to create, to perform,” Abdul said at one point during her 90-minute, 12-song setlist. “The odds were against me, but my fighting spirit carried me through. A sold-out crowd - which included notable names such as Kathy Griffin, Kathy Hilton, Frankie Grande, August Getty, Jen Atkin and Vegas legend Wayne Newton - was captivated by the autobiographical sections of Forever Your Girl, which explain Abdul’s rise, fall and resurgence in precise, choreographed detail.
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24 show, it was her tenacity that helped forge a path full of remarkable career milestones despite several frustrating, and sometimes painful, setbacks. Paula Abdul took fans on a walk (or dance, rather) down memory lane last week when she celebrated the opening of her Forever Your Girl residency at Flamingo Las Vegas.Ībdul’s signature moves, gravity-defying acrobatics and flashbacks to the songs and music videos that made her a forceful pop presence in the late 1980s and early ’90s are all part of the spectacle, but the iconic singer, dancer, choreographer and actress uses her stage in Sin City as a platform to also candidly discuss her unconventional journey to success.Īs Abdul said during her Oct.
