Paula Abdul’s taking a break from her cross-country tour scouring cities for the prefect goosebump-inducing voices vying to become the next American Idol champ (and some of those deliciously deluded, cringe worthy contenders) and taking time out to chat with Hollywood.com.
What we learned: she’s already got her own short list of this year’s Idol candidates, she may be making music herself again soon, and, yeah, she’s just as sweet as she seems on the show–except on the subject of Simon.
Hollywood.com: What is the status of the current American Idol search?
Paula Abdul: “We’ve got one more city left, which is Boston. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve already encountered the top 12. It’s incredible. I think people are going to be very, very, very surprised.”
HW: Will the show be changing things up at all this season?
PA: “Yes, we are adding different elements, and all I can tell you is it’s going to really showcase the horribly/wonderfully untalented/talented ones, and for the ones who are the finalists there’s going to be an opportunity for them to really show how well-rounded they are as artists. We’re going to really celebrate not just them singing but also if they play instruments and stuff like that.”
HW:Has this year toughened you up – will you be a tougher judge this year?
PA: “As if Simon’s going to be the nice one, and I’m going to take Simon’s role?! I highly doubt that! I think what happens is they want to create a buzz that ‘Ooo, Paula’s getting tougher,’ and I believe in constructive criticism. I don’t believe in giving sound bytes just to hurt somebody. I think you have to soften the blow. But I think most of the kids think that if Randy or Simon say something mean, ‘Oh, come on, Paula, you’ll let me through.’ But I’m going to say ‘No. Sorry, you weren’t very good.’ ‘Paula was mean—Oh my God!’ They walk out of the room in shock. Because then what Simon does when I say no: he goes ‘I would have said yes.’ It’s the typical. I’m so used to it by now.”
HW: Randy Jackson had told us you’re planning a comeback album, with Randy producing?
PA: “That’s Randy, spreadin’ the word. I’ve been blessed to write songs and have them placed with other artists, and I am just now in the process, taking my time, slowly, of getting back into the studio.”
HW: Do you still dance very often?
PA: “Every day, yeah. Every day. And different forms of dancing. It’s fun to be a student. I’ve always been the teacher and it’s hard for me to get into a class—I have to really put the blinders on because everyone’s just staring. And immediately I start messing up, and I say ‘Ta-da! I’m messing up, just like you guys do.’”
HW: How do you feel now that you’ve gone public with your health problems—the difficulties you had with spinal pain?
PA: “I went through years and years and years of keeping it quiet and 13 horrific surgeries, but I’m doing extremely well.”
HW: After talking about it publicly, have you gotten a lot of feedback from non-famous people with similar problems?
PA: “Oh my God. Every time I come forward with—because I’m a firm believer that my lesson in life is I’m here to show an example, and not be afraid to be open about things. I’m a human being. I’ve suffered, just like everybody else does, and if I’m able to bring awareness to something that people can relate to…I’m not kidding: I’ve had over a million letters that came in to People magazine and to A&E and to the E! True Hollywood Story. It’s been overwhelming, thanking me for bringing a name to what these spinal cord injuries are. And my surgeons and my doctors—I feel bad for them [chuckles] because their lives have been turned upside down, their websites shut down every day—It’s like kinda nuts. But it’s been incredible, because I’ve helped so many people now that when I read these letters—and [People editor] Martha Nelson will forward these letters to me, and say ‘You must read this one’—my eyes, I’m just bawling my eyes out, because to hear people that have been in such excruciating pain for years and then they saw my doctor or my doctor made a recommendation and now they’re out of pain. It’s just wonderful to hear.”
HW: If you could peek 10 or 15 years into the future, where do you think some of the Idol champs will be?
PA: “I think Kelly Clarkson’s proven to be here to stay. I think that Clay Aiken has that fan base that is a big gap that has been missing for Barry Manilow fans—I really do believe that. I think that Fantasia just needs that one break, and hopefully [the film version of ] Dreamgirls will be it, because I think Fantasia is one of the most talented Idols that we’ve had. When I tell you that Aretha Franklin bows down to her, she’s one of the most incredible performers. Bo Bice, I think has the second single on Santana’s record and I think people are going to be knocked out by his success. I think Carrie’s going to be a country-pop star. I want Ruben to be able to make the right record. I get very proud of this show. When we’re done, I wish I had involvement after the show’s over. I don’t. I want to make that the A&R-ing of their records, and support and the marketing dollars are spent—it takes the right amount of money and the right support, and if they don’t get it there’s nothing you can do. And you can’t forget that millions of fans have already grown to love these people, so don’t make a record that doesn’t depict what you’ve already displayed to America.”
HW: And in 10 or 15 years will you still be sitting at the judge’s table?
PA: “Oh my God! By then I would probably have bed sores, or hives that become open wounds from Simon! I don’t know. I can’t even imagine—It gives me nightmares. I can’t even think about it.”
