
The performing dynamo will kick off the seven-week tour on October 3, stopping in 26 cities. My body is certainly feeling it – it's been a long time – but it's exciting.Grammy Award-winning pop legend and dance superstar Paula Abdul has announced a new North American tour this fall – STRAIGHT UP PAULA! - her first solo outing in over 25 years. As for her, "it's fun getting back in the dance studio and putting some of those old moves together that are still relevant and timeless. "There are still great showmen out there doing wonderful stuff," Abdul says. Instead, she prefers to live in the moment, and points to artists such as Beyonce, Ciara and BTS who are continuing her tradition of elaborate choreography in mainstream pop. More: 'American Idol': Katy Perry dresses up on cringeworthy Disney night but Wade Cota shinesĪbdul, who wrapped her first solo tour in 25 years in December, says she doesn't like to think about her legacy in music. (New judge Katy Perry "doesn't have to deal with the two I dealt with," she laughs. "It makes me feel so proud that I was able to witness her in her first audition," says Abdul, who still checks in with ABC's "Idol" reboot from time to time, but feels it's a "whole different show" now than when she judged alongside Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. "It was precious."Īlong with performing next week, the former "American Idol" judge is also excited to reunite with Kelly Clarkson, who won the first season of the reality singing competition when it aired on Fox and will return as BBMAs host for a second year. "I remember a time on my Under My Spell Tour when we were in New Orleans, my dad came and I had my tour manager pull him up from the audience onto the stage so that he could dance and I could sing 'Forever Your Girl' to him," Abdul says. Singing "Forever My Girl" will be particularly emotional for her, given that it was her dad's favorite song. So I know that they're with me and this is definitely for them."

"I will be doing this for my parents, because I lost them both within a year's time. "In my heart and soul I will be (thinking of them)," Abdul says. "He wants his own dressing room, he's got all these demands – we're trying to accommodate him."Īfter topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with six songs in the late '80s and early '90s, Abdul turned her focus behind the scenes, choreographing many of Janet Jackson's videos as well as cult classic movies "Coming to America" and "Can't Buy Me Love." She hopes to not only celebrate her accomplishments through her BBMAs performance, but pay tribute to her parents, who supported her throughout her three-decade career. "You know, he's being very temperamental right now," Abdul jokes. Sadly, fans shouldn't get their hopes up for an appearance from MC Skat Kat, the animated cat who wooed her in her 1989 "Opposites Attract" video and later "introduced" her at the AMAs. The performance will revisit some of Abdul's most famous moves from her music videos, "but I'm also adding more embellishments and different choreography," she says. More: Paula Abdul's father, Harry Abdul, dies a year after her mother: 'He had a heart of gold' 1 hits "Straight Up," "Opposites Attract," "Cold Hearted" and "Forever Your Girl," and funky dance anthem "Vibeology."

She'll revive the song Wednesday during her comprehensive medley, which will also include No. It marks her first awards show performance since the 1990 American Music Awards, when she opened the telecast with a vibrant, athletic rendition of her 1988 single "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me." Abdul, 56, started rehearsals for the BBMAs just two days after Monday's funeral.
