From her love life to her career, to her sometimes loopy behavior on television, entertainer Paula Abdul has always generated attention. As she prepares for the premiere of her new CBS reality-competition series LIVE TO DANCE, Abdul speaks candidly with Julie Chen about what inspired her to become a performer, the public’s misconceptions about her, rumors of drug and alcohol abuse and says there’s is a new man in her life — in an interview to be broadcast this weekend on CBS SUNDAY MORNING anchored by Charles Osgood (9:00-10:30 AM, ET/check local listings).
Excerpts from Julie Chen’s interview with Paula Abdul are below. You must credit CBS SUNDAY MORNING.
Abdul on what inspired her to become a performer…and ‘kissing’ Gene Kelly:
CHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What’s your earliest memory of dance?
ABDUL:      My earliest memory of dance, probably, was what gave me the bug to actually become a performer… was when I was four years old. And I was watching Singing in the Rain in our family living room. And my mom and dad were sitting on the couch. And I kept getting closer to the television set. And then I kissed the TV set to kiss Gene Kelly.
And I looked back at my dad, and I said, “That’s my dad.” And my father says, “No, I’m your dad. That can be your television dad.” And I fell in love with Gene Kelly. And truly, that is my earliest, most beautiful memories of deciding right then and there. As my parents put it, I stood up and I put my fist down and said, “I’m going to be an entertainer.”
Abdul on the misconceptions about her:
CHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Well, what bugs you that people say about you that you know, and your friends and family know that is just not you?
ABDUL:         I am intelligent. I am—
CHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â But, people don’t give you enough credit for having a brain.
ABDUL:         Having a brain, that’s a concept, yes, with Paula Abdul. I have a brain.
Abdul on rumored drug and alcohol abuse:
CHEN:            There is some unflattering video of you out there. It has appeared on Idol. Did you ever have a drinking problem?
ABDUL:         I’ve never had a drinking problem… Even though I’ve been in this business for quite some time. I’ve never physically been drunk in my life. I’ve never been drunk in my life. I don’t use recreational drugs. But, I am goofy.
CHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â So, it’s just Paula.
ABDUL:         It’s Paula. It is Paula. And, even the people on Idol know that none of that existed, ever.
Rand Morrison is the executive producer of CBS SUNDAY MORNING.