Now Magazine | All the celebrity gossip
  • 7 September 2008
  • Goodtoknow-network-site
Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul: I couldn't speak for 2 years

The American Idol judge's vocal chords were accidentally cut

Sunday, 23 March 2008

Paula Abdul has revealed the full extent of a terrible accident that kept her out of the public eye for 6 years.

In 1992, the American Idol judge was a passenger in a plane that made an emergency landing. Three discs in her back ruptured, leaving her with no feeling down her right side.

'I needed 14 lots of spinal surgery on my neck,' she explains. 'I was paralysed and during the 12th operation my vocal chords were accidentally cut.

'For nearly two years I didn’t have a speaking voice and had to work with a speech pathologist and a vocal coach. It was hard going from hit records to barely croaking.'

Paula, 44, was determined to get well again but it was tough.

'Rehabilitation was an enlightening experience because it taught me how strong I am,' she says. 'I grew up a lot. I got very creative in the hospital and wrote some of my best songs including Spinning Around, which I gave to Kylie Minogue.'

Rate this!

  1. Not bad
  2. Okay
  3. Good
  4. Great
  5. Excellent

 

Star rating:Rating-3-star

Comments

Be the first to add a comment

Add a comment

* required fields

Now magazine will not publish anything which is defamatory, offensive, or illegal. Email nowonline@ipcmedia.com to complain about any comments

Feeds_celebritypeoplephotos

Latest poll

Keira Knightley - stunning siren or weird-looking skinny girl?

Poll
  • Stunning and trim (43%)
  • Odd and too thin (57%)

Win Today

win FREE copy of Coleen Rooney Real Style

Win Coleen's Real Style Guide

8 readers will win Coleen's style guide

Enter now



More on Now...

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber

Naomi Watts reveals secret to losing baby weight

Pregnant actress says breast-feeding makes the pounds drop off

Russell Brand

Russell Brand: Doing sex scenes on screen is awkward

Comedian admits he worries about filming his bedroom antics

Jordan thinks she looks the best

Jordan: Kerry Katona should keep her mouth shut

Glamour model hits out at her former friend

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson: Older men understand women better

Actress says mature guys are more experienced lovers

Angela Griffin

Angela Griffin: My wedding was a disaster!

But the Waterloo Road star says it was still the best day of her life



goodtoknow Pick Me Up What's on TV