On Friday’s (March 3) The Jennifer Hudson Show, Paula Abdul told the host that she believed she didn’t need to win American Idol back when Jennifer Hudson left the competition in 7th place in 2004.
“You were always extra supportive on the show,” Jennifer remarked to Paula. “She used to get us gifts and stuff. Which was very encouraging!” the host continued, “You were the softness of it all that kept us grounded.”
“Somebody had to be,” Paula joked, “It wasn’t going to be the guy a little left of me.”
Of course, Paula is talking about her frenemy and fellow Idol judge, Simon Cowell. “Back then, he wasn’t too nice!” said Jennifer. But while Simon could be tough for Paula to deal with, she agreed with Jennifer that the America’s Got Talent judge is “mellow” now.
Paula speculated that fatherhood has made Simon a nicer person. “It felt so different when he came here,” said Jennifer, who had Simon on her show as her first guest.
“He’s different,” said Paula, adding “Not THAT different, though!” He’s still snarky Paula insisted, demonstrating how he calls her as if she were one of her chihuahuas.
After her untimely elimination, Paula predicted amazing things for Jennifer.
After she was eliminated from American Idol, Paula predicted an amazing future for Jennifer
“I remember interviewing you after [for Entertainment Tonight], and I said to you, I know, I have the feeling that some amazing things are going to happen to you,” Paula told Jennifer. “People that need to win, win, and the people that don’t need to win end up winning big time, and you did.”
But at the time, when many fans believed Jennifer had a shot at taking it all, people were outraged. A worthy winner Fantasia, ended up winning season 3. But nobody predicted that Jennifer would leave so soon.
“Oh my goodness, that was a moment,” the former American Idol judge said. “When you were eliminated, it was like the whole world was pissed.”
“They still be mad!” Jennifer replied. However she declared, “7th place, and proud of it!”
19 years later, Paula, still gets comments about that night.
She ended her segment promoting the psychic app she’s involved with, Psychics1on1. Paula claims that 3 years prior to Idol, a psychic predicted her television success. OK then.
Here, Paula demonstrates her Laker Girl stance as she recalls outwitting her way through auditions. Paula has shared this story before. It’s about never taking NO for an answer, especially in Hollywood.
