Paula Abdul Reveals She Quit ‘American Idol’ 8 Times — On The First Day!

By Brent Furdyk. Published: 28 Mar 2016 3:16 PM

Fans fondly recall Paul Abdul providing no end of wacky moments during her years behind the judging table of American Idol, but she now admits she felt so uncomfortable critiquing aspiring singers she nearly quit on the first day of taping — and not just once.

“A few years ago, this man came up to me and introduced himself and said, “I was your sound guy on your first day at work at American Idol.’ And I said, “Oh wow. I feel bad, I must have quit a few times.’ And he said, “Eight. You quit eight times,'”; reveals the “Straight Up”; singer in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“I felt terrible for those kids,”; she adds. “I would try to maintain composure in the midst of absurdity and they were completely delusional, like brilliantly delusional. But there was never a shortage of really incredible voices and raw talent. We were always able to find it, and that’s what was so exciting.”;

She also explains her decision to leave the show during the height of its popularity. “The truth is, it was time for me to leave. I’d never had the same job for eight years. I felt that there were changes happening, and it didn’t feel like the same show,”; she added. “I needed to go back and do things I wanted to do, and being in that contract with the show didn’t allow me to do many things. It was a bold decision to make, but I will always have tremendous gratitude because it was a tremendous experience for me. I was a big part of history. And the show did change when I left. I would say to Simon, “You know the show ended when I left. You were still there for almost two more years.’ He’d say, “Oh, shut up.’ But it’s true!”;