Last week, Paula Abdul got flowers with a note signed, “Love, J.T.” and the message, “Hope you’re doing great. Here’s my new cell number.”

Thinking they had come from her restaurateur boyfriend J.T. Torregiani, Abdul called him asking why he had changed his number, a source close to Abdul tells PEOPLE. When he said he hadn’t, Abdul knew immediately who really sent them: ex-American Idol contestant Paula Goodspeed, according to the source.

Over the last three years - since Goodspeed was dismissed from her disastrous Idol audition with derisive comments from judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson - Abdul has received more than 100 letters, numerous phone calls and uninvited visits from Goodspeed, the source says.

“The flower thing was really scary - Paula %26#91;Abdul%26#93; really couldn’t handle that. She was terrified,” says the source.

Signs of Goodspeed’s infatuation with Abdul included her car’s personalized license plate “ABL LV” and a photo of Abdul hanging from the rearview mirror. During her audition, she said that she often drew pictures of Abdul and been drawing them since she was young.

Also, PEOPLE has learned, Goodspeed had changed her first name from Sandra to Paula.

But a relative of Goodspeed, who knew her well, disputes the characterization of her as a celebrity stalker.

She Was a %26#34;Good Person%26#34;

“She was a good person. She’d give the shirt off her back for anyone who needed it. She was not suicidal,” says her niece, Sonja McIntyre, 20, of Maine, who last spoke with her aunt about two months ago.

“She was cheery. She was excited,” says McIntyre. “She was coming back to Maine” - where Goodspeed grew up.

McIntyre confirms that Goodspeed changed her name from Sandra to Paula, but says she did it about 16 years ago and suggests the decision may not have had anything to do with Abdul. “She just liked the name Paula,” she says.

Although Abdul says she never voluntarily met Goodspeed since the audition, Goodspeed told her niece that she had met Abdul about a year ago - “at Starbucks or something,” she says - and that Goodspeed was “excited she got to meet such a big star.”

When McIntyre visited California, her aunt showed her Abdul’s house, but not in a way that suggested she was a stalker.

“Me and her went by Paula’s house a couple of times. That’s about it,” says the niece. “She was showing me where she lived. We liked looking at the huge condos out there … Why they found her dead in her car near Paula Abdul’s house, I do not know. But I don’t believe my aunt killed herself.”

Struggled as a Singer

Ed Faris, a producer/songwriter in Los Angeles, worked with Goodspeed on her fledgling singing career around 2005 or 2006, and remembered her as “a bit off the wall.”

“I was hired by her singing coach to help Paula record some songs,” he says. “She wore the craziest outfits. She’d show up to my home studio wearing fluorescent pants and skirts, with trinkets hanging off her jacket. She was a sweet person, very nice, but a little insecure.”

Once she started singing, though, Faris immediately knew she wouldn’t be taken seriously in the music industry.

“She was a bit delusional thinking she could make a career out of this, but she was so incredibly determined, so %26#91;the singing coach%26#93; and I tried to encourage her,” he says. “Paula did make a couple references to Paula Abdul, but nothing really out of the ordinary.”

During the recording process, Goodspeed struggled and “broke down and cried several times,” Faris says, and in the end they finished only one song and left two others incomplete. He sent the tracks to the singing coach, “and that was the last time I worked with Paula,” he says.

“I was shocked to hear about her death, I never thought it would come to that,” says Faris. “It’s just a sad situation all around.”

• Reporting by JENNIFER GARCIA, LIZA HAMM and KEN LEE

Who’s your Favorite Star Under 35? PEOPLE.com and the People’s Choice Awards are counting your votes! Click here to vote now!

RELATED ARTICLE:
• 2000: Ending a 15-year obsession, Brooke Shields’ stalker is arrested
RELATED GALLERY:
• 2005: Paula finally ends her battle with chronic pain

Source:www.People.com

The former American Idol hopeful found dead in an apparent suicide near Paula Abdul’s home had been causing “a disturbance” there for several years, LAPD Capt. James Miller tells PEOPLE.

“Our station has been called to respond to Paula Abdul’s house on multiple occasions over the last several years concerning Ms. Goodspeed,” Miller says. “The last time our officers had contact with Goodspeed was in July.”

There were no court records of a restraining order against Goodspeed.

“I can’t say whether Ms. Abdul was directly harassed,” Miller adds. “Ms. Goodspeed had been causing enough of a disturbance %26#91;to have police called%26#93;.”

“It’s very hard reading such awful things being written about yourself…..or hearing things being said….. not like alot of people would understand what it’s like having so many haters,” she wrote, “just because I made the mistake of trying out for a singing competition before I was even ready vocally, emotionally and physically.”

She added: “I have to believe there is something good about me.”

Who’s your Favorite Star Under 35? PEOPLE.com and the People’s Choice Awards are counting your votes! Click here to vote now!

Source:www.People.com

A former American Idol contestant apparently infatuated with Paula Abdul was found dead Tuesday night in a car near Abdul’s Los Angeles house.

Paula Goodspeed, 30, a Season 5 contender whose audition performance of “Proud Mary” was panned and mocked by the judges, appears to have died of a drug overdose, police say.

“Ms. Goodspeed’s mother had gone to %26#91;the sheriff’s department%26#93; to report her daughter missing, and advised them that she might be suicidal,” says Los Angeles police Capt. James Miller. “The sheriffs determined that Ms. Goodspeed may be up in the vicinity by Paula Abdul’s house. Our officers discovered her vehicle parked on the street, and found her inside. She was unresponsive to officers.”

“This has been ruled an apparent suicide,” said LAPD officer April Harding.

Abdul was at the studio at the time the body was found and wasn’t aware of it until she was told by the network, her rep says.

Abdul Expresses Shock

“I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday,” Abdul said in a statement. “My heart and prayers go out to her family.”

“I really like Paula Abdul a lot. She’s really cool,” said Goodspeed when asked about her inspiration during the Idol audition process. “I’m a really big fan, and I made life-sized drawings of Paula. I’ve been drawing ever since I was a little kid, and my first drawing was of Paula Abdul.”

Goodspeed Panned by Judges

But after singing her rendition of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” the woman was roundly panned by the show’s judges.

“It was terrible, what was that?” said Randy Jackson. In addition, Simon Cowell made disparaging remarks about her braces: “I don’t know how you can sing with all that metal in your mouth.”

Abdul, who lit up when Goodspeed said her name was Paula, said, “Speechless, don’t know what to say” after hearing the song.

• Additional reporting by KEN LEE

Who’s your Favorite Star Under 35? PEOPLE.com and the People’s Choice Awards are counting your votes! Click here to vote now!

RELATED GALLERY:
• 2005: Paula finally ends her battle with chronic pain

Source:www.People.com

Paula Goodspeed - Proud Mary!
by Mr-Tee
Former American Idol contestant Paula Goodspeed, whose car was found outside Paula Abdul’s house with a body inside, expressed great admiration for Abdul at the Season 5 audition.

“I really like Paula Abdul a lot. She’s really cool,” said Goodspeed when asked about her inspiration during the Idol audition process. “I’m a really big fan, and I made life-sized drawings of Paula. I’ve been drawing ever since I was a little kid, and my first drawing was of Paula Abdul.”

Goodspeed, dressed in shades of pink for her audition, sang “Proud Mary” before Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell - but did not make it to Hollywood. Her performance was panned.

“I’m sorry, Paula,” said Abdul.

“It’s not over,” said Goodspeed at the time. “I’m not going to stop singing just because you don’t like my voice.”

Source:www.People.com

As previously reported by the Gossip Girls, an alleged stalker of Paula Abdul was found dead in a car near her home last night. And as details emerge, authorities think the woman was a former “American Idol” hopeful.

Though police have not released the identity of the woman, the car at the scene had a license plate that read ABL LV and there was a photograph of Abdul hanging from the rearview mirror.

When checked at the DMV, the license plate was registered under the name Paula Goodspeed, 30, a former contestant on “American Idol.”

Back when she auditioned, Goodspeed told Ryan Seacrest, “I really like Paula Abdul a lot. She’s really cool. I’m a really big fan, and I made life-sized drawings of Paula. I’ve been drawing since I was a little kid, and my first drawing was of Paula.”

An LAPD spokesperson stated, “This has been ruled an apparent suicide and the coroner’s office is now investigating. The body was found around 6 p.m. Tuesday.”

Abdul also released a statement, saying, “I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday. My heart and prayers go out to her family.”

Source:www.celebrity-gossip.net

While fame definitely has it’s upside, there’s also some serious drawbacks that come with being a household name. And last night a woman who allegedly stalked Paula Abdul was found dead outside her home.

According to an LAPD Van Nuys spokesperson, a woman was found dead inside a car Tuesday night in the 3800 block of Beverly Ridge Drive, mere yards from the “American Idol” judge’s home.

As for the woman’s cause of death, authorities said it initially appeared that she either overdosed on drugs, or committed suicide.

Police identified the woman as someone they had been called about “numerous times before” because of her repeated presence outside Abdul’s home.

Source:www.celebrity-gossip.net

With the election of Barack Obama, Paula Idol of American Idol will stay just that - an American.

“I was crying!” she tells PEOPLE. “You feel such a sense of pride that you can’t even articulate how good you feel. It’s unbelievable! I have chills. I was just so excited. I was texting everyone: ‘Peace has begun.’ And then I was texting everyone, ‘I don’t have to move to Vancouver now!’”

Abdul, 46, is in New York City hosting Paula Abdul’s RAH Cheerleading Bowl, a high-energy cheerleading squad competition that will air New Year’s Day on MTV.

Seeing an African-American become President is something she never imagined would happen. “I prayed for it. But four years ago? Not even a thought. The only point of reference was Rev. Jesse Jackson’s (campaign), which was just embarrassing. But there’s a presence with this man.”

She’s also looking forward to seeing the Obama family in the White House. “I love his wife. And those little girls, I just want to squish ‘em they’re so beautiful!” she said. “I’ll offer to baby sit anytime!”

Source:www.People.com

American Idol judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul are sending their condolences to onetime contestant Jennifer Hudson after the singer’s mother, brother and nephew were all found dead.

“This is a horrific tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer and her entire family,” Abdul said Monday evening after news broke that police had identified the body of Hudson’s missing 7-year-old nephew, Julian King.

The boy was found in the back of an SUV three days after Hudson’s mother and brother were fatally shot in the mother’s Chicago home.

“The time I had to get to know Jennifer and forge a wonderful friendship with her while she was on Idol was very special to me, and I personally can’t imagine a greater loss for any family.”

Hudson, 27, got her start on American Idol before going on to win an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls.

Cowell also sent a heartfelt message to Hudson, tells Extra, “I was horrified when I heard the news. This is an appalling tragedy. My thoughts right now are with Jennifer, and her family.”

Source:www.People.com

While family and friends mourn the tragic death of Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother, who were shot and killed Friday, support for the singer continues to pour in. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, who shares the same Chicago hometown as the singer, issued a statement Saturday.

“Michelle and I were absolutely heartbroken to learn about this unimaginable tragedy and we want Jennifer to know that she is in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time,” the Illinois senator said. “We also pray for the swift and safe return of her young nephew.”

“That was the biggest honor, I feel like, in my career - one of the greatest moments,” Hudson told PEOPLE earlier this month. “I had to separate myself emotionally so I didn’t get too emotional while I was singing because I can’t sing and cry at the same time…. I was lucky to be a part of it.”

“She has done so much for the campaign. Everyone here was just so shocked and saddened,” Obama’s campaign said about Hudson in a statement issued to PEOPLE.

Meanwhile, American Idol judge Randy Jackson also shared his condolences for Hudson and expressed his disbelief of what authorities are calling a double homicide.

“My heart and soul goes out to her and the rest of her family,” Jackson tells PEOPLE. “Such a huge tragedy - I can’t even believe that it’s possible. Paula Abdul and I were just talking about it yesterday and it’s just so sad.”

Jackson also says he has reached out to the singer since news of the tragedy broke. “I left a couple of messages for her and I’m just trying to give to her whatever I can. My God. The world is an ugly place right now.”

• Reporting by RENNIE DYBALL, SANDRA SOBIERAJ WESTFALL and CYNTHIA WANG

Source:www.People.com

Forget a polite thank you: Emmy winners can let out a rebel yell when Billy Idol performs Sept. 21 at the Entertainment Tonight Emmy Party sponsored by PEOPLE.

“I’m looking forward to tearing the roof off of Disney Hall at ET’s party,” Idol says. “Get ready to be properly rocked!”

For the second year in a row, the A-list post-awards bash will be held in the famed concert hall. Confirmed celebrities include Eva Longoria Parker, David Cook, Jimmy Kimmel, Tina Fey and Paula Abdul.