Paula Abdul is well-known as a top 40 chart-topper and part of the judging trio on "American Idol," but Thursday night she received a prestigious award for her first love -- dance choreography. We joined her in Orlando, FL, as she proudly accepted the Lifetime Achievement award from the prestigious Tremaine Dance company: the "Tremaine Entertainer of the Year 2008." 

In the 1980s, former L.A. Laker Girl Paula cut her teeth working with Janet Jackson on music videos from her hit album, Control, which won two MTV Video Awards, before launching her own pop music career and collaborating with such musicians as Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Luther Vandross, INXS, Heart and Prince. 

She even helped choreograph some of the FAO Schwarz keyboard scenes with Tom Hanks in 'Big' and the tribal dance scenes in Eddie Murphy's 'Coming to America.' She also memorably danced alongside the late, great Gene Kelly in a Diet Coke ad.