AP - Paula Abdul, who has a new song with fellow "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, blames a plane mishap for keeping her out of the musical arena for more than a decade.

Reuters - Coca-Cola, Ford and AT&T are back again as the three main sponsors of "American Idol," which returned to the airwaves on Tuesday.

E! Online - Paula Abdul has her own touchdown in the works.

AP - "The Bourne Ultimatum" was among leading nominees for the 34th annual People's Choice Awards, organizers said Thursday.

AP - A leaked audio tape in which Paula Abdul can be heard sobbing and bad-mouthing a former spokesman has made its way to the Internet. In what appears to be a recent conference call with a group of publicists, the "American Idol" judge rails against Howard Bragman and discusses her various health problems.

AP - Talk about bad timing. Paula Abdul broke her nose this weekend — just days before the season finale of "American Idol" — when she fell while trying to avoid stepping on her Chihuahua.

E! Online - Paula Abdul has always had a soft spot for the underdog. 

AP - An "American Idol" charity special filled with wrenching pictures of impoverished children and celebrity appeals raised more than $60 million, Fox said Thursday.

AP - Paula Abdul says she and Simon Cowell, who torments her on the set of "American Idol," are chummy in real life. "Simon and I actually get along great," the 44-year-old "Idol" judge says in an interview in TV Guide magazine's March 19 issue. "We have cultivated a fun relationship. ... He's actually become a really good friend."