Paula Abdul Says She Was “Blown Away” By Fantasia’s “Stellar” Acting in ‘Color Purple’: “The Film Is Filled With Oscar-Worthy Performances”

Published: Saturday 9th Dec 2023 by Rashad

It’s been 20 years since Fantasia first launched into superstardom on the heels of a win at ‘American Idol‘ under the tutelage of then-judges Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, and Pop star Paula Abdul, but a recent reunion of the latter with the now-GRAMMY-winning R&B diva makes it seem like yesterday.

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Wednesday night’s premiere of ‘The Color Purple‘ at The Academy Museum in Los Angeles (December 6) may have brought out a who’s who in Hollywood, but one of the most memorable moments from its red carpet was the reunion of  Fantasia Barrino and Paula Abdul.

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Photographed hugging nearly two decades after Barrino took the ‘Idol’ crown (as seen above), Abdul – who took to ‘ET’ to say she felt like a “proud mom” of Fannie even after all these years – reiterated the sentiment on Twitter on Friday (December 8).

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Paula’s grade of Barrino’s performance in the movie echoes that of a number of industry critics who say the ‘When I See U’ hitmaker may be seeing an Academy Award in her near future.

‘The Color Purple,’ which also stars Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, Ciara, and more, heads to theaters on December 25.

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Check out the action-packed trailer here.

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[photo sources: Getty Images/Twitter]

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  1. Greta December 9, 2023

    Paula prophesied this 20 years ago! She spoke that Fantasia would step on the biggest stages, and start in major films. She SAW this in a 19 year old country girl from NC. After all the hate people threw her way Fantasia finally came full circle. And she looks STUNNING ❤️

  2. Dfg December 9, 2023

    Paula predicted that Fantasia will be in Seen in movies and everywhere

  3. Jhudluv December 9, 2023

    Playing catchup to the real queen of American Idol, Jennifer Kate Hudson! Ok Floptasia we see you.

    • Clarenceeee December 9, 2023

      Stop it. Fantasia is far more successful musically than J.Hud. She has several R&B classics. No ones playing Spotlight in 2023 no shade. Let Fantasia have her moment without comparing and J. Hud would be disappointed with your comment because she LOVES Fantasia. 🙄

    • MecostaDenada December 9, 2023

      Jennifer, full voice, oversinging Hudson is okay. I like her show, and she does have a nice voice, but don’t downplay Fanny. She is beautiful, can sing, act, and she is doing her thing.

    • Fantasia Love December 9, 2023

      I’m so tired of y’all hating a** Jhud fans. It’s been 19 years and y’all are still hating.

      Fantasia rightfully won Season 3 of American idol and Jennifer Hudson did not. it doesn’t matter how many times Jennifer licks Clive’s buttcrack, you can’t erase that fact.

      Y’all are mad because the only leg y’all have had to stand on is that Jennifer has had a bigger acting and TV career than Fantasia. Because let’s be honest, even Jennifer has said that y’all don’t buy her music and she’s never headlined a real tour. But that’s changing now and y’all are going to have to cope.

      While Fantasia’s star continues to rise, y’all need to deal with the reality that your girl is waning. Nobody wants any new music from her because she often sounds like clogged lawnmower. Every movie she’s been in lately has FLOPPED. Hell, y’all blocked Fantasia from getting a solo at the Grammy’s Aretha tribute, as to not upstage Jennifer, and the damn movie still flopped. I think they sent it to streaming a week after it dropped.

      And, don’t get me started on that dreadful talk show. How do you take over Ellen’s studio and time slot and end up competing with Sherri for ratings? It’s because Jhud has the personality of a soggy bologna sandwich.

      Everything she does that didn’t include Beyoncé as co-star ends up being a flop because we don’t like her like THAT and we never did. It’s why she came in 7th on Idol.

      Gone on, now. Sit with the truth. We’ve been seeing all the snake ass sh** coming from team Jhud for the last 19 years. You don’t need to put Fantasia down to lift Jennifer up and you can NEVER erase Fantasia’s cultural legacy no matter how much of an industry plant you are.

      • Mildred December 9, 2023

        YIKES😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

  4. Mona Thorne December 9, 2023

    Fantasia has maintained her humility and faith and God throughout her career. She has been successful in her own right, no need to compare to others. She has platinum albums, a #1 hit (broke records debuting at #1), along with plenty other hits. Shes had a successful Broadway stint, and she has been touring consistently over the years. All of her shows sell out. From opera houses to smaller scale arenas. She has carved a name for herself as a premier performer and vocalist. Now she’s experiencing a second win of mainstream success. All because she remained humble and FAITHFUL. You never hear Fantasia talking down on others. She’s always speaking life and encouraging. For that she will ALWAYS be blessed. I cant wait to see TCP on Christmas Day.❤️

    • Mona Thorne December 9, 2023

      And we cannot forget she’s also a GRAMMY AWARD winning artist. ❤️

  5. Bottega December 10, 2023

    Congrats to Fantasia

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