It was an all-star 'American Idol' turnout when personality-plus 'American Idol' star Paul Abdul was awarded " Woman of the Year" at Nevada Ballet Theater's black-tie gala at the Wynn hotel. Her partner judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson and show-host Ryan Seacrest were front and center in support and offering congratulations on the honored award. There was even a slew of former 'AI' contestants including Chris Daughtry, Bucky Covington, Paris Bennett, Anthony Federov, Lisa Tucker, Mandisa and Melissa McGhee who performed at the ceremony and at the Tryst after-party.

I got to chat with Paula at the pre-gala VIP reception held in the Cartier jewelry store at the Wynn hotel – and again throughout the evening's festivities backstage. She couldn't have been more pleasant and accommodating – a true professional dealing with a nonstop six-hour barrage of requests. She told me to mention that Douglas Hannent designed her stunning gown especially for her. Guests at Cartier ogled the $1-million set of a 57.2-carat diamond necklace with heart-shaped pendant ($670,000) along with matching 30-karat earrings ($220,000) and a matching white gold bracelet watch ($125,000)

Paula spoke candidly to me for the first time about the nightmare she endured on a recent cross-country satellite TV tour. Pirated video of her bizarre morning show interview from a cramped tiny New York studio to a Seattle TV station surfaced on the Internet with outrageous false claims that she was so "disoriented that her behavior was blamed on alcohol and drug use."

"The truth about the incident," said Paula, "is quite a boring story, not at all exciting. I went to bed just before midnight and had to get up at 3:45AM. I was in a real dark room, a cubicle. It's called an electronic press tour and this was the last two of 30 back-to-back interviews. That's very disorienting in itself because you can't see who you are talking to. You just stare into a camera with a small earpiece and you're sitting on a swivel chair not knowing who or where you are talking to. Never give a swivel chair to somebody who is super hyperactive because when things go wrong and you can't control them you just spin and spin and spin and wait until you're told it's safe to go. I didn't think I was on the air. They see me but I don't see them because there was no monitor for me to know where I was in the 30-cities. You hear all number of voices from all over the country in your ear and you don't really know when you are on the air somewhere or off the air in another city. So it wound-up that San Francisco kept asking questions because they couldn't hear me but my answers were actually coming out in Seattle so nothing made sense to either of them. It was technical difficulties of two stations being spliced together but me only hearing one of their questions but the answers going to another. No wonder it looked like we were all crazy. I was tired. I was exhausted so it made things worse. It had been a very long week and literally the three days before the 'American Idol' sixth season electronic promo-tour, I was going on less than four hours of sleep a night. Fatigue and exhaustion just added to the whole thing looking so disoriented. But no alcohol and no drugs, absolutely NO! It wasn't harder than any other time in my 20 years. Two cities spliced into 1 of my ears. My answers would have made sense if they came out to the person who asked them but they came out to somebody else somewhere else. I've done these tours for 20 years and never had a technical mess like this one. I had done three hours of them and they were all fine before. Other than telling you it's a very strange funny thing to sit alone in a small box talking to people you don't know and you can't see for over three hours, I just can't explain it but for me, no excuses and no apologies."

Once the subject of the slurred-snafu was finally cleared up we talked about the 'Woman of the Year' honor. Here's what she told Luxe Life: "I attended last year's wonderful event. It celebrates the art of dance -- ballet is the root of all dance. I studied it as a child. I thought afterward wouldn't it be nice if I was honored. And now wow this is like karma -- put it out there and wonderful things happen. I learned about it four months ago. I had a dream that I would one day be honored but never as 'Woman of the Year.' It's daunting, especially in Las Vegas, but I plan on making this my home away from home! I have a lot of wonderful things happening this year as a result of close to 20 years in showbiz, and this is the third time around at this career and a very exciting career it is and with so many wonderful projects out there. I have a new reality TV show, 'Hey Paula,' which we are actually shooting here tonight throughout the gala. It really is the story of my life: 'Hey! Hey, Paula! Hey, Paula! Hey! Come here, come here!' I'm everyone's friend and I'm the girl who is everyone's pal and the third time around for a major career gets back to reminding me an ordinary day for me is anything but. For me it's pretty extraordinary, call it choreographed chaos because I wear so many hats. I still do choreography, producing, teaching and running scholarship programs. I could go on and on. I am branding and licensing many different avenues that all cross-pollinate and that's just one day."

Paula was honored at the weekend in Vegas by the Nevada Ballet Theater as its 'Woman of the Year' following in the footsteps of such dance legends as Ann-Margret, Chita Riviera, Debbie Reynolds, Carol Channing and even Celine Dion! She was escorted by Craig and Charlene Cavileer, co-chairs of the event. He is the President of the Silverton Hotel here and has hired Paula to be their ambassador of entertainment.

He commented, "We like to think of Paula in a long-term way, a long-term marriage to Silverton with a development plans that are three dimensional-not just as a choreographer, but as a producer of everything fun and expediential in Las Vegas now with things that are still to come I think we started on all that tonight!"

Paula, who last year shelled out $10,000 during the auction to buy a little dog she wound up calling Charity, continued, "I highly recommend young folks going into dance as a career. I wouldn't be where I am today, wouldn't have the ability to stand up here and say my third time at super stardom if I didn't have the DNA of a dancer. Being a dancer has carried me through the most unbelievable times, beautiful times, and harder than hard times. It's given me the spirit of a warrior, a tenacious warrior who doesn't take no for an answer and believes in herself. There's nothing like being around the spirit and soul of a dancer, the coup de gras of everything there is to be celebrated. They are the hardest working most wonderful beings. If there were more dancers in the world, we'd have a much better happier place to live."

Then it was time to talk about the new sixth season of 'American Idol.' She joked, "It's full of a lot of weirdos, but seriously, we do have enormous talent, different talent. Every season is different and unique and this year we have a lot of great unique characters. We keep raising the bar even in the sixth season and we've got four or five definite people you'll know will be in the finals, almost immediately and you'll get to see part of the molding of them as they get there."

Paula, who is also starring and producing 'Bratz,' met up at the gala with former Supreme Mary Wilson (pictured above) and singer Robert Goulet (pictured below)with his wife, Vera. While simultaneously filming for her new reality show, Paula talked with some of the young ballerinas of the Nevada Ballet Theater. But the big surprise of the night to Paula and the party-goers was the unexpected arrival of her 'American Idol' co-stars, host Ryan Seacrest and fellow judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.

In-between jokes, sarcasm and funny one-liners, I got to chat with them backstage: "We're thrilled she's been named 'Woman of the Year' but frankly," said Simon, "I'm upset I was overlooked!" Ryan added: "We're really proud of her and we've got to support our own."

Simon joked back: "With a lifetime achievement award you could argue her career is over. We don't know much about it -- we're in the dark -- but big congrats to our Paula. I hate ballet, but I love her. I actually have never been to a ballet. Paula suggested we dance on stage but no man can get this award, so we respectfully declined."

Randy chimed in, "There should be a "Men Out of Control" award. We'd win that easily." The three guys, who skipped the dinner to enjoy in-room massages, laughed as I pointed out that they all have business interests in Vegas: Simon in Lake Las Vegas land, Randy in his new entertainment producing gig at the Hilton and Ryan with investments in various Sin City restaurants.

Ryan commented: "I love this hotel, but all of my restaurants are in other hotels. We might live in LA, but we're in Vegas all of the time. Wait until you see the new TV series we're doing called 'Paradise City.' The kids in it are terrific."

The trio just wouldn't stop with the wisecracks. Simon even chuckled with a prediction that our former 'Star Search' show would come back again. "'American Idol' is not at all like 'Star Search,'" he defended and asked, "You don't hate us do you? You do love us?" I agreed that my partner Al Masini, who created the original 'Star Search,' and I love 'em!

Then Simon switched back to the subject at hand with tongue firmly planted in his cheek: "We're here to honor ballet. Now is the time to start going to ballet. My new year resolution is to support ballet, but the fact that Paula's got the award as well is a bonus for me, but quite coincidental. It was the year we decided to take up ballet study and she gets the award -- coincidence. Yes, we're taking up ballet together seriously."

Randy was insistent, " I do love ballet. I love going to the theater. I see the 'Nutcracker' every Christmas. 'Nutcracker' started off as an opera." But Simon stopped him, "When we heard Nevada Ballet Theater was honoring Paula as "Woman of the Year," we all stopped everything we were doing and came to support her. We love you Paula. This is something deep. We get lots of nice things, but this is a great honor. Honest to God, we've just been discussing what we'll say and nobody has a clue. We do know it's a heavy award. It's a ballerina girl statue. Paula's been going through a hard time lately. She deserves our positive forces around her and we're here together to protect and serve our ballerina girl. If any of the 'Idol' cast is going to support ballet, it should be Paula. We love her. Paula we L-O-V-E you. There she is, Miss Ballerina Girl!"

After she was presented with the statue, Paula held back emotional tears to say, "Thank you for my gifts, thank you for waiting with me for this wonderful night to come to a close." But Ryan joked out loud on his mic, "Paula, keep it tight. Brevity is the key tonight." She fired right back, "Guys, tonight it's my night! But I do want to say it's an honor to get "Woman of the Year." I really must have made an impression the first three weeks of 2007, but it sure takes pressure off February through December. On a serious note, it is with a full and grateful heart I stand before you on this special occasion. Overwhelmed by such a warm and generous turnout, this is pretty awesome. To be surrounded by such talented musicians, dancers and singers, it reminds me why I chose to become an entertainer. It began many years ago with a dream. Here I am all these incredible years later with this incredible opportunity to say a big thank you for honoring me tonight and seeing that dream come completely true."

"I value my friendship with Craig and his wife Charlene (above with Paula and Nevada Ballet Co-Chair Wendy Plaster) at Silverton and I am looking forward to it being a lifetime of friendship. This happens once in a lifetime. Tonight's event wouldn't be so special without the tremendous talent that was up on the stage, now that's a gift -– the best gift ever because so many people came up to Vegas just to be with me. I must thank the 'American Idol' singers, the Paula Abdul dancers, and even the three bellmen who took my luggage to my room and the Wynn hotel limo driver. I had a relationship once with all of them and I deserve another award for that too!! Might as well go with it!" she laughed.

And then the night became a mini-roast as she tackled her 'American Idol' colleagues, "Seriously though, I couldn't accept this award without mentioning three very special men. I have two on either side of me and one I literally look up to -- Ryan, because of his 6" platform heels. Just kidding, but nice to see you dressed up in your formal wear. You guys make me look really good. Every time Randy Jackson opens his mouth I sound like a Nobel Prize winner. Every time Simon opens his mouth, Borat looks like a Nobel Prize winner. I do love Simon almost as much as he does. Seriously he knows there's nothing I wouldn't do for him, after all I help him into his corset before every show. Speaking of which, Simon, when you wear those tight shirts, even my chest begins to hurt. Randy, what kind of brother is Randy? He's a beautiful, friendly soul happy to take you out to dinner -- happy to take himself out to dinner. Just kidding. There's nothing I wouldn't do for him either, but listen Randy, dog dude, the alphabet does carry on past the letter D! These 3 really are my big brothers. They are the best colleagues and friends I could hope for. Ask my therapists. They're here tonight --that table, that table and that big table. I would say this award is as much for them as it is for me, but that wouldn't be showbiz – its mine all mine and I love it!"

"All kidding aside, I want to thank one person in particular, who I asked to come out and perform, Chris Daughtry. He's getting so busy as the #1 artist out there and he's doing it and living the 'American Idol' dream and making memories for himself as he starts a 50-city tour tomorrow. Chris, document everything and don't forget any of the stops along the way and don't forget Paula Abdul. I love you Chris. It means the world to me that you came tonight. And to those of you who have ever had the courage to actually go for it and try what any of these people do up here, it is exhilarating, it is scary, it is hard hard work but so worth it when you are able to touch one person along the way and make a difference. Thank you for letting me makes a difference."

Then it was time to change into a less formal outfit for the after-party at Victor Drai's Tryst nightclub – which rocked on until this morning's early hours. As an exhausted Paula wrapped up the glittering night of all-star glamour she said: "It was a longtime dream that finally came true. I feel fabulous but never ever thought it would actually ever happen."