Despite what would seem to be an obvious scheduling conflict with American Idol, Paula Abdul is reportedly ready to compete on Dancing with the Stars' upcoming spring edition.

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"Paula is very excited to be on board [with Dancing with the Stars]," a source close to Abdul told Radar magazine in a Wednesday report.

Abdul's rumored participation in Dancing with the Stars as a celebrity contestant is nothing new.  However the fact that she'd be doing so in the midst of Idol's eighth season would seem unlikely given not only will both shows air on competing networks this spring, but they both air live -- and sometimes overlapping -- broadcasts on Tuesday evenings.

Although Abdul also already recently denied she's planning to leave Idol, Radar also reported Abdul is "uncertain" about her Idol future after obsessed fan Paula Goodspeed committed suicide in front of her home last month. 

Word that Abdul was interested in going Dancing first surfaced when Dancing with the Stars professional Louis van Amstel said Abdul expressed interest in the ABC show in January.  Dancing host Tom Bergeron later claimed Abdul told him she'd "love" to compete on the show.

Abdul subsequently confirmed her interest when she said she was "hypothetically thinking about it," causing Dancing with the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli to gush about how much he'd want her on the show.

Recently-departed Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe later admitted he wasn't in favor of the idea.

"As far as I'm concerned, Paula is American Idol and our judge," Lythgoe said in May.  It's like asking [fellow judge Simon Cowell] to sing. Why would I want that? It chips away at you."

Dancing with the Stars eighth season is currently slated to air early next spring, while Idol's eighth season will debut in January.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
Christopher Rocchio is an entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and has covered the reality TV genre for several years.