Here is a transcript from Paula Abdul's interview on Larry King Live last night.

* Paula on Katharine - "Katharine is born to be a singer. She -- you know we look at footage when she was a little girl singing in a hairbrush and looking in the mirror and checking out her looks. Her mother is a professional singer and a coach. She's got beautiful range. I understand why she's one of the finalists. Every little girl aspires to be her."

* Paula on Taylor - "Every cell of his body oozes a born entertainer...He's born to be on that stage. He's most comfortable when he's on that stage. He's one of the only contestants I know that is a completely different person off stage...He's very focused and it's almost like he's walking back and forth. The second he hits the stage he's a performer, you know, and he is living life."

* Paula on Elliott Yamin- "Yes, I'm not going to deny it. I wanted Chris Daughtry to win. I wanted Taylor to win. I wanted Elliott to win, you know. And I believe Katharine deserves to be there as well, all of these kids -- and Paris...Listen to me, you're getting me all -- but there's something about Elliott Yamin I will say that's different and touched me emotionally more than anyone else and that is a kid who's overcome adversity. He's overcome tremendous hurdles, has a sense of family, is not afraid to show it. He's one of the nicest contestants we've ever had in the history of the show."

* Paula Chris Daughtry - "Well, I think that he was so far ahead and people were saying 'You're going to win,' including myself, and Katharine had a bad week that week and what I love about America is they help people who need the help and the vote split and Katharine -- you can't count out the fact that little teenage girls are in this to be calling and calling over and over again

I used to think Paula was bit...hmm...well under unnatural influences half the time...but I really like what she said there. Notice how nowhere does she say that Kat that sing incredibly? And the part about how it's little girls calling in over and over that saves her each week...priceless. And I absolutely adore her for what she said about E. She articulated so well what I feel for him. You're officially OK in my book, Paula!! :)

LOL, I think I may have been considered one of those "teenage girls calling and calling over and over again"... but for Elliott, and I'll be 50 :).

I love what she said about Elliott, and to hear her say it was so much more personable.

As all of you said, I love how she said (I'm paraphrasing it of course) that she wanted Chris and Taylor to win as well but she wanted Elliott to win more because there was something about him that really made you want to root for him. And I love how she has gone out and told everyone this.

I haven't really followed her comments about contestants in previous years, but has Paula ever claimed to have a favorite in previous years? I mean we all assumed she had a fave before based on her reaction as a judge, but I mean a case when she actually says unabashedly that someone is her favorite?