‘AMERICAN Idol” co-host Paula Abdul was rear-ended while driving on an L.A. freeway yesterday – keeping her from subbing for Dorothy Lucey on “Good Day Live.”

Abdul was scheduled to fill in for the vacationing Lucey, who co-hosts “GDL” with Steve Edwards and Jillian Barberie (1 p.m./Ch. 5).

But a Fox spokeswoman said Abdul, who was driving her own car, was hit from behind by another woman at around 8 a.m. (L.A. time). No one was hurt, but the ensuing delay was enough to keep Abdul from her appointed “GDL” rounds.