Vital 'Idol': Meet Kara DioGuardi

Posted at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13
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New “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi says fans should watch out for the guys when the singing competition begins its eighth season Tuesday.

DioGuardi told reporters last week that she was most impressed with “five to 10” male singers during the auditions. She heard a “lot of soul influence” among the contestants, she said, “the way Maroon 5 is soulful.”

“I would say that there is a uniqueness to some of the male contestants that’s different in terms of their voices and their songs,” she said.

The 38-year-old singer-songwriter-producer knows what she’s talking about. She’s written for or with a who’s who of recording artists, including Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Enrique Iglesias, Pink, Faith Hill, Marc Anthony and Celine Dion.

She said she’s thrilled to be part of “Idol,” but she isn’t giving up her day job.

"I was just working with Colbie Caillat in Hawaii,” she said. “I've been up 48 hours now. She's just great. I love her voice. She has just such a great tonal quality and emotion to her voice."

She’s also worked with “Idol” contestants Kelly Clarkson, David Archuleta, David Cook, Carrie Underwood and Katharine McPhee. In 2000, she and Paula Abdul co-wrote “Spinning Around” for Kylie Minogue.

There’s one former “Idol” contestant she hasn’t worked with. DioGuardi has her eyes on Chris Daughtry.

"I would love to co-write with him. At one point he was going to do a duet on a song I'd written, but it didn't happen,” she said. “If he's out there and wants to do a co-write, call me!"

Although she's worked with so many "Idol" contestants, DioGuardi said she never imagined she would be asked to join the show. She compared it to hitting the lottery.

“Idol” has to work out better than DioGuardi’s first foray into reality TV. In 2006, she was a judge on ABC’s “Idol” wannabe “The One: Making a Music Star.” It was canceled after only four episodes.

Despite that experience, DioGuardi said she wasn’t completely prepared for the “Idol” spotlight.

"I can't tell you how many times I've seen that photo of all four of us, and I feel like I look like Peg Bundy. The hair, not so big anymore. Some of my looks? Ugh, the makeup and hair took me a minute."