Kara DioGuardi: Here Comes the New 'Idol' judge

Image credit: Michael Becker/Fox

All About

American Idol

Get the latest photos, news, and more

Industry insiders attribute DioGuardi's prolific portfolio to her no-nonsense work ethic. ''If you're in a jam and need something done, she's a great closer,'' says Jimmy Iovine, whose Interscope Records includes DioGuardi collaborators the Pussycat Dolls and will.i.am. ''I'd use her for anything.'' Music mogul Tommy Mottola — who paired her with Dion, Marc Anthony, and Jessica Simpson, among others — agrees: ''She's one of the best I've ever encountered. In pop music, where things can be sort of crap and mundane, she finds new twists lyrically, and her melodies are extraordinary.'' Another plus, as far as her Idol credentials go: She's got vocal chops. ''The truth is she can sing like there's no tomorrow,'' Warwick says. ''So whereas in the past when the kid would say, 'Aw, you couldn't sing any better' and none of the judges even tried, she does, and she can.''

But the question remains: Can she hold her own as a TV star? Sure, she appeared on ABC's 2006 Idol rip-off The One, but it was canceled after only four episodes. And crashing Randy, Paula, and Simon's party is something else altogether. ''They're like brothers and sisters at this point,'' she says, having already wrapped the brutal preliminary auditions as well as the Hollywood round. ''And I'm like the long-lost cousin who they're not sure they wanted to see, but now they're like, Okay, you can stay for dinner.'' She has what sounds like Randy Jackson's unequivocal — and ever-so-Randyesque — endorsement: ''I think people will look at me first and say, If the dawg is feeling her, then I should feel her too.''

For the record, she'll sit between Randy and Paula. ''They tried [putting] me between her and Simon,'' explains DioGuardi, ''but they kept trying to communicate and I didn't want to be in the middle of that.'' And, yes, both she and Abdul will be keeping their seats; producers insist DioGuardi isn't being groomed as her former mentor's replacement. ''That's just cheeky journalistic hype,'' Warwick says. Adds DioGuardi, ''Paula and I have a good vibe. I have respect for Paula. I'm not of the thinking that women should drag each other down.'' Abdul says she isn't worrying about her job security (''I was never told that she was coming in to take my place'') — and, in fact, only feels more confident with DioGuardi around: ''When I heard she was going to be the fourth judge, I thought, ha ha, hee hee, Simon has no idea I have an ally now.''

That's a relief to DioGuardi, who says her biggest challenge will be ''being aware of when to shut up.'' But could her penchant for telling it like it is end up rankling a nation of rabid Idol fans? In between singing the praises of a new love on her demo and waxing rhapsodic about writing partner Reeves, DioGuardi muses repeatedly, and without prompting, about whether America will think she's just too darn mean. ''I know who I am, but what are people going to perceive me as?'' she wonders. ''They may think my intensity and my boldness are bitchy. I hope not. I don't think I'm bitchy. Do you think I'm bitchy?'' No, but fortunately for Idol, we think she has a lot of potential.

Additional reporting by Adam B. Vary

For complete coverage of season 8, visit EW's American Idol Central

More on American Idol from EW:
American Idol: Songs We Never Want to Hear Contestants Sing Again!

American Idol: Season 7's Best and Worst Fashion

American Idol: The 12 Best Auditions Ever