Finally, An American Idol Judge That Can Sing!

Posted Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:47am PDT by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks

Today it was announced that pro songwriter Kara DioGuardi will be joining Simon, Paula, and Randy as a fourth judge on season 8 of American Idol. While you may have never heard of Kara, surely you're familiar with the hits she's penned for Idols like Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, as well as other superstars like Celine Dion, Pink, Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan, Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, Ashlee Simpson, Christina Aguilera, and Kylie Minogue. Pretty impressive.

Kara has also written for, um, Paris Hilton. Hey, they can't all be hits!

Speaking of not all songs being hits...Kara actually briefly fronted Platinum Weird, a sort of fake band with the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart that was the subject of a Behind The Music-style spoof rockumentary on VH1 a couple years ago.

That TV exposure obviously didn't do as much for Kara's profile as her new AmIdol job will, since Platinum Weird's one-off album only sold about 5,000 copies. But hey--at least her Platinum Weird stint proved that Kara can SING, unlike the three existing Idol judges (including Paula Abdul). And that makes her uniquely qualified for this gig.

See for yourself, in this Kara/Platinum Weird performance shot at the Yahoo! Music studios back in 2006:

I'm personally looking forward to seeing Kara spar with her fellow judges next season. Besides being able to upstage Paula in the fashion, singing, and lucidity departments, the woman is sharp-tongued enough to maybe give even Simon Cowell a run for his money. Check out her entertainingly mouthy interview here (all about her fake former band), and get ready for her Idol closeup next January:

35 Comments

1. *&Adri&* - Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:30pm PDT

I kno its so stupid because none of the judges can actually sing

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2. dogpeople - Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:34pm PDT

No wonder Paula is pissy over this one. Prettier, younger, and lots of talent....Now to keep Simon's eyes on the contestants.

3. 2BTrue - Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:46pm PDT

So over this show. Paula lacks singing ability but her ear to hear a good voice supports that. Kara may spice things up. Paula may be a bit intimidated by her or not. I doubt if I'll watch...maybe if I'm bored

4. nohj - Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:51pm PDT

You don't have to be able to sing to critique singing....

5. First L - Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:29pm PDT

Now there's a judge that can actually say something like "I wrote that song, and you butchered it, thanks."

6. J.L.Ackles - Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:39pm PDT

Finally, an American Idol judge who actually knows a thing or two about singing. Lets hope that the reason they are bring her in is to slowly push Paula out. If she's on that show another year were gonna have to actually see Simon and Randy prop her up with a stick and move her mouth like a drunken, druged out, unconsious puppet.

7. Ashley - Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:55pm PDT

sweet another female judge :)this is going to be a good season.

8. JoeS - Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:51pm PDT

The show S8cks it doesn't matter what they do, or who they add, it is fake!

9. Yahoo! Music User - Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:57pm PDT

Why??????? I liked idol ya sure it did get boring but the original cast is the way it should have stayed

10. Yahoo! Music User - Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:31pm PDT

blah blah

11. Yahoo! Music User - Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:31pm PDT

i like paula

12. Yahoo! Music User - Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:40pm PDT

and people think this chick can sing. she looks like a wannabe who's trying to be an american idol. she'd be kicked out at hollywood week.

13. Toeless_Joe_Jackson - Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:35am PDT

Singing? Or flatulance?
You decide.

14. sadie - Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:39am PDT

Kara should'nt be a judge, she should be a contestant. I think she would win.

15. DiMac - Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:08am PDT

I would definitely start watching again if Paula was being replaced. I can't take another season of incoherent sentences that take forever to come out of Paula's mouth.

16. Honest - Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:31am PDT

Big Mistake. The three are great judges, You know the old saying, If it's not broke, leave it alone. I won't be watching, this new "judge" looks like trailer trash trouble.
Have a good year.

17. Ted - Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:37am PDT

Paula Abdul can sing you dummy!

18. james - Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:42am PDT

Heh, give her a chance

19. Tinique - Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:22am PDT

Like it or not Paula can sing and Paula has been in the background of the business so she is more than qualified to be a judge. Writing songs and being able to sing a little bit doesn't make you an expert just ask Robin Thicke.

20. NY ITALIAN - Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:51am PDT

The competition is supposed to remain on the field, not in the dugout. I hope the focus stays on the contestants. Obviously, a means to "spice it up." You know when a sitcom starts dying and begins to lose its ratings, the producers always write a "baby" into the script to try and bring back their ratings...well, same thing here.

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