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

21. chermily - Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:53am PDT

I really don't like this fourth judge thing, why mess with the chemistry of the existing judges! and paula, she's the best thing that AI has!

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22. Lucki - Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:06am PDT

I feel sorry for Paula. It's nice to add another girl judge, but she's younger and all. D: She'll probably grt upstaged or whatever.

I dunno, hopefully it'll all work out. It'd be horrible if they ended up replacing Paula. Her incoherence is so funny. XD

23. Zac - Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:51pm PDT

I don't think they should add a fourth judge to the show and Paula Abdul can sing too... :)

24. sue - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:01pm PDT

Paula can sing and I agree with everyone else who says "why add another judge" Watching Paula, Randy and Simon spare is part of the fun of the show. The main focus of course is on the contestants but to add another judge just sounds crazy to me. I won't go asfar to say I won't watch anymore but I am not happy about another judge. And now when oneof the celebrities are there to teach will that mean some weeks we will have 5 judges? That is just crazy.

25. S.J. - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:27pm PDT

Paula is a has-been. She doesn't sing; she croaks. I never liked her from the beginning. If they get a new one to replace paula, maybe, just maybe, I will watch the show again. I got fed up with her because she is nothing but a bumbling, mumbling idiot. At least Randy and Simon can talk without sounding like they are on drugs but I don't like Simon either but they will never replace him because he is the originator I think. A good looking female on the show will definitely get Paul's goat. She is ugly even with all her makeup. WTG American Idol. Replace the face. lol.

26. Dale M - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:34pm PDT

Keep it at three Judges, but get rid of Paula Abdul. These contestants need honesty from these Judges and not false hopes from Abdul. She is hurting these people more than she’ll ever know.

27. __A_YAHOO_USER__ - Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:49pm PDT

If she is half as good in bed as she sings then I would def. do her.

28. Amanda N - Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:40pm PDT

yay! change is good! i'm personally looking forward to it!

29. Yahoo! Music User - Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:51pm PDT

It's clear that the producers are growing more and more worried about Paula's performance of late. That's why another female judge, just in case Paula doesn't make it to the stage someday!

30. Yahoo! Music User - Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:27am PDT

You don't need to be able to sing to judge other people singing.

31. squatty1 - Sat Aug 30, 2008 1:51pm PDT

new blood

32. julie - Sat Aug 30, 2008 4:34pm PDT

let the games begin....

33. Dot - Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:29pm PDT

hello, don't yall know that song, "straight up now tell me are you really gonna love me forever? (oh oh oh) ..caught in the hit n' run...str8 up now tell me, is it gonna b u and me 2gether? (oh oh oh) or are u just haven fun?" i'm pretty sure it's from the 80s and PAULA ABDUL was the artist for that song...

34. WILDIRISHROSE19522000 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:34am PDT

who really cares after all it is very boring and the same thing over and over again

35. Deb - Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:08am PDT

Can't wait to see the fireworks!

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