Kara DioGuardi Feels Accepted on American Idol

After seven seasons, American Idol has entrenched itself in the culture of reality television.

The same can be said for its judges (Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul), whose banter and chemistry is a major reason many fans tune in every week.

With that in mind, of course Kara DioGuardi was nervous to premiere as the show's fourth judge for the upcoming eighth season. But she recently told Entertainment Weekly that she's been embraced by her fellow panelists.

"They're like brothers and sisters at this point," the new judge said, having already wrapped the 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."