Kara DioGuardi
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As a post-Emmy Award party this week, Kara DioGuardi made it very clear: she's completely behind the selection of Ellen DeGeneres as a judge on American Idol.

"I think it's a genius decision," DioGuardi said. "I wish I had thought of it."

Kara added:

"I know a little bit about Ellen from watching her show and I would say she would probably be somebody who would be fair in her criticism and will try to be as supportive as she possibly could... I was on her show once and she's lovely, generous, very kind. I think it's going to be great."

Do you agree? Or do you wish American Idol had chosen someone else?

While Paula Abdul's status on American Idol is still up in the air, we can now confirm that Kara DioGuardi is coming back for season nine of the show.

"Her deal is done. There are no ifs, ands or buts," a source told E! News. "Done. She will be back."

There you have it.

DioGuardi will start shooting a new set of American Idol auditions in the next week or so. Are you glad she's returning?

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."

Kara DioGuardi is being welcomed to American Idol with open arms by a man known for his prickly demeanor.

Indeed, Simon Cowell sounded truly excited to have the songwriter aboard as a judge. He appeared alongside Kara - and Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson - in a public show of solidarity Tuesday afternoon as the quartet entered a Chelsea Piers building in Manhattan's for a round of season eight auditions.

Kara DioGuardi has passed the Simon Cowell test.

"It's like, you know, having dinner with three people for seven years, and getting quite bored of each other," Cowell told reporters at the scene. "So it's having a fourth person, new opinion, I think it's gonna be interesting."

He added:

"Kara has a good reputation of A, having hits; and B, having an opinion. And that's a good combination... and she's cute."

It's safe to say Kara DioGuardi won't be another Paula Abdul.

If you're wondering what this songwriter will bring to the American Idol judging table next year, here's a look at how fiery she got during an episode of The One: Making of a Music Star...

On his radio show this morning, Ryan Seacrest met new American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi for the first time.

When the show's host asked the new star how she compared to fellow judge Paula Abdul, Kara replied:

"I'm definitely a little harder," she said, not making a very bold statement. "I can be pretty tough at times, and nurturing when I have to be. It really depends on the contestant."

DioGuardi went on to discuss her co-production efforts with Kelly Clarkson and other past American Idol finalists, while saying it's hard for her not to be honest at all times. Sounds like a solid addition to the show to us.

Mere hours after we learned of three new professionals on this season of Dancing with the Stars - Lacey Schwimmer, Corky Ballas and Inna Brayer - we've also learned that a new judge will be added to American Idol next year.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Following criticism that the show needed to change things up, creator Simon Fuller has announced that Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi will sit alongside Simon, Paula and Randy in season eight.

"We are turning the heat up on Idol this year and are thrilled to welcome Kara to the judges' table," Simon Fuller said in a statement. "She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America's most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show."

Season eight of American Idol premieres in January. New judge Kara DioGuardi will be a big part of it.