Meet the new American Idol: Kara Dioguardi

Five months before the new season of American Idol is set to kick off (and apparently trying to steal some of Dancing With the Stars' thunder), producers are shaking things up in a big way, messing with what was until now a winning formula and adding a fourth permanent judge to the table.

Joining Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson when the eighth season of the reality juggernaut begins in January is prolific singer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi.

The Grammy nominee's name may not be familiar to Idol viewers, but her sound should be. DioGuardi has strong ties to the behind-the-scenes world of Idol, writing tracks for David Cook, David Archuleta, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Bo Bice, Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks.

She has also more than earned her credentials outside the Idol universe, penning hits for Britney Spears, Jonas Brothers, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Paris Hilton, Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan, Leona Lewis, Natasha Bedingfield, Santana, Hilary Duff, Simpsons Jessica and Ashlee and just about any other artist who's cracked Billboard's Top 10 in recent years.

And if viewers are wondering where on the judges' scale of causticity she'll fall...

"It's hard for me to not be honest," she said. "I'm known to be very exclamatory...My vibe is to the point, and I can be pretty tough at times, but also nurturing when I need to be."

FYI: Producers tried once before to add a fourth judge to the Idol mix, hiring New York DJ Angie Martinez to join the second season of the show. She lasted just five days before quitting, after revealing she had never bothered to watch an episode before signing on.

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Meet the new American Idol: Kara Dioguardi