Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > August > 25
Monday, August 25, 2008
8/25: Kara DioGuardi talks to the media
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I listened to reporters barrage Kara DioGuardi with questions for 45 minutes and here are my impressions:
-She seems fairly level headed but not terribly colorful in terms of quotes. It’s certain she won’t be flighty like Paula or harsh like Simon or catchphrase-happy like Randy. What she’ll be we won’t quite know until she sits down tomorrow and begins her job. “I will be a straight shooter,” she said. “It’s flattering to think they even thought of me. When I got the call, I thought they were calling the wrong person. I’m the new kid on the block. I hope everyone goes easy on me… I am a lucky lucky gal.” She dubbed herself “a little feisty.”
-She was a judge on the very short-lived reality show on ABC “The One,” an “Idol” ripoff that was cancelled after just four episodes and alarming low ratings in 2006. I just noticed Syesha Mercado was on the show. Nobody asked DioGuardi about that.
-She has no clue where she’ll be sitting. I’m sure leaks will come out tomorrow from contestants in the know. I bet she’ll go before Paula but after Randy.
-I asked about how she got into music. She was a would-be singer who ended up becoming an in-demand songwriter/producer in the pop field. She has an impressive resume and has worked with many Idols.
-Her favorite Idol to work with was Kelly Clarkson. (Cool beans!) She produced Kelly’s hit “Walk Away.” Of the contestants last season, she liked Brooke White the most. “She looked like an artist, felt like an artist, had an interesting tone.”
-“Idol” called her literally just days ago and flew her to New York, where the first later-round auditions start tomorrow. “I almost fell off my chair.”
-She’s closest friends with Paula Abdul. They co-wrote a Kylie Minogue song together. It’s called “Spinning Around.” It was a worldwide hit, never released in the U.S.:
-She has done A&R work to find artists though nobody asked if she discovered anybody notable.
-On being on TV and thrust into the limelight: “I’m putting some money into buying more makeup. I’ll be ready for the camera.”
In other “Idol” news:
-Access Hollywood reports that Jennifer Hudson will be performing the National Anthem at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday before Barack Obama speaks.
