Kara DioGuardi will return for Season 9 of 'American Idol'

Kara DioGuardi, a.k.a. "the fourth judge," will be back on "American Idol" next season.

A source familiar with the situation confirmed that DioGuardi, a songwriter and producer who was added to the judging panel for its eighth season, has had her contract option picked up for Season 9. "She's coming back for a second season -- she really enjoyed the first," said the source, who asked not to be identified.

The filmed auditions begin next Thursday in Denver. And the clock has been ticking on an announcement about DioGuardi's involvement, but that question has been vastly overshadowed by Paula Abdul's very public disputes with the "American Idol" producers over her recently expired contract. David Sonenberg, Abdul's new manager, told The Los Angeles Times on July 17 that Abdul might not come back to "Idol" next season because the producers were being "rude" and "hurtful" in their treatment of her.

DioGuardi, in contrast, apparently sealed the deal to come back to "Idol" weeks ago before the Abdul explosion occurred.

"She's happy to be going to Denver next Thursday," said the DioGuardi source.

-- Kate Aurthur

Paula Abdul's manager: She'll leave 'Idol' if 'rude' producers don't step up new deal [Updated]

Paula Abdul is unhappy. And unless the producers of "American Idol" change her frown to a smile soon, she'll dance like there's no tomorrow away from TV's No. 1 show.

"Very sadly, it does not appear that she's going to be back on 'Idol,' " David Sonenberg, Abdul's manager, told The Times when contacted about the judge's contract negotiations.

With auditions for the ninth season due to start Aug. 6, Sonenberg says he doesn't even have a proposal for a new contract from FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, the production companies behind the show. The new season is scheduled to premiere in January.

"I find it under these circumstances particularly unusual; I think unnecessarily hurtful," he said of the contract holdup. "I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that they haven't stepped up and said what they want to do."

[Updated at 11:59 p.m.: Sonenberg began managing Abdul at the end of June, he said. According to him, he has "reached out to the head of business affairs at 19" and told Fox that "Paula would love to be on the show." He said Fox told him he would hear from them, but "I have not received any proposal whatsoever."]

Representatives for Fremantle, 19 and Fox all separately declined to comment.

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Paula Abdul's post-performance parting words

Green satin-clad "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul was told to "work it girl, work it" by someone in the press room. She laughed and gave the order right back. After all, Abdul's used to banter sitting between Randy, Kara and Simon at the judges' table. Backstage at the Idoldome we caught up with Paula to get some post-performance final thoughts.

On the final Adam and Kris performance showdown:
When asked who third-place contestant Danny Gokey's voters would break toward, Abdul noted Adam Lambert and Kris Allen have "separate, unique talents."

On the song Kara DioGuardi co-wrote for the finalists:
A mildly noncommttal polititian-style statement: "I'm proud of Kara." But Abdul didn't have anything quite as nice to say about Simon, "Simon is there to always ruin a moment."

On post-show plans:
The former Laker girl (across from the Staples Center as the Lakers are on the court) will stay busy selling her jewelry line for three hours for HSN.

On the judges "will they, won't they all be returning next season?" question
 "Tune in!" she shouted while being pulled off stage.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Kara DioGuardi co-writes 'American Idol' winner's single

Kara DioGuardi -- the now and possibly future judge of "American Idol" -- has co-written the winner's first single.  The song, entitled "No Boundaries," was written with Cathy Dennis and Mitch Allan.

Before her season-long "Idol" tenure, DioGuardi was best known as a songwriter for such artists as Pink, Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson. "No Boundaries" will be the first radio offering of either Adam Lambert or Kris Allen, who will face off on tonight's performance show; the winner will be crowned Wednesday night.

For years, the "American Idol" winner has been saddled with mediocre debuts. In an interview last month, when asked whether she might offer her expertise to break this cycle, DioGuardi said: “I’ve been asked to. I’ve submitted something."

When pressed for details, she said: "I did write one that – I won’t say it’s what they all write about. But it is, kind of. Because they asked for that! It’s not like you can submit anything, they have a criteria.”

What is it, like, I'm so happy?

“It’s about finding your dream," DioGuardi said. "And the struggle. That’s what they want.”

And was that hard?

“No. It’s easy for me to talk about dreams and struggles. I’m in one right now. I’m in one right now!" She laughed, and continued. "Right? A dream and a struggle. At the same time. We’ll know soon enough if the fourth judge is on the chopping block. Won’t we?”

Yes, we will.

-- Kate Aurthur

How many judges will 'American Idol' have next season?

Tomorrow, tweens everywhere will have to choose between Adam Lambert or Kris Allen.

But today we tried to get to the bottom of the hot-button issue that will follow "American Idol" fans into next season: How many judges will there be when the show returns for its ninth season?

Paula Abdul's contract is still sitting there, waiting to be signed. Then there's the question of what to do with Kara DioGuardi.

Fox executives were not in the mood to answer today:

"I can’t comment on that right now," Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly said.  "Tried it this year. We’re just gonna finish up this year’s cycle and I think we’re going to finish strong with two contestants who have really stirred up the passions. And then we’re going to do what we do every year. We’re going to sit down with the producers and look at the entire show for next season."

Hmmm. "Tried it this year." Interesting.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

Photo: DioGuardi and Abdul. Credit: Getty Images

Kara DioGuardi warms to the hot seat

The "American Idol" personality is largely id-driven: The pleasures the talent show offers are immediate, whether a singer soars or sinks. And the show around the show can yield even more merriment, as it spews out a ceaseless stream of news/gossip generated by the contestants' biographical details, the judges' antics, behind-the-scenes backstabbing that may or may not be fictional and, often least important, discussion of the results of the actual singing competition.

But Kara DioGuardi -- who became the show's fourth judge this season in the most visible manifestation of its much-hyped tweaks -- is all superego. And her weekly critiques, delivered live on Fox before an average audience of 26 million viewers, tend to weigh heavily on her mind.

"It wakes me up at night," DioGuardi said the day after a performance show. "Can you imagine? Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and I thought, 'I've got to look at those performances. Did I clock that one wrong? Why didn't I say that? I could have been more supportive.' "

So as Season 8 draws to a close Wednesday, the question rises: Will the union of DioGuardi, the thriving songwriter, and "American Idol," the only massively popular television show, last?

Read more Kara DioGuardi warms to the hot seat

Click here to hear Kara sing.

(Photo by Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

Kara DioGuardi: Dress designer

The old wedding day saying goes, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi will be a bride this summer and she already has the "something old" bit planned -- her dress! DioGuardi tells Us Weekly magazine (in the May 18 issue's "Love Lives" section) that she'll reinvent her mother's wedding dress to make it her own when she weds Mike McCuddy.

"I'm taking my mom's dress and completely revamping it," the fourth voice on the panel revealed. She plans to hike up the hem and make it sleeveless, but "keep the bustle." DioGuardi adds that there are definite benefits to using "beautiful old gowns," "especially in this economy." Vintage style and cost-saving measures aside, the most special part of her plan is the fact that her mom can be a part of her special day through the dress. Carol DioGuardi passed away in 1997 after battling ovarian cancer.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Kara DioGuardi's 'Idol' fate uncertain: 'Hopefully they'll keep me on'

It seems like almost every week, there is a new rumor about one of the "American Idol" judges leaving the series. But the public won't know for a while which -- if any -- of the rumors are true.

Now, in a chat with TV Guide, season 8 addition Kara DioGuardi reveals that she is just as clueless as the rest of us about her own "American Idol" fate.

“I’m only here for one season... That’s what we’ve discussed. So we’ll see what happens. Hopefully they’ll keep me on,” DioGuardi told the mag.

But according to Simon Cowell, DioGuardi has nothing to worry about. "I think certainly next year everyone's going to be back," he told Ellen DeGeneres in a pre-taped segment. "Yeah, absolutely."

Whether or not she returns to "American Idol" next year, Kara DioGuardi is sure to be busy. Even during her time on the series, she has maintained her full songwriting schedule, and shows no signs of slowing. On April 20, DioGuardi wrote on her blog:

Personally, I have been really busy this month in the studio with Cobra Starship, Jason Castro, Cee-Lo, Miley Cyrus and working on the new Camp Rock project.  I also had my first cut with Rascal Flatts on their new album, “Unstoppable”, which went to number one this week on the BB 200 … and the Kelly Clarkson song that I co-wrote with Katy Perry called 'I Do Not Hook Up' is also starting to heat up.

What do you all think? Should Kara DioGuardi come back again next season? 

-- Stephanie Lysaght

Related: 

Kara DioGuardi opens up about eating disorder
Kara DioGuardi threatens Paula Abdul's crazy quotes crown
Kara DioGuardi plays the crazy ex-girlfriend

Photo credit: Wireimage

Paula Abdul stays focused on her craft

The ‘American Idol’ judge has an album due out. Her reps negotiate an ‘AI’ contract extension with Fox.

"American Idol" viewers are accustomed to seeing the show’s "nice judge" Paula Abdul grapple for just the right words to deliver her verdicts. But on Monday afternoon in a Burbank rehearsal space, she strutted boldly across the floor,  directing six strapping backup dancers, who careened and kneeled in her wake, then lifted her to a platform about 15 feet high. There, she paused for the merest second at the edge, and then dropped face first toward the floor — her petite frame rescued midplunge  by the arms of her dancers.

"I’m fearless," she said a few minutes later in her dressing room. "The dancers were more afraid than I am. I was like, ‘Guys, I know you’re going to catch me. You’re not going to drop me on my head.'"

There will be more daring plunges in coming weeks as Abdul finds herself at a critical career crossroads.  With a new album due out (fans will get a sample of the single on tonight’s "Idol"), she prepares to reintroduce herself as a singer to the generations that have come of age since her monster hits of the ’80s. She’s in the midst of contract negotiations with Fox about another season of "Idol" amid lingering questions about whether whether she’ll return.

And she’ll be doing it sober: After years of denying that she had any drug or alcohol dependencies, in a June cover story in Ladies’ Home Journal, Abdul said that over Thanksgiving she went to a spa for ?detox treatment for her ?painkiller addiction. The revelation, after saying it wasn’t true so many times, seems to be a part of an effort to get the judge-in-all-her-facets out before the public, beyond the often flummoxed face behind the desk.

Another season?

Although it has been widely - and wildly - speculated that the show’s producers would use this season’s addition of the fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi, to squeeze out Abdul, sources close to Abdul and the network confirmed that Fox has begun negotiations to renew her contract and seem hopeful an agreement can be reached?before it expires at season's end.

Fox had no official comment for this story, saying it does not speak about contract negotiations, but the network has publicly expressed hope that Abdul will be back for the show’s ninth season.
If there is a hangup, it is likely to be the reportedly vast  disparity in the stars’ salaries.  Last year, former "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told Australia’s Courier Mail that the show’s trademark tough judge, Simon Cowell, earns $36 million each season (not including income from his involvement with "Idol" grads’ records). Cowell’s contract expires after next season, and he has been making noise that he might move on.

Sources close to the show say Abdul earns a fraction of Cowell’s figure, pegging it at around $2 million.

While the numbers are haggled over, Abdul has new music to introduce. Tonight, she will cross over the judges’ desk and take the stage to perform on the results show. Abdul called the song -- "I’m Just Here for the Music" -- a "dance anthem." It is the title track of her album to be released this fall. Abdul gushed that the work is a return to the heights of "Forever Your Girl," her 1988 debut, which sold 12 million copies worldwide.

"It’s got that magic feeling to it, and when that happens, you know it," Abdul said of the new opus. "There’s no demographic, it really just spans the extent of who I am. This album is about my life right now."

(In a review of the single, Entertainment Weekly called Abdul’s voice "an electronic squeak," but the critic wrote that he "thoroughly enjoyed tilting my head backward and pouring every last worthless crumb down my gullet.")

All a-Twitter

Eight years into Abdul’s second act as an "Idol" judge, her life right now seems full. Her recent activities include not only her album but a line of jewelry, handbags and accessories (with cosmetics soon to follow) and perhaps the most important of modern triumphs -- a Twitter feed (@PaulaAbdul) that has just passed 100,000 followers.

In her dressing room, preparing to run through her number again, the fearless Abdul of the dance floor again became the more tentative, shy presence known to tens of millions of "Idol" viewers, carefully searching for the right words to channel her fonts of energy.

Asked whether the many avenues she is pursuing now are the first steps to a post-"Idol" life, Abdul offered an equivocal answer:

"Here's the thing with me. If you think 20 years ago, I was a Laker girl and having a No.?1 single with ‘Straight Up,’ and choreographing from 7:30 in the morning till 1 p.m. at ‘The Tracey Ullman Show.’ Then I'd leave my assistant there and go down to Universal Studios and work on the George Michael 'Faith' tour, while two doors down I’d be working on the Jackson reunion tour. Then I’d go into the studio at midnight while at 5 a.m. I’d pull into the Fox parking lot and sleep for a couple of hours. I thrive on that. I do lots of things, and I feel like I’m circling back to where all the magic happened, and I’m having the blessings of being able to do that."

Getting ready to go run through the dance routine again, she continued, "I stay out of the negotiation area, and I let my people handle that because I have to stay focused on being an artist and doing what I do best. I love my job. And I’m having my best time ever this season. And you know what? As long as I’m having fun, loving what I’m doing, everything will work itself out."

-- Richard Rushfield

Editor’s note: This story summarized  a recent Ladies’ Home Journal cover story saying that Paula Abdul went to a spa for detox treatment for her painkiller addiction. The exact wording of in the Ladies’ Home Journal story read that “determined to overcome her habit, she checked into the La Costa Resort and Spa, in Carlsbad, California, to wean herself off her medications in one fell swoop.” In this Web version of the story, there are question marks around the words "detox treatment for her" because of a formatting error and should not have appeared there.

Photo: Paula Abdul with dancer DJ Guthrie rehearses her a song 'I'm Just Here for the Music.'  Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times