Kara DioGuardi Ready for Idol

NYdailynews.com reports that singer-song writer Kara DioGuardi is ready to take her seat as a judge on the sensation that is American Idol.

DioGuardi told reporters Monday, "I'm just somebody who's really honest and gives my opinion. If I feel I need to be hard with someone in order to get that across, I will. And if I feel I need to be softer and more nurturing with the contestants, I'll do that. It all depends on the situation."

And as she has written songs that have been performed by the likes of Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Taylor Hicks, and Carrie Underwood to name a few, DioGuardi should be more than qualified to be a judge on the show.

She also has a clear idea of what her role might be as a judge dealing with contestants who are trying to cut it as up-and-coming artists, and says it's not critical.

"I don't think it's criticism. For people that are on the show, it's part of their journey. If they're going to become a huge artist or not, they're there to learn something, and no matter what, the experience is going to help them," commented DioGuardi.

But when asked the tough questions about how tie votes will be broken or seating arrangements at the judges table, all DioGuardi will say is, "I just know that I'm suppose to have my makeup done by 11 o'clock."

The upcoming season of Idol may begin in January, but DioGuardi got a dose of what being a judge will be like, Monday, as all four judges got to meet the contestants who passed early auditions for the first time.

As for the question of what kind of judge DioGuardi will be, whether more like Simon or Paula, only time will tell.