Kara DioGuardi to join American Idol

Pop songwriter Kara DioGuardi has been announced to join Simon, Randy and Paula as the fourth judge on American Idol. This is great news for Kara, surely to raise her profile to the masses. Behind the scenes she's already huge. She's one of the most important pop songwriters of this decade--up there with Chantal Kreviazuk, Max Martin, Cathy Dennis, Ne-Yo and Guy Chambers.

Her songwriting credits include "Spinning Around" by Kylie Minogue (co-written with her new co-star Paula Abdul), "Walk Away," "Gone" and "Where Is Your Heart" by Kelly Clarkson, "Ain't No Other Man" by Christina Aguilera, "Pieces of Me" and "Boyfriend" by Ashlee Simpson, "Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani, "Beep" by the Pussycat Dolls, "Not Me, Not I" and "Predictable" by Delta Goodrem, "Come Clean," "Without Love" and "Fly" by Hilary Duff, "Starting Today" and "Perfectly" by Natalie Imbruglia (great songs from an underrated album)

Here she is performing her song "Taking Chances," which became a hit last year when Celine Dion recorded it. Recognize the guitarist? It's Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics.