Contestants for TV powerhouse American Idol will have another judge to impress starting this fall.
Producers of the hit singing competition show announced on Monday that pop singer-songwriter and music producer Kara DioGuardi will join the judging panel that already features Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul.
"She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America's most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show," Simon Fuller, executive producer and creator of the international Pop Idol franchise, said in a statement.
DioGuardi is a Grammy-nominated songwriter whose work has been recorded by top singers including Celine Dion, Gwen Stefani, Enrique Iglesias, Ashlee Simpson, Kylie Minogue, Pink, Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, and past American Idol winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
Her work includes Clarkson's Walk Away, Christina Aguilera's Ain't No Other Man and We Rock, from the recent Disney Channel musical Camp Rock.
Cecile Frot-Coutaz, another Idol executive producer, revealed the American edition was initially intended to have four judges.
"We've seen from our international series that having a fourth judge creates a dynamic that benefits both the contestants and the viewers," she said.
Canadian Idol, for instance, has four judges: Farley Flex, Jake Gold, Sass Jordan and Zack Werner.
The eighth season of American Idol gets underway in January. The sixth season of Canadian Idol will end with a two-hour finale on Sept. 10.
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