The new 'American Idol' judge finding her place

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Being the new judge on "American Idol" has been a huge adjustment for Kara DioGuardi.

It's not that dealing with the auditioners is a big change for her. She's spent years working with singers as a songwriter/producer. But being the focus of media attention — suddenly becoming both a celebrity and, in a way, a performer — is outside her comfort zone.

"What I wear and how I look has never really been a huge focus of mine," DioGuardi told the Deseret News. "I've been concentrating on writing the songs, producing the vocals, running my company. So that's a change."

As is going from someone who works rather anonymously behind the scenes to being someone who's swarmed by reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour.

"Normally, I'm the girl in the back and people are, like, 'Can you get us a cup of coffee?' And I'm, like, 'Yeah, I'm the songwriter but I'll double as the coffee girl today,'" DioGuardi said.

Still, when the producers of the most-watched show in America called and asked her to join Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson as a judge, she didn't hesitate.

"Honestly, when 'American Idol' calls, you just kind of go, 'What? Are you kidding?' And you feel like you've hit the lottery," DioGuardi said. "Now that I'm in it and you guys are all around me, I'm starting to go, 'Is this going to be my life?'

"Because, remember, I write songs. After I write the song, I'm off to the next studio writing another song. I'm not the artist who has to sit there and sing the song for the next 10 years. So, now, having to follow this whole thing through will be an experience for me that I'm looking forward to."

It helps that she's got a friend on the panel. Her relationship with Abdul goes back a decade, and Abdul is glad to have DioGuardi sitting there next to her.

"It's great because Kara finally sees what it's like for me in my own private hell. She gets it now," Abdul said, joking (sort of) about Cowell.

"At times, definitely, there's that dynamic of girl power," DioGuardi said. "But at the end of the day, I'm going to say to the contestant what I feel and what my gut's telling me. And if it's harsh, I try to deliver it with some heart.