Idol’s New Judge Kara DioGuardi: ‘I’m a Lucky, Lucky Girl’

Source: PEOPLE
American Idol
Idol’s New Judge Kara DioGuardi: ‘I’m a Lucky, Lucky Girl’
August 25, 2008
Put to rest the notions of an American Idol shakeup, Kara DioGuardi told reporters during a conference call Monday, hours after FOX announced that the songwriter and producer will join the show as a judge.

DioGuardi, a music industry powerhouse, has penned and produced hits for Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera (to name a few). She will meet up for the first time with Idol’s original judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul on Tuesday for the New York auditions of the upcoming season, which will air on FOX in January 2009.

Does Abdul, Idol’s lone female for seven seasons, feel threatened? DioGuardi doesn’t think so.

“I haven’t spoken to her. I would think she’d be excited,” DioGuardi said, noting that she and Abdul collaborated on the Kylie Minogue hit “Spinning Around” in 2000.

Fans who were surprised with the announcement that Idol will add another judge are not alone. “I almost fell off the chair,” DioGuardi said of hearing from the show’s producers, who approached her for the gig and are hoping to create “a new chemistry as well as keeping the old” with the expansion of the judges’ panel.

DioGuardi told reporters she doesn’t know where she’ll sit or how four judges will break a tie during the auditions.

“I’m a little nervous,” admitted DioGuardi, who said her approach to judging is simple. “I’m going to be a straight shooter and say it like I see it and maintain that philosophy.”

So is she more of a Paula or a Simon? “I’m somebody who’s really honest and gives an opinion,” she said. “If I feel I need to be hard, I will be. And if I feel I need to be more nurturing, I will be.”

One thing DioGuardi will have to get used to is being recognized. While she’s known as one of the best in the music business, “I’m not a household name,” she said. “I’m putting some money into buying some makeup.” – Monica Rizzo

John on Breakup with Jen: There Was No Lying, No Cheating

Source: PEOPLE
Though John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston were decidedly mum about their romance, the singer is opening up about their breakup.

"There's no lying, there's no cheating, there's no nothing," Mayer told reporters about his split with Aniston after working out at an Equinox Gym in New York's SoHo neighborhood.

If anything Mayer had only praise for his ex, saying: "Jennifer Aniston is the smartest, most sophisticated person I think I have ever met."

So what went wrong? "People are different, people have different chemistry," said Mayer, who appeared emotional, nervous and sad. "I ended a relationship to be alone, because I don't want to waste somebody's time if something's not right."

Sources confirmed that the duo, whose whirlwind romance began in April, mutually decided to split earlier this week.

Since the breakup, Aniston and Mayer have settled into their separate lives on different sides of the country.

Glamour Fall Trend: Mary Jane Shoes are all grown up

Source: Glamour Magazine
Your old-school Mary Janes are all grown up. The deep color and gold hardware look so rich that no one will believe you only paid $70 for these.

Bakers shoes, $70