KARA OUT OF AMERICAN IDOL

Sunday, September 05 2010 20:27

"American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi is confirming weeks-long rumors about her future on the hit Fox reality show.  She's out.  According to Variety.com, the network confirmed DioGuardi's exit from the show on Friday, and DioGuardi followed up with a statement of her own.  She said, quote, "I felt like I won the lottery when I joined 'American Idol' two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave 'Idol.'"  She added, "I am very proud to have been associated with 'Idol,' it has truly been an amazing experience."  Fox executives called DioGuardi a "great addition" to the "Idol" family and said she would be missed.  Rumors about a shakeup at "Idol" and DioGuardi's future on the show first surfaced in late July after Ellen DeGeneres announced she would not be back for a second year as judge.

An accomplished singer-songwriter, DioGuardi was added to "Idol's" original three-judge panel in 2009, joining Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson at the critic's table.  Abdul left the show later that year after eight seasons, and Cowell said farewell at the end of "Idol's" recently completed ninth season.  Jackson's name is expected to be called when Fox finally announces "Idol's" new lineup of judges in the coming days.  Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler and pop star Jennifer Lopez are widely rumored to be leading the cast of potential new "Idol" judges.