Kara DioGuardi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kara DioGuardi
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DioGuardi in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi |
| Born | December 9, 1970 Ossining, New York, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1990–present |
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Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi (born December 9, 1970) is an American songwriter, music producer, and singer. She also works as a music publisher and has been a TV personality. Kara is best known for writing pop rock songs.
She has worked with many famous artists, and her songs have appeared on albums that have sold over 160 million copies worldwide! Kara has won many awards for her songwriting, including the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year. She was also a judge on the popular TV show American Idol for two seasons.
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Early Life and Education
Kara DioGuardi was born in Ossining, New York. Her family has roots in Italy and Albania. Her father, Joe DioGuardi, was a Congressman for the Republican Party. Kara grew up in New Rochelle, New York.
She went to elementary school at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School. Later, she attended The Masters School before going to Duke University. At Duke, she studied political science. After college, she worked for Billboard magazine, which is a well-known music publication.
Music Career
Kara DioGuardi has written hundreds of songs. More than 300 of her songs have been released by major music labels around the world. Over 150 of her songs have appeared on albums that sold millions of copies! She has had 50 songs become international hits. Her songs have also been featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials.
Songwriting for Famous Artists
Kara has written songs for many popular singers. In 2004, she helped write six songs for Kelly Clarkson's album Breakaway, including the hit "Walk Away".
In 2006, she worked with Christina Aguilera on her album Back to Basics. Kara co-wrote most of the songs on the first disc of that album, like "Ain't No Other Man". She also wrote songs for Jesse McCartney's album Right Where You Want Me.
In 2007, Kara worked with Britney Spears on her album Blackout. She also wrote many songs for Hilary Duff's album Dignity. After her time on American Idol, Kara continued to write and produce music. She worked on songs like Pink's "Sober" and Carrie Underwood's "Undo It".
Kara also co-wrote the song "Not Meant to Be" for the band Theory of a Deadman. She even appeared in the music video for the song, which was her first time in a music video! In 2007, she teamed up with Dave Stewart from the band Eurythmics to write "Taking Chances" for Celine Dion. This song became a big hit around the world.
Later, Kara wrote "If I Can't Have You" for Meat Loaf's album Hang Cool Teddy Bear and sang it as a duet with him. She also helped write Kelly Clarkson's "Heartbeat Song" in 2015.
Songs for Movies and TV Shows
Kara DioGuardi has written many songs for films and television series. Some of her songs include "Brand New Day" for Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam and "We Rock" for Camp Rock. She also wrote "He Could Be the One" for Hannah Montana. Her songs have been used as theme songs too, like "Taking Chances" on Glee and "Come Clean" on Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.
Music Publishing Company
Kara DioGuardi is a co-owner of Arthouse Entertainment. This company helps record labels and other music businesses find new songs, producers, and artists. Arthouse has been involved in many chart-topping hits. Some of these include Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are," Cee-Lo Green's "Forget You," Jason DeRulo's "Want to Want Me," and Maroon 5's "Memories."
Television Appearances
In 2009, Kara joined the popular TV show American Idol as a fourth judge. She sat alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul for the show's eighth season. She returned for the ninth season with Cowell, Jackson, and new judge Ellen DeGeneres. Kara decided to leave the show in 2010.
She has also appeared on other TV shows. She was a guest star on The Simpsons and Sesame Street. In 2009, she played herself in an episode of Hannah Montana called "Judge Me Tender." After leaving American Idol, she was a head judge on the competition series Platinum Hit.
Other Projects
From September to October 2011, Kara DioGuardi performed on Broadway. She played the role of Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago.
After her time on American Idol, she wrote a book about her experiences called A Helluva High Note; Surviving Life, Love and American Idol. Since 2012, she has taught a course at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The course is called "Hitmaking with Kara DioGuardi" and helps student songwriters and producers learn about the music industry. One of her students was the famous singer Charlie Puth.
Personal Life
Kara DioGuardi divides her time between Los Angeles and Maine. She married Mike McCuddy on July 5, 2009. Mike has a teenage daughter from a previous relationship. Kara and Mike welcomed their son on January 31, 2013, born via a gestational carrier. They chose this path after facing challenges with infertility.
Kara also works with the Phoenix House, an organization that helps people. She helps set up recording studios in their facilities and teaches teenagers how to use the equipment. In 2010, she went on a charity trip to Angola with former American Idol contestant Elliott Yamin. They visited projects that help prevent and treat malaria.
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 2006 | Rock Legends: Platinum Weird | Herself | Television film |
| 2006 | The One: Making a Music Star | Herself | |
| 2009–2010 | American Idol | Herself / Judge | |
| 2009 | Hannah Montana | Herself | Episode: "Judge Me Tender" |
| 2010 | The Simpsons | Herself (voice) | Episode: "Judge Me Tender" |
| 2011 | Platinum Hit | Herself |
Awards
Latin Grammy Awards
| Year | Title of Work | Category | Result |
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| 2007 | "Bella Traición" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
Images for kids
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DioGuardi in 2007
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DioGuardi in 2010
See also
In Spanish: Kara DioGuardi para niños
