Kara DioGuardi thinks women in Hollywood need to stop fixating on the way they look. “It’s so important, especially as women, to find a passion in your life,” the American Idol judge says in an episode of The Bonnie Hunt Show to air Wednesday. “Accomplish something outside of your looks.

“I’m almost 40, and this December, I looked in the mirror and I got real close, and I was like, ‘Damn, I’ve got some lines!’” continues DioGuardi, who hits the big 4-0 next December. She doesn’t mind her imperfections though. “All I could say to myself was, ‘I worked hard. I really did,’” adds the songwriter-producer, who has collaborated with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Carrie Underwood.

Kara doesn’t completely ignore her appearance, though. Last week, she announced she was ditching her big curls and dresses for the ninth season of her Fox reality show. “Part of it is that I’m somebody who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup or do a lot with my hair,” she says. “So it was hard to see myself all dolled up.” As for what she’ll wear this year, Kara says she’s “still experimenting and still getting it together… I’m definitely trying to go more to a natural style, more rock-glam — just something that feels more like me.”

Watch her singing

Kara released her own studio version of the song “No Boundaries” on YouTube. No information has been released about where the song was recorded or whether it will be available for purchase. While the official video is no longer on YouTube, there are a few unofficial versions floating around.

Kara DioGuardi apparently isn’t limiting her singing talents to upstaging bikini-clad American Idol wannabees.

Former Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica star Nick Lachey has revealed that he has recorded a duet with the new Idol judge.

“She and I wrote it together,” Lachey told Access Hollywood about his collaboration with DioGuardi, according to Us Weekly. “Initially, just in the studio, we thought, ‘All right, let’s sing it together and then we’ll maybe find someone else to be on it,’ but she did such a great job on it.”

The song, titled “Temporary,” will be included on Lachey’s upcoming album, Coming Up For Air.

DioGuardi has written songs that have appeared on more than 100 million records, and been recorded by Grammy award-winning artists including Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Santana, Pink and former American Idol winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

“She is one of the more talented people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and just a great, down to earth person as well,” Lachey said, according to Us. “I’m very happy for her that she’s getting this opportunity.”

Source: Reality TV World