Kara DioGuardi gave an interview to Maxim magazine and posed for a sexy pictorial to accompany it.  The comely brunette confesses that more than one contestant has hit on her. “I got a couple of proposals and thought maybe I’d want to divorce my husband,” she tells the magazine laughing. Kara said she got the Idol job because of her reputation for being “ballsy and outspoken.”… “They knew I wouldn’t clam up and go under the desk. Although I did want to, believe me!” she said.

Kara also said she missed Paula Abul, but was excited when talk show host Ellen DeGeneres joined the show.  “I missed her. She was so nurturing,” she says of Paula. “I wouldn’t say I have the maternal instinct that she had, though. I’m a little bit more New York, a little more hard-edge.”

When asked if she’s sad about Simon leaving, Kara says, “I have no idea. All I can say is the guy can do things not many folks can get away with, and people like when someone is true to himself.”  She’s also incredibly happy about Ellen joining the show (”I was like, ‘Rock on!’”)… “The thing with Ellen, I don’t think everybody understands is that she’s a huge music lover. That’s what you need to be on Idol,” she added.

Check out the full interview over at Maxim.com.

Kara DioGuardi and Elliott Yamin will travel to Angola in February for Idol Gives Back, reports the Los Angeles Times. This year’s Idol Gives Back special is schedule to air April 21.

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

American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi treated guests to a live performance with her stellar vocals at the 2nd Annual “An Evening of Hopes and Dreams Gala.”

Kara sang her tunes “Taking Chances” and “Sober” for the crowd, which included “Twilight’s” Edi Gathegi and “90210″ star AnnaLynne McCord. The gala raised funds for the Somaly Mam Foundation, founded by human trafficking survivor and leading activist Somaly Mam. McCord bid $12,000 for the opportunity to travel to Cambodia with Mam and make a difference in the lives of children victimized by the human trafficking market.

Funds raised through the event will be used to help women and children sold into slavery around the world.

Photos will be up! so be sure of checking the gallery!!

According to New York Magazine’s Vulture blog, the “American Idol” judge is shopping around a new reality show about giving music artists a second chance. “It’s called ‘Dropped.’ I’m starting to shop it now,” she told the mag Tuesday night at the G-Star Raw fashion show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

“It takes the best acts that have been dropped and gives them a second chance. You look at Katy Perry, the Jonas Brothers, Alicia Keys, and Lady Gaga, they all have one thing in common: They’ve all been dropped from their labels,” she continued. “I was dropped. Think about how many times in your life you haven’t achieved one goal, but you’ve achieved another one.”

But will Kara be the host of the show if it gets picked up? “Oh, my God, now we’re getting into particulars,” she told the mag. “All right, maybe! I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth.”

As NY Mag pointed out “American Idol” alums Katharine McPhee, Taylor Hicks, and Ruben Studdard – who have all been dropped by their labels, in addition to other dropped “Idol” alums Blake Lewis, Diana DeGarmo, Bo Bice – might get another shot at success on the singer/songwriter/producer’s new show.

Best of luck with this new project!!

“We are so happy to welcome back Kara for her second season with Idol,” the show’s creator and executive producer, Simon Fuller, said in a statement Monday. “She is a breath of fresh air, and her passion for music and her understanding of talent is invaluable. This show is all about discovering new talent, and Kara’s championing of Adam Lambert is proof positive of her great instinct.”

Adds executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz, “Kara brings her own special style and sensibility to the show, which includes her innate talent to identify, nurture and direct a performers potential. We’re very pleased with her contributions as the fourth judge on the panel.”

Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson are also slated to return (taping start Aug. 6), it remains to be seen if Paula Abdul will be back. The ninth season of Idol premieres in January.

Kara was recently in NYC to receive the National Music Publishers’ Association Icon Award, which recognizes outstanding songwriters for personal achievement, and who personify the vision and goals of the NMPA and its members. She also presented Tom Jones the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award at the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame 40th Anniversary Awards and co-hosted Regis and Kelly.