Pop Stand

Fox Broadcasting announced today that they are adding a fourth judge to the "American Idol" panel.

Kara DioGuardi, whom Idol creator Simon Fuller lauded as "a smart, sassy lady," is a Grammy-nominated songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, the Jonas Brothers, Christina Aguilera, Faith Hill, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion and Pink, among others.

"For the past seven seasons, Paula has had to endure the experience of being the only woman at the judges' table," said a statement by Mike Darnell, president of Fox's alternative programming. "With Kara by her side, Paula has some backup and now there is going to be a lot more 'girl power' on the show."

Here's a video of DioGuardi singing Faith Hill's hit, "Lost," which she co-wrote.

"We had originally intended for 'American Idol' to have four judges," said Executive Producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz. "We've seen from our international series that having a fourth judge creates a dynamic that benefits both the contestants and the viewers."

Auditions for season eight of Idol took place from July 17 (San Francisco) to Aug. 19 (East Rutherford, N.J.) It's unclear whether DioGuardi was present at the auditions.

So, is this bad news for Paula? Vote below!

-- Anne Neville