Kara DioGuardi
Biography
Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi (born December 9, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, and TV personality. She writes music primarily in the light pop-rock, dance, and R&B genres, and has worked with a host of successful artists, including many Grammy award winners, and is credited on over 120 album releases. She is also a judge on American Idol, having joined the show in its eighth season in 2009.
One of the industry’s most highly sought after songwriters and producers, DioGuardi’s songs have appeared on more than 100 million records combined. She has been awarded 11 BMI Pop Awards for having co-written the most performed songs on the radio. She also won the 2003 BMI Cable Award for co-writing and performing, "Somethin' to Say", the theme to the now-canceled Lifetime Television series For the People, and the 2007 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year. She was also the 2007 SOCAN Award winner. In 2007, she was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the category of Song of the Year for her writing on the Belinda single, "Bella Traición" along with co-writers Belinda, Ben Moody, Nacho Peregrin and producer Mitch Allan.
Read full biography ↓
From her catalog of several hundred songs, over 279 have been released on major labels worldwide; and over 169 have appeared on multi-platinum selling albums. Over her career, she has had nearly 50 international charting singles, and her songs have helped propel 58 albums into the Top Ten of the Billboard 200. Her songs have been featured in major motion pictures, television shows, film soundtracks, and radio spots, as well as national and international commercial campaigns.
DioGuardi's songs have been recorded by Grammy award winning artists such as Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Santana, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Pink, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwoord, and Marc Anthony. Scores of major recording artists including Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Jonas Brothers, Leona Lewis, Pussycat Dolls, Hannah Montana, Natasha Bedingfield, Puddle of Mudd, Theory of a Deadman, Daddy Yankee, Ashley Tisdale, Katharine McPhee, David Archuleta, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Jesse McCartney, Backstreet Boys, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, Cheetah Girls 3, Demi Lovato, Camp Rock, Jessica Simpson, Jewel and Nick Lachey have recorded and released Kara’s songs. DioGuardi has achieved equal success internationally with hit singles for artists such as Enrique Iglesias, Anastacia, Ricky Martin, Kylie Minogue, Diego, Belinda, RBD, Eros Ramazzotti, Delta Goodrem, Darius, Thalia, and Martine McCutcheon.
Her collaborations include Justin Timberlake, Chad Kroeger, Timbaland, will.i.am, Polow Da Don, Marti Frederiksen, Dave Stewart, Brian Howes, John Fields, Danja, John Shanks, Greg Wells, Jeffrey Steele, Craig Wiseman, David Foster, David Hodges, Rodney Jerkins, Chris Tompkins, Future Cut, The Underdogs, Eman Kiriakou, and Mitch Allan.
DioGuardi is also co-owner of Arthouse Entertainment, where she develops and mentors fellow hit writers, producers, and artists. Within only three years of its inception, the multi-award winning songstress and entrepreneur catapulted her company to the rank of #7 on Billboard’s chart of Top Ten national music publishers for three consecutive quarters. DioGuardi currently serves as Executive Vice President of Talent Development, Office of the Chairman for Warner Bros. Records, where she was appointed in 2008
Charting US Singles:
“Play My Music” (Jonas Brothers)
#20 BB Hot 100
#7 Hot Digital Songs
“We Rock” (Camp Rock Cast)
#33 BB Hot 100
# 1 Hot Singles Sales
“Taking Chances” (Celine Dion)
#6 Billboard Hot AC
#35 Billboard Pop 100
#54 Billboard Hot 100
“Lost” (Faith Hill)
#13 Billboard ac
#61 Billboard Hot 100, #51 Billboard pop 100
“Baby Love” (Nicole Scherzinger)
#50 Billboard POP 100 Airplay
“Rich Girl” (Gwen Stefani)
#3 billboard pop 100; #7 billboard hot 100; #4 top 40
“Ain’t No Other Man” (Christina Aguilera)
#1 top 40; #4 billboard pop 100; #6 billboard hot 100; #1 billboard Dance
“Walk Away” (Kelly Clarkson)
#6 billboard pop 100; #12 billboard hot 100; #19 billboard AC
“Beep” (Pussycat Dolls)
#13 billboard hot 100
“I’m Feeling You” (Santana feat. Michelle Branch)
#5 billboard AC; #53 billboard pop 100; #55 billboard hot 100
“With Love” (Hilary Duff)
#17 Billboard pop 100; #24 Billboard Hot 100; #3 Hot Digital Airplay
“Come Clean” (Hilary Duff)
#9 top 40; #35 billboard hot 100
“L.O.V.E.” (Ashlee Simpson)
#20 billboard pop 100; #22 billboard hot 100; Top ten airplay
“Boyfriend” (Ashlee Simpson)
#13 billboard pop 100; #19 billboard hot 100
Charting US Singles (cont’d):
“Pieces of Me” (Ashlee Simpson)
#5 billboard hot 100; #30 billboard AC
“Shadow” (Ashlee Simpson)
#57 billboard hot 100
“La La” (Ashlee Simpson)
#6 billboard Dance; #86 billboard hot 100
“Escape” / “Escapar” (Enrique Iglesias)
#12 billboard hot 100; #1 Billboard Dance; #2 Hot Latin; #25 Billboard AC
“I Want You” (Paris)
#7 mainstream / #22 Billboard Hot 100
“Be Good To Me” (Ashley Tisdale)
#5 Billboard Pop 200, #1 Brazilian top 30 singles,
“Bella Traicion” (Belinda)
#11 Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay, #13 Billboard Latin Pop Airplay, #14 Billboard Hot Latin Songs
“The Real Thing” (Bo Bice)
#17 billboard AC; #33 billboard pop 100; #56 billboard hot 100
“Confessions of a Broken Heart” (Lindsay Lohan)
#12 Billboard Pop 100; #57 billboard Hot 100
“The Way” (Clay Aiken)
Top ten single
Charting International Singles:
“Taking Chances” (Celine Dion)
Top 10 in 7 Countries / #1 Canadian Hot100 / #12 European Singles Chart / #26 World Singles
“Sunshine” (Ricki-Lee Coulter)
#1 Single in Australia
“Ain’t No Other Man” (Christina Aguilera)
Top 10 in 12 countries
“Rich Girl” (Gwen Stefani)
Top 10 in 12 countries
“Beep” (Pussycat Dolls)
Top 10 in 14 countries
“I Don’t Need a Man” (Pussycat Dolls)
#7 UK hit / Top 10 in 9 countries
“Don’t Turn off the Lights” (Enrique Iglesias)
#4 Australia hit
“I Belong to You” (Anastacia & Eros Ramazzotti)
#1 International hit
“Spinning around” (Kylie Minogue)
#1 UK & Australia hit / Top 10 in 10 countries
“Walk Away” (Kelly Clarkson)
Top 10 in 13 countries
“Welcome to My Truth” (Anastacia)
Top 10 in 4 countries
“One Heart” (Celine Dion)
#13 Canada hit
“Predictable” (Delta Goodrem)
#1 Australia hit
“Not me, Not I” (Delta Goodrem)
#1 Australia hit
“Confessions of a Broken Heart” (Lindsay Lohan)
#7 Australia hit
“I’ve Got You” (Martine McCutcheon)
#6 UK hit
“Cry Baby Cry” (Santana)
Top 100 UK hit
“Someone’s Watching Over Me” (Hilary Duff)
Top 40 Australia hit
“Alguien Real” (Thalia)
Top 20 in 5 countries
“Kinda Love” (Darius)
Top 10 UK Hit
“Shut Up” (Kelly Osbourne)
#3 UK hit / Top 20 Ireland & Norway
Top Ten Albums:
It Keeps Getting Better: A Decade of Hits (Christina Aguilera)
1 Song
#9 BB 200
Funhouse (Pink)
1 Song
#2 bb 200
David Archuleta (David Archuleta)
1 Song
#2 BB 200
My Love: Essential Collection (Celine Dion)
1 Song
#8 BB200
Don’t Forget (Demi Lovato)
2 Songs#2 BB 200/#2 Top Digital/# 1 Top Internet Sales
Doll Domination (Pussycat Dolls)
2 Songs
#4 BB200/ #3 Top Digital
Camp Rock (Various Artists)
2 Songs
#3 BB 200/ #2 Top Digital/ # 7 Top Internet Sales
Taking Chances (Celine Dion)
3 Songs
#1 European Album Charts / #3 Billboard 200 / Top 10 in 22 Countries
Blackout (Britney Spears)
1 Song
#2 Billboard 200
Unbreakable (Backstreet Boys)
1 song
#7 Billboard 200
Spirit (Leona Lewis)
1 Song
#6 European Hot 100 Albums
Kidz Bop 12 (Various Artists)
1 song
BB200 #7
Hannah Montana 2 (Hannah Montana)
1 song
#1 Billboard 200
My December (Kelly Clarkson)
1 song
#2 Billboard 200 / #1 Top Digital / #2 Top Internet / #5 European Top 100
El Cartel: The Big Boss (Daddy Yankee)
1 song
#1 Top latin / #9 billboard 200
Best Damn Thing (Avril lavigne)
1 song
#1 Billboard 200 / #1 European Top 100 / #1 Top Digital Album / Top ten in 31 Countries
Taylor Hicks (Taylor hicks)
2 songs: 1 single
#2 Billboard 200 / #2 Top Internet
Headstrong (Ashley Tisdale)
1 single
#5 Billboard 200 / #5 Top Internet
Insomniac (Enrique iglesias)
3 songs
#3 UK Top 200/ Top ten in 4 countries
Love Angel Music Baby (Gwen Stefani)
1 single
#2 Billboard 200 / Top ten in 9 countries
7mil sold / 3x Platinum
Back to Basics (Christina Aguilera)
12 songs: 1 single
#1 billboard 200 / #2 Top R&B Hip Hop
2x Platinum
Top Ten Albums (cont’d):
Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson)
6 songs: 1 single
#3 billboard 200 / 11x Platinum
One Heart (Celine Dion)
2 songs: 1 single
#2 billboard 200 / Top ten in 29 countries
2x Platinum / #1 in 9 countries
A New Day Has Come (Celine Dion)
2 songs
#1 billboard 200 / 2x Platinum
Goodbye Alice in Wonderland (Jewel)
1 single
#8 billboard 200
All That I Am (Santana)
3 songs: 1 single
#2 billboard 200 / Gold
What’s Left of Me (Nick Lachey)
1 song
#2 Billboard 200 / Gold
In the Zone (Britney Spears)
1 song
#1 debut billboard 200 / 2x Platinum
Ultimate Kylie (Kylie Minogue)
1 single
Top 10 in 5 countries
PCD (Pussycat Dolls)
3 songs: 2 singles
#3 billboard 200 / 6x Platinum
Life (Ricky Martin)
1 song
#6 Billboard 200 / #6 Top Internet
Autobiography (Ashlee Simpson)
9 songs: 2 singles
#1 billboard 200 for 3wks / 5mil sold / 3x Platinum
I Am Me (Ashlee Simpson)
11 songs: 2 singles
#1 billboard 200 / 2x Platinum
Most Wanted (Hilary Duff)
1 song
#1 billboard 200 / Platinum
Metamorphosis (Hilary Duff)
2 songs
#1 billboard 200 for 2 wks
5 Mil sold / 3x Platinum
Hilary Duff (Hilary Duff)
5 songs
#2 billboard 200 / 1.5Mil sold / Platinum
Dignity (Hilary Duff)
12 Songs: 1 Single
#3 Billboard 200
Escape (Enrique Iglesias)
7 songs
#2 billboard 200 / 9mil+ sold / 3x Platinum
Top Ten Albums (cont’d):
Anastacia (Anastacia)
6 songs
#1 European record / Top 5 in 16 countries / 9mil sold
Pieces of a Dream (Anastacia)
2 songs: 1 single
4mil sold
Irresistible (Jessica Simpson)
1 song
#6 Billboard 200 / Gold
Measure of a Man (Clay Aiken)
1 single
#1 billboard 200 / 4mil sold / 3x Platinum
Mended (Marc Anthony)
12 songs: 1 single
#3 billboard 200 / 3x Platinum
Thalia (Thalia)
2 singles
#2 Top Latin / 3 Mil sold
Now 23 (Various Artists)
“Ain’t No Other Man” Christina Aguilera
#1 Billboard 200/ 2x platinum
Paris (Paris)
4 songs
#6 Billboard 200
Innocent Eyes (Delta Goodrem)
1 single
#1 Australia
2.5mil sold / 14x Platinum Australia
Katharine McPhee (Katharine McPhee)
6 songs: 1 single
#2 Billboard 200
Speak (Lindsay Lohan)
6 songs: 2 singles
#4 billboard 200 / Platinum
Take it all away (Ryan Cabrera)
1 single
#6 billboard 200
2x Platinum / #1 in 9 countries
You, Me & Us (Martine McCutcheon)
1 single
#2 BB200 UK/ 2X Platinum
The Real Thing (Bo Bice)
3 songs: 2 singles
#4 billboard 200 / Gold
Awards:
BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2008 (“Ain’t No Other Man”, Christina Aguilera)
SOCAN Pop AWARD- 2007 (“Walk Away”, Kelly Clarkson)
TAXI Award---- 2007 Humanitarian of the Year
BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2007 Songwriter Of The Year
BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2007 (“I’m Feeling You”, Santana)
BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2007 (“Walk Away”, Kelly Clarkson)
BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2007 (“The Real Thing”, Bo Bice)
BMI Pop Music Awards ----2006 (“Pieces of Me”, Ashlee Simpson)
BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2006 (“Rich Girl”, Gwen Stefani)
BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2003 (“Escape”, Enrique Iglesias)
BMI Top Ten Latin Award ---- 2003 (“Escapar”, Enrique Iglesias)
BMI Film & TV Music Awards ---- 2003 ( For the People theme song)
Campaigns & Themes:
“Taking Chances” – Biggest Loser Promo Campaign
“My Bra” – Lifetime Television’s breast cancer awareness campaign
“With Love” – Elizabeth Arden
“A Little Bit” – Bally’s Campaign
“Good Day” – Extreme Makeover
“I Will Remember You” – Will & Grace theme
“Believe” – Biggest Loser theme
“Believe” – Bell Canada Olympic Games Campaign
“Autobiography” – Ashlee Simpson Show theme
“Rich Girl” – Pepsi Campaign / Last Holiday
“Supergirl” – Candies Campaign
“One Heart” – Chrysler Campaign
“Come Clean” – Laguna Beach and Newport Harbor theme Campaign
“Don’t Turn Off the Lights” – Dorito’s Campaign
“Brave New Girl” – Brave New Girl
“I’m Ready” – Dell Campaign
“La La” – Thermasilk Campaign
Films & Soundtracks:
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney Pictures)- “Rich Girl”
Get Smart (Warner Bros) --- “Aint No Other Man”
Welcome Home Roscoe Jennings (Universal) --- “Aint No Other Man”
Bring It On: In It To Win It (Universal) --- “Never Stop”
Bring It On: In It To Win It (Universal) --- “Be Good To Me”
Bratz (Lions Gate) --- “La La”
Bring It On: All Or Nothing (Universal) --- “Rich Girl”
Last Holiday (2006) --- "Rich Girl"
Herbie Fully Loaded (2005) --- "First"
Ice Princess (2005) --- "Reach"
Raise Your Voice (2004) --- "Someone's Watching Over Me" And "Fly"
A Cinderella Story (2004) --- "Now You Know"
Scooby Doo 2 : Monsters Unleashed (2004) --- "The Way"
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004) --- "Ready" And "1-2-3"
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.