Kara DioGuardi on Simon: "He Will Be Missed"

The American Idol judge talks about life after Cowell. Plus, X Factor winner Leona Lewis chimes in

Sad face for Kara DioGuardi!

The American Idol judge says the singing competition show won't be the same without Simon Cowell.

"He's a huge part of the show," DioGuardi told us at Warner Bros. and In Style magazine's Golden Globes party. "He's got one of the best personalities ever on a television show. He gets away with saying things that no one could get away with."

"He's charming," DioGuardi said. "He's made the show hugely successful, and he's going to be very missed."

And what did she have to say about Idol host and E! man Ryan Seacrest jumping into Cowell's chair?

"I don't see Ryan giving up what he's currently doing on Idol," DioGuardi said. "What he's doing now works for him perfectly…I have no idea who will or who should replace Simon."

Leona Lewis, who won Britain's The X Factor in 2006, is hopeful Idol will survive without Mr. Cowell, but she understands why he's leaving. "I guess he needed a change and wanted to do something different," said Lewis, who sings the Globes-nominated Avatar song, "I See You." "I think he's going to have a good time doing The X Factor here."

No surprise, but Ms. Lewis is anxious to see the new American Idol X Factor.

"I don't think the format will be exactly like the U.K.," she said. "I'm excited to see what they will do with it to make it different."

—Reporting by Dahvi Shira