Matthew Simmons/WireImage, Paul Fenton-KPA/ZUMA PressYesterday, the Internet was buzzing that Paula Abdul didn't approve of American Idol’s decision to hire a fourth judge, songwriter Kara DioGuardi.
But judging from the A.I. queen's conversation with Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM show today, it seems as though Paula couldn't be more thrilled to have her pal Kara—whose career she claims to have launched—join her, Simon and Randy at the judges' table.
Paula tells Ryan she met Kara outside a restaurant in New York when Kara was a Billboard magazine employee with songwriting dreams. After meeting her that day, Paula convinced Idol's newbie judge to drop everything and move to L.A. with her.
Says Paula: "[Kara] was my roommate! And I took her all around the world with me and introduced her to wonderful people...She stayed in Sweden and wrote with these people and got started living her dream."
Not only does Paula sound enthusiastic about Kara in general, but when Ryan asked her where Kara will sit at the judges' table, Paula said, "I dunno. Hopefully next to me." But in case that proves distracting, Paula continues, "we’ll probably be separated by Simon or something."
When in doubt, always blame the British guy.