Award-winning songwriter and producer Kara DioGuardi [ tickets ] will be sitting at the judges table for the eighth season of American Idol [ tickets ], according to a statement on the show's website.

An Idol executive said the show's producers had originally intended for AI to have four judges. "We've seen from our international series that having a fourth judge creates a dynamic that benefits both the contestants and the viewers," executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz said in a statement.

DioGuardi is no stranger to American Idol. Several contestants have recorded her songs, including Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Katharine McPhee, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, David Cook and Clay Aiken.

DioGuardi's songs also have been record by several award-winning artists including Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Christina Aguilera, Santana and Pink. She also has worked with Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, The Jonas Brothers, Jewel, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Lachey and Marc Anthony among many others.

DioGuardi, who was a judge on ABC's "The One: Making a Music Star," also wrote and performed with Dave Stewart as Platinum Weird.