Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi (/ˈkærə ˌdiːoʊˈɡwɑːrdi/ KARR-ə DEE-oh-GWAR-dee; December 9, 1970) is an American songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, and singer.

In 2008, she was appointed to the position of executive vice president of talent development at Warner Bros. Records; she has signed acts such as Jason Derulo and Iyaz.

DioGuardi has a songwriting catalog of several hundred songs; over 300 have been released on major labels worldwide and over 150 have appeared on platinum selling albums.

Her songs have been featured in major motion pictures, television shows, film soundtracks, and radio spots, as well as in national and international commercial campaigns.

Since American Idol Season 8, DioGuardi returned to songwriting and producing, and has worked with number of artists, including Pink's "Sober," Kelly Clarkson's "I Do Not Hook Up," Cobra Starship's "Good Girls Go Bad," Katharine McPhee's "Had It All", Carrie Underwood's "Undo It", and Theory of a Deadman's "Not Meant to Be" among other releases.

[9] She co-wrote the song with lead singer Tyler Connolly, and is also featured as the love interest in the music video which was released on March 10, 2009.

[11] In 2009, DioGuardi wrote "If I Can't Have You" for Meat Loaf's 2010 album, Hang Cool Teddy Bear and recorded the vocal as a duet with him.

She has written songs which have been used as themes including "Taking Chances" on Glee, "Come Clean" on Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, "Autobiography" on The Ashlee Simpson Show, and "Ain't No Other Man" on Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Arthouse has been a part of many chart-topping hits including B.O.B's "Nothin' On You"; Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are" and "Grenade"; Cee-Lo Green's "Forget You", Flo Rida's "Club Can't Handle Me", Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack"; Jason DeRulo's "Want to Want Me" and "Trumpets"; Eminem's "Monster", Zedd's "Beautiful Now", Jon Bellion's "All Time Low", Maroon 5's "Memories", Illenium's "Good Things Fall Apart", Halsey's "Graveyard", Florida Georgia Line's "Simple", and Ingrid Andress' "More Hearts Than Mine."

[13] DioGuardi returned to Idol for its ninth season alongside Cowell, Jackson, and new judge Ellen DeGeneres who replaced Paula Abdul after she quit the show in contract disagreements.

DioGuardi has written many songs sung by Idol winners and alumni such as Kelly Clarkson, Allison Iraheta, David Archuleta, Carrie Underwood, Diana DeGarmo, Katharine McPhee, Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, and Adam Lambert.

[16] DioGuardi also co-wrote with Jason Reeves a song called "Terrified" for Katharine McPhee's album Unbroken,[17] which was covered by Didi Benami, an American Idol contestant from Season 9, during Hollywood week.

The course was developed specifically for the fall 2012 curriculum; it has paired 27 student songwriters and producers to mirror today's music industry practices.

[22][23] In 2003, DioGuardi won a BMI Cable Award for co-writing and performing "Somethin' To Say", the theme to the Lifetime Television series For the People, which starred Lea Thompson, Debbi Morgan, A. Martinez, and Cecilia Suárez.

[24] With MaD DoLL: With Platinum Weird: As a featured artist: Music videos DioGuardi splits her time between Los Angeles and York Harbor, Maine.

[33] DioGuardi works with the Phoenix House, a non-profit substance abuse service organization; she contributes to recording studios in the facilities and helps teach the teens how to operate the equipment.