In the April issue of Women’s Health Magazine Kara discusses her time on American Idol, Simon Cowell’s replacement and experiences working with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
On replacing Simon Cowell…
“Finding someone who has a lot of knowledge about music and who is also an interesting character is going to be a daunting task.”
“I like Tommy Mottola, because he has launched the careers of a lot of superstars…But whoever gets the call has got to be a character.”
She still gets star struck…
“Could I sit next to bigger people? My God – Ryan [Seacrest], Ellen, Simon, and Randy! Sometimes I look in the hallway and think, There’s a billion dollars in this building!”
On the haters…
“People are so mean…They’ll go, ‘Kara’s Stupid. She repeats whatever Randy says. Paula’s way better,’ or ‘She’s ugly.’ I’m like, Really? I may not be some beauty but ugly?”
Her bikini stunt on last season of ‘Idol’…
“…probably saved my job…I kept saying no. I mean, what crazy nut is gonna go out there in a bikini at almost 40 years of age against a girl who is 20 and probably cosmetically enhanced?”
“I looked a little pasty. But hey, at least I didn’t wet myself!”
“It was a defining moment. Like, ‘She’s serious and industry, but also as kooky as everyone else on this panel.’”
On how far she’s come…
“Sometimes I feel like I’m watching myself in a movie. It’s like, How is it possible I’m sitting next to Ellen?”
Songs she’s written/collaborated on…
Gwen Stefani, “Rich Girl”
“I didn’t write [this song] with Gwen. [Interscope Geffen A&M chairman] Jimmy Iovine gave me the track, and I hummed some melodies and scatted some words. She loved it and filled it in. I remember getting a call in my car: ‘Jimmy Iovine and Gwen Stefani on the line. Can you take the call?’ I practically drove off the road.”
PINK, “Sober”
“She and I opened up a bottle of wine, and it was the greatest game of tennis ever. She would say an amazing line, and I had to say something just as good. We were in sync. We’ve all had things in our lives that we should’ve done without, whether it’s drinking, eating, or working too hard. We had a common ground, and I had one of the best nights of my writing life.”
Kelly Clarkson, “I Do Not Hook Up”
“I wrote this with Katy Perry no my kitchen floor. Originally the line was ‘Keep your thing in your pants, your heart on your sleeve,’ which I really liked. But Kelly changed it to ‘Keep your head in my hand and your heart on your sleeve.”
Cobra Starship “Good Girls Go Bad”
“[Singer Gabe Saporta] wasn’t into having me around at first, so he played with me, giving me outrageous titles that could never be said on the radio. But I started writing ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ and he started to like me. He is the guy that could make you go bad.”
Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, “Pieces of Me”
“I walked into the studio and started tripping over TV cables. It was Ashlee’s reality show. I was freaked out at first; I couldn’t relate with the cameras on. But everyone left and I wrote this. With me singing, it was too sugary, but Ashlee’s raspy edge took it to another level.
For the complete interview and more photos visit:
WomensHealthMag.com
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