Kara Dioguardi-Stacy McCloud

American Idol judge Kara Dioguardi is in Nashville working on her songwriting.

She stopped by our Tennessee Mornings to chat with Kelly and Shane Friday morning.

Dioguardi took a break from American Idol and put pen to paper, writing songs with some artists in Nashville.

Kara says, "I worked with, to me, some of the greatest country artists our there right now: Lee Ann Womack, Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans and there's some new acts: Jane Dear, Girls on Warner and Whitney Duncan."

Another group Kara is excited about is the band "Perry."

She thinks their new song, "If I Die Young" will get a Grammy nomination.

She even sang a bit of it for us.

Kara says she loves coming to Nashville because of how songwriters are treated here.

"What is so great about Nashville is that you have such an appreciation for the songwriter and I would say in the pop music industry, the songwriter is a big deal but it isn't like Nashville, you really respect without that big song you won't have that career."

Now that Simon Cowell has announced it will be his last season, Kara says she will miss him.

Kara says, "He's very charming, when he smiles, he lights up the whole room, cause he's got a great smile."

Kara says she is excited that Ellen DeGeneres has joined the judge's table.

Kara says, "She's so great on the show, I have to tell you, she is funny but she is also critical and knows how to tell someone how to work on something, but also give them that positive reinforcement I've had and a great time work with her so far."

You can catch Kara on American Idol next Tuesday right here on FOX 17 when Idol heads to Denver for its next round of auditions. Kara Dioguardi-Stacy McCloud