AMERICAN IDOL: Kara DioGuardi. CR: Michael Becker / FOX

Kara DioGuardi came into American Idol for season eight and was immediately labeled as Paula Abdul’s replacement. It didn’t help that Abdul, as well as a couple of other people connected to the show, were quick to point out that a fourth judge was unnecessary – in their opinion.

She overcame that stigma and now, in the second year out, DioGuardi is obviously more confident and displays a level of kindness we didn’t see in her debut season. That’s for good reason, she says. For one, the terror is gone, which allows DioGuardi to concentrate on constructive criticism rather than getting her live television sea legs.

Click onto media bar to hear the changes for Kara DioGuardi in her second season of American Idol.

American Idol airs 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Tuesdays and 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Wednesdays on Fox.