Nick Jonas, Pharrell Williams Are Contenders for ‘American Idol’ Judging Spots
'American Idol' will see a new set of judges next year, and while Mariah Carey has officially signed on to fill Jennifer Lopez's spot, two other seats remain. Now, rumor has it that Nick Jonas and Pharrell Williams are contenders for the panel.
According to Us Weekly, the 19-year-old Jonas Brother and 39-year-old N.E.R.D. rapper are the at the top of the list to fill the vacant seats judges seats. "Nick is pretty close to signing to be the 'Idol' judge," the mag's source says. "They flew him in to L.A. last week for final meetings."
If the rumors are true, the move makes sense in light of 'X Factor' hiring Demi Lovato as a judge. Jonas' draw will include a teen set of 'Idol' fans, and add a youthful presence to the twelfth season of the hit FOX show.
As for Randy Jackson, he'll be staying on and moving into a "mentoring role," an insider tells Us. Lopez and Steven Tyler announced their departure from the show in mid-July, and Fox confirmed the addition of Carey to the series 10 days later.
The new season of 'American Idol' will premiere in January 2013 on FOX. Ryan Seacrest will stay on as host.
Watch Nick Jonas Duet With 'X Factor' Judge Demi Lovato