(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Nick Jonas is reportedly in final negotiations to join the judging line up of American Idol.

There are currently two vacant seats after Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler announced they were not returning and Randy Jackson apparently being moved into a "mentoring role."

Us Weekly claims that now Mariah Carey has signed her deal they are now eagerly looking to fill the spots with Nick as a front runner and N.E.R.D. rapper Pharrell Williams also a favourite.

"Nick is pretty close to signing to be the Idol judge," an insider told the publication. "They flew him in to L.A. last week for final meetings."

Nick recently ended a four-month stint on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and "American Idol producers think he can help bring that younger demo to the show."

The Jonas Brothers band member has a great fan base on the back of his successful music career with his siblings Joe and Kevin.

Pharrell has produced hit records for the likes of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake and "everything is looking good" with his contract negotiations "but they're still working out details," the source added.

Mariah signed a reported $18 million deal to be the queen bee of the hit singing competition show. (C) Cover Media