Is Louis Tomlinson going to be a judge on ‘America’s Got Talent’? With Howard Stern officially out, HollywoodLife has learned EXCLUSIVELY that Louis might be taking over!

In with the new! Howard Stern is officially done judging America’s Got Talent, which means a judges chair has opened up! On the list of possible replacements? Louis Tomlinson, 23! We have learned EXCLUSIVELY that the show’s producer, feisty Brit Simon Cowell, is eyeing the One Direction member as a possible judge to lure in a younger audience– but it’s all going to depend upon Louis’ upcoming stint at a guest mentor on The X Factor later this month!

“Simon wants America’s Got Talent to skew younger,” a source revealed to HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY about Louis’ prospects on the show. “[He] is using Louis’ gig on The X Factor as a test to see if he should fill Howard Stern’s spot,” they added.

So, no pressure on Louis or anything, right? Right. Now, let’s say Louis bombs his big X Factor “audition,” and Simon deems him unworthy of filling Howard’s admittedly huge– and snarky!– shoes. Not to worry, because Simon has a plan B for a replacement judge: himself!

“And if Louis doesn’t take the spot, Simon will take it,” added the source. Sir Simon back on our television screens in a weekly format? Can you even imagine such a world?

Anyways, we’re getting way ahead of ourselves here. Louis’ X Factor episode won’t take place until the last weekend of October, so he has some time to prepare. Of course, the fact that Louis is somewhat auditioning on The X Factor is extremely ironic, as the singing competition is actually how he and his band One D got their infamous start in the music biz.

Would you guys want to see Louis judge AGT? How about Simon?

— Casey Mink