Country Co-Host? Ashley Judd Now Vying For Spot On ‘The View’ — With Lauren Sanchez, Now Top Contender

Time is running out for ABC to fill two vacant seats on The View. With Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd long gone and Season 18 on the horizon, has learned that producers have brought some surprising names into the mix, including Ashley Judd!

“Ashley Judd has been approached as a possible candidate to fill one of the seats,” a source told RadarOnline.com.

“They’re angling for a country star who can appeal to a conservative audience,” continued the source, adding that Blake Shelton’s newly-svelte wife Miranda Lambert’s name was being tossed around, but executives are “focused” on the 46-year-old Judd — for now.

“ABC is still unsure about her and the remaining candidates,” said the source.

As RadarOnline.com has reported, finding replacements for Shepherd and McCarthy hasn’t been without drama, as producers have struggled to find qualified candidates.

“ABC execs haven’t been happy about the process because there haven’t been enough background checks,” said the insider, “especially with October Gonzalez, who it turns out has ​zero​ TV and journalism experience​ to go along with her unused bartending and ​cosmetology licenses."

“ABC is embarrassed,” the source said, so network execs stepped in and "took over the selection process."

Now, according to the source, the casting process is in such disarray that ABC may be forced to push back the start date for the new co-hosts.

So far, the only candidate coming out on top is Emmy-winning​ entertainment journalist Lauren Sanchez, who’s already gotten a resounding two thumbs-up from Hugh Jackman, who tweeted Aug. 19: “@theviewtv …it's a no brainer! The chair belongs to the wickedly smart, sassy and stunning @lauren2go.”

The two new faces will end up joining Whoopi Goldberg and returning co-host Rosie O’Donnell on the panel.

Who do you want to see in the anchors’ chairs? Let us know in the comments!