Demi Lovato (pictured at left) and Niall Horan (pictured at right) 
 

"The X Factor" U.S. judge Demi Lovato, 19, says she wants to be a close friend and unofficial tour guide to One Direction when the group visits America. In addition, Lovato confirms that she plans to spend quality time with One Direction's Niall Horan, 18, when he returns to the U.S., including when One Direction is in Los Angeles to perform at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards on September 6.

Lovato and Horan have publicly admitted that they crushes on each other, but Lovato has said in many interviews that they are "just friends" and that she doesn't want to date anyone right now because she wants to focus on her career.

One Direction came in third place on "The X Factor" U.K. in 2010. Since then, the group has had No. 1 hits and sold-out tours in several countries. One Direction's other members are 18-year-old Harry Styles, 20-year-old Louis Tomlinson, 19-year-old Zayn Malik and 18-year-old Liam Payne.

Lovato, who lives in the Los Angeles area, also has a successful career. All three of her albums have been Top 10 hits in the U.S., she has starred in Disney Channel shows "Camp Rock" and "Sonny With a Chance," and she has a huge fan base around the world.

In an interview with Seventeen magazine, Lovato said: "I think Niall is super, super sweet and we've become good friends. I get what it's like to be in the spotlight since I've grown up in it. I want to introduce all the One Direction guys to the United States, but especially Niall because he hasn't been here that much. I want to make sure he — or any of them really, I just don't know the other guys as well — has someone to hang out with in the States.

"He's really sweet and it's always flattering when a guy says he has a crush on you. But, I'm in a place right now where I'm not dating. I've sworn off dating for a long time. You never know what the future holds of course, but for now I am an independent woman and proud of it!"

When asked if she plans to see Horan when he is Los Angeles for the 2012 MTV Video Music awards, Lovato replied: "Yeah, I would love to! I'm just so busy because I'm still performing shows on the weekends, but hopefully I'll have time."