Can you imagine One Direction making a cameo on Glee? It almost happened. But didn't. Of course, you already knew that because you know everything about 1D, but the show did want to have the guys on. Turns out they were much "too big" and "too busy," at least according to one of Glee's stars.
While there had been rumblings of One Direction popping up on the show, we thought it was more of a dream wishlist kind of thing - little did we know the show was actually reaching out to try and make it happen. Kevin McHale, who plays Artie on Glee, told The Sun (via PressParty), "We wanted them on the show badly and I thought it might happen at one time. But then they just became too big, too busy."
Glee should have grabbed One Direction around the time they guest starred on iCarly, before they were yet a worldwide phenomenon. They were there in spirit, at least, as Glee did tackle a covers of "What Makes You Beautiful," "Live While We're Young," and "Story of My Life."
Source