Simon Cowell is stepping away from America’s Got Talent for several weeks just as Season 21 moves deeper into its live competition.
The 66-year-old judge is scheduled to undergo a routine procedure related to his back and will miss the NBC series while he recovers, according to TMZ. Sources with direct knowledge told the outlet there is no indication that Cowell is dealing with a new major health crisis, and his representative has since confirmed that he will be absent for several weeks.
He was at the judges’ table when the quarterfinals began August 18, but another 11 acts are scheduled to perform August 25 before the results are revealed the following night.
Exactly when Cowell will return has not been announced. It also remains unclear whether AGT will bring in a guest judge or temporarily continue with Howie Mandel, Mel B and Sofía Vergara while Cowell recovers.
Cowell’s Break Comes in the Middle of the Live Quarterfinals
Season 21 entered its live phase August 18 after the auditions and new Judges’ Callbacks round. The first quarterfinal featured 11 acts, with Howie Mandel using the Live Show Golden Buzzer to send magic group Hundred Fingers directly to the finals while viewers selected three additional acts to advance to the semifinals.
The second quarterfinal is scheduled for August 25, followed by its results show August 26. Two more quarterfinal rounds are scheduled for September 1 and September 8, meaning Cowell’s reported multiweek absence could overlap with much of the remaining quarterfinal stage.
Cowell’s fellow judges are Mandel, Mel B and Vergara, with Terry Crews continuing as host. Parade also reported that no replacement for Cowell had been announced.
No Replacement Has Been Announced Yet
America’s Got Talent has previously used guest judges when Cowell was forced to miss live episodes, but there is no confirmed indication that the show will follow the same approach this time.
After Cowell’s serious electric-bike accident in August 2020, Kelly Clarkson filled his chair during the first week of Season 15’s live shows, and Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson stepped in the following week. Later live episodes went ahead with only Heidi Klum, Mandel and Vergara at the judges’ table while Cowell continued recovering.
Cowell Previously Needed Major Back Surgery After His 2020 Accident
Cowell’s upcoming procedure follows a well-documented history of back problems. In August 2020, he suffered a serious injury after falling from an electric bike while testing it at his Malibu home.
The accident required approximately six hours of surgery, including spinal fusion and the placement of a metal rod and screws. Cowell later revealed that the injury was more severe than initially understood and that he experienced lasting nerve damage during his recovery.
The accident kept him away from AGT for the remainder of that season’s live competition. He spent months rebuilding his strength before returning to television work.
Cowell was involved in another electric-bike accident in London in 2022, although that incident resulted primarily in a broken arm rather than another major spinal injury.