Simon Cowell recently had back surgery. He will skip live episodes of America's Got Talent for a few weeks while he heals following the routine procedure. Reports appeared on Monday, August 24, 2026. USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and Yahoo News Canada all reported the details. He is stepping aside. The absence is specifically for live broadcasts.
TMZ, TV Insider, and talentrecap.com also wrote about his recovery process. Cowell needs time. He is taking a few weeks off to get better. Recovery is expected to take several weeks.