Simon Cowell missing from AGT for weeks after back surgery
Simon Cowell is missing from AGT for several weeks while he undergoes routine back surgery during Season 21 live shows. Guest judges are expected to fill his seat, though no names have been announced. The procedure is described as routine, not a new major health crisis.
Key Takeaways
- Cowell will miss several weeks of America's Got Talent Season 21 live shows for a routine back procedure.
- USA TODAY confirmed the absence after TMZ first reported the news.
- Guest judges are expected to sit in; the show has not named replacements yet.
- He has a long history of back trouble after a serious 2020 e-bike crash that required major surgery.
Why is Simon Cowell missing from AGT right now?
The longtime judge and executive producer is stepping away from the NBC competition so he can have routine back surgery. Sources told TMZ he is scheduled for the procedure soon and will sit out several weeks of the hit series while he recovers.
USA TODAY later confirmed he will be absent from Season 21's live shows for several weeks. There is no indication of a new major health crisis, according to people with knowledge of the situation who spoke to TMZ.
Season 21 launched on June 2 and is in its live-show stretch ahead of a Sept. 23 finale. For readers who follow high-stakes public mysteries and sudden absences, more coverage lives on our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub.
Will someone replace Cowell on the judges' panel?
Yes—at least temporarily. USA TODAY reports a group of guest judges is expected to fill Cowell's place while he recovers. The AGT team is scheduling celebrity guests, but no names have been announced.
TMZ said it was initially unclear who would fill in or exactly when he would return to the judges' table. That question remains open until NBC or the production team confirms the guest lineup.
Alongside Cowell, the Season 21 panel includes Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara, and Heidi Klum, with Terry Crews hosting, per USA TODAY. Cowell has judged the series since Season 11 in 2016.
How does this connect to Cowell's past back injuries?
This is not Cowell's first back operation. In August 2020 he broke his back in multiple places after an e-bike crash in the courtyard of his Malibu, California home. That accident led to a roughly six-hour surgery that included metal hardware in his spine, and reports at the time said the crash nearly left him paralyzed.
Cowell has since spoken publicly about the severity of that injury, including long-term nerve damage, and he broke an arm in another e-bike fall in 2022. Outlets covering the latest update stress the upcoming procedure is routine and tied to ongoing back issues rather than a sudden emergency.
The 66-year-old music executive remains one of TV's most recognizable talent judges, known for American Idol, The X Factor, and AGT. For now, viewers should expect guest faces at his seat until he is cleared to return.