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 operation. Reports appeared on Monday, August 24, 2026. USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and Yahoo News Canada all carried the story. He is stepping aside. The break is specifically for live broadcasts.
TMZ, TV Insider, and talentrecap.com also wrote about his recovery process. Cowell needs rest. He takes a few weeks off to heal up. Recovery will take several weeks.