Simon Cowell underwent back surgery. He will skip live episodes of America's Got Talent for a few weeks while he recovers from the routine procedure. Reports came out on Monday, August 24, 2026. USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and Yahoo News Canada all carried the story. He is stepping aside. The absence is limited to live broadcasts.
TMZ, TV Insider, and talentrecap.com also shared updates about his recovery process. Cowell needs time. He takes a few weeks off to rest. Recovery is expected to take several weeks.