Simon Cowell is stepping away from America’s Got Talent‘s judges’ table for the next few weeks after routine back surgery, and the show has already locked in a comedy legend to take his seat while he recovers.
What happened to Simon Cowell
The news broke on August 24, less than a week after Cowell took part in the season’s first Quarterfinals results show. A representative confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that the procedure is routine. His seat on the panel, alongside Mel B, Terry Crews, and Sofia Vergara, was left empty during the August 25 live episode.
A back injury years in the making
This is not Cowell’s first serious back scare. In August 2020, he suffered a serious injury in an e-bike accident that left him with a metal rod and screws in his back, forcing him to miss several episodes of AGT’s 15th season. The current surgery relates to the back issues he has been managing for more than five years since then.
Kenan Thompson is taking the judge’s seat
Kenan Thompson will step in as guest judge starting with the August 31 episode, according to an AGT Instagram post that called him “a comedy legend.” It is not his first fill-in duty: Thompson covered night two of the Quarterfinals in 2020, when Kelly Clarkson took night one.
When does Simon Cowell come back?
No exact return date has been set, but a representative said Cowell will be “back in a few weeks.” The season still has several live shows ahead, and fans may see him return for the Semifinals or the two-part finale.
| Remaining AGT 2026 live shows | Air dates (NBC) |
|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | Sept 1 (results Sept 2) and Sept 8 (results Sept 9) |
| Semifinals | Sept 15 (results Sept 16) |
| Finale | Sept 22 and Sept 23 |
AGT’s Philippine connection
America’s Got Talent has a devoted Filipino fanbase, and the franchise has produced Filipino stars before. Jessica Sanchez, who won AGT: The Champions, headlined a Manila concert this May, while Filipino talent keeps surfacing on The Voice Australia. As Cowell recovers, Filipino viewers will be watching the judges’ table closely.
