Simon Cowell recently had back surgery. He is set to miss live episodes of America's Got Talent for a few weeks while he gets better after the routine procedure. Reports came out on Monday, August 24, 2026. USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and Yahoo News Canada all published the news. He remains absent. The time off is limited to live broadcasts.
TMZ, TV Insider, and talentrecap.com also shared updates about his health update. Cowell needs time. He is taking a few weeks off to rest. Recovery will take several weeks.