Simon Cowell recently had back surgery. He will miss live episodes of America's Got Talent for a few weeks while he gets better after the medical procedure. Reports appeared on Monday, August 24, 2026. USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and Yahoo News Canada all carried the story. He remains absent. The absence is limited to live broadcasts.
TMZ, TV Insider, and talentrecap.com also reported on his recovery process. Cowell requires rest. He takes a few weeks off to heal up. Recovery is expected to take several weeks.