Simon Cowell had back surgery. He will miss live episodes of America's Got Talent for a few weeks while he gets better after the routine operation. Reports surfaced on Monday, August 24, 2026. USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and Yahoo News Canada all carried the story. He remains absent. The break is specifically for live broadcasts.
TMZ, TV Insider, and talentrecap.com also shared updates about his medical status. Cowell needs rest. He takes a few weeks off to get better. Recovery is expected to take several weeks.