Simon Cowell underwent back surgery. He will miss live episodes of America's Got Talent for a few weeks while he recovers from the medical 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 absence is specifically for 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 will take several weeks.