Simon Cowell had back surgery. He will skip 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 carried the story. He remains absent. The absence is specifically for live broadcasts.
TMZ, TV Insider, and talentrecap.com also reported on his health update. Cowell needs time. He is taking a few weeks off to rest. Recovery will take several weeks.