Simon Cowell will be absent from several upcoming live episodes of America’s Got Talent as he undergoes a planned back operation, producers confirmed following the Tuesday, Aug. 25 performance show. The temporary change removes one of the program’s most recognizable judges during the live quarterfinals and will bring guest panelists into the rotation.
Host Terry Crews opened Tuesday’s broadcast by acknowledging the empty seat and told viewers that the procedure is necessary and cannot be delayed; he passed along the panel’s well-wishes and said the show expects Cowell back once he has recovered. The announcement came at the start of the performance episode, where the remaining judges — Howie Mandel, Mel B and Sofia Vergara — were introduced as usual.
Reports link the surgery to lingering problems from Cowell’s 2020 accident, when he fell from an electric motorcycle at his Malibu home. According to reports, he has continued to treat ongoing back issues since the injury.
People connected to the production say the show is arranging one or more guest judges to cover Cowell’s seat during his absence. America’s Got Talent is in the midst of live quarterfinals: new performance episodes air Tuesdays at 8/7c, followed by results shows on Wednesdays at the same hour.
What viewers should expect
- Length of absence: Producers describe it as “several weeks” while Cowell recovers from the scheduled procedure.
- Temporary judges: A series of guest judges will rotate in; names have not been released.
- Show format: The competition schedule — Tuesday performance shows and Wednesday results — will continue as planned.
- Voting and judging: Live voting procedures are unchanged; guest judges will participate in deliberations in place of Cowell.
Competition programs commonly call on substitute panelists when a permanent judge is sidelined, and producers typically select guests who can step in at short notice. For viewers, the shift may alter on-screen dynamics but not the mechanics of the contest.
The production stressed that the surgery is not an emergency but is necessary to address persistent pain. Fans and colleagues have sent messages of support, and the show expressed optimism about Cowell’s return to the judges’ desk later in the season.
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Hello, I’m Beckett. I cover series and show news for you to make your evenings more captivating.