Simon Cowell Taking Break From 'AGT' to Undergo Back Surgery

Simon Cowell will be missing from the judges' table for a little while, but we shouldn't have to wait too long for his return. The longtime AGT judge is taking a few weeks away from America's Got Talent to undergo a routine procedure on his back. 

A representative from his team confirmed the news and said he's expected to return to the show within a few weeks. In the meantime, guest judges will help fill his seat, although no names have been announced just yet.

Simon Has Dealt With Back Trouble Before

Simon Cowell’s back surgery comes several years after a serious accident in 2020. He fell from an electric bike in Malibu and broke his back in three places. 

The injury required major surgery, and Simon later revealed that he had metal rods and screws placed in his back. He also said he had long-term nerve damage after the accident. 

In early 2022, he broke his arm in another fall from an electric bike. Despite all of that, Simon hasn't given up cycling. In 2023, he said he still rides because he’s obsessed with his bikes.

AGT Will Carry On While He's Away

The good news is that the latest Simon Cowell health update sounds reassuring. His representative described the upcoming procedure as routine and said Simon should be back within a few weeks. In the meantime, America's Got Talent will carry on without him.

Season 21 premiered in June with Simon, Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara, and Mel B. Terry Crews returned as host. Simon also created the competition series and is one of its executive producers.

Guest judges are expected to take turns in his chair while he's recovering, although we'll have to wait to see who gets the temporary promotion.

Simon Should Be Back Soon

If you’re worried that this could mean a much longer absence from AGT, there’s no indication of that right now.

Understandably, Simon’s medical details are being kept private, but his team has emphasized that the procedure is routine and his break should last only a few weeks.

So we'll have to get by without Simon's raised eyebrows, brutally honest critiques, and buzzer-hitting hand for a little while. But hopefully, his chair won't stay empty for too long.

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