Simon Cowell recently had back surgery. He will skip 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 published the news. He stays away. The break is focused on live broadcasts.
TMZ, TV Insider, and talentrecap.com also wrote about his medical status. Cowell requires rest. He takes a period of a few weeks off to heal up. Recovery will take several weeks.