Simon Cowell had back surgery. He will miss live episodes of America's Got Talent for a few weeks while he heals following the routine operation. Reports appeared on Monday, August 24, 2026. USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and Yahoo News Canada all reported the details. He stays away. The break is limited to live broadcasts.
TMZ, TV Insider, and talentrecap.com also wrote about his recovery process. Cowell requires rest. He takes a period of a few weeks off to heal up. Recovery is expected to take several weeks.