Simon Cowell gets temporary replacement on 'AGT' amid back surgery

Aug. 30, 2026, 3:59 p.m. ET

“America’s Got Talent” has a “Saturday Night Live” star to fill in for Simon Cowell, who will be sidelined from the competition show for several weeks.

The NBC show’s official Instagram account announced on Aug. 28 that Kenan Thompson will join “America’s Got Talent” as a guest judge on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The “SNL” star is coming on after it was confirmed that Cowell will be absent from “America’s Got Talent” live shows for several weeks as he undergoes a routine back surgery.

“He’s having an operation that cannot be postponed,” host Terry Crews explained during the Aug. 25 episode after pointing out that Cowell’s seat at the judge’s table was empty.

“It’s not an emergency, but it can’t be put off,” Crews continued. “Simon, we are sending you our very best wishes for a speedy recovery, and we’re looking forward to seeing you back at the judges desk very soon.”

A group of guest judges is expected to step in for the 66-year-old during his time away, USA TODAY previously confirmed. Thompson is currently the only celebrity guest judge announced.

Thompson is no stranger to “America’s Got Talent.” In fact, this isn’t his first time stepping in for Cowell.

During the show’s 15th season in 2020, Cowell similarly missed “AGT” live shows after he broke his back while riding an e-bike. Thompson served as a guest judge that season while Cowell, who underwent a six-hour surgery that included the placement of a metal rod in his back, recovered.

“Some good advice… If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time,” Cowell posted on X in 2020 after his accident.

The former “American Idol” judge later told OK! Magazine that the accident was worse than people realized and that he was “lucky to survive my back surgery.”

“I didn’t talk about it too much at the time. I kept a lot back. It was a lot worse than people thought. I had a lot of long-term nerve damage as well,” Cowell told the publication, adding, “It’s been a long haul but I’m almost healed and I’m being very careful about what I do.”

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