{"id":260270,"date":"2026-08-29T02:22:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T02:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/29\/simon-cowells-americas-got-talent-replacement-judge-revealed-as-he-recovers-from-procedure\/"},"modified":"2026-08-29T02:22:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T02:22:35","slug":"simon-cowells-americas-got-talent-replacement-judge-revealed-as-he-recovers-from-procedure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/29\/simon-cowells-americas-got-talent-replacement-judge-revealed-as-he-recovers-from-procedure\/","title":{"rendered":"Simon Cowell\u2019s \u2018America\u2019s Got Talent\u2019 Replacement Judge Revealed as He Recovers From Procedure"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Simon Cowell<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s temporary replacement on America\u2019s Got Talent<\/em> <\/a>has been announced.<\/p>\n

Kenan Thompson<\/strong><\/a>, 48, will take the reins from Cowell, 66, as the British judge recovers from a medical procedure.<\/p>\n

\u201cA comedy legend is taking over the Judges\u2019 table! Kenan Thompson is joining AGT<\/em> as a guest Judge! \ud83c\udf89\u00a0 Don\u2019t miss his guest appearance Tuesday, September 1 at 8\/7c on @NBC,\u201d America\u2019s Got Talent<\/em> announced via its official Instagram accoun<\/a>t on Friday, August 28, alongside a photo of Thompson.<\/p>\n

AGT<\/em> features Cowell as a judge alongside Howie Mandel<\/strong>, Sof\u00eda Vergara<\/strong>, and Mel B<\/strong>, while Terry Crews<\/strong> hosts the show.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Sharon! Howie! Every ‘AGT’ Judge Through the Years<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tSince America\u2019s Got Talent debuted in June 2006, the show has gone through many changes \u2014 including swapping out the panel of judges from time to time. The series, created by Simon Cowell, kicked off with Piers Morgan, David Hasselhoff and Sharon Osbourne serving as judges. Later, the show expanded to four judges and Cowell [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Per a Thursday, August 27 article on NBC.com<\/em><\/a>, Crews, 58, addressed Cowell\u2019s absence during the Quarterfinals Round 2 episode.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s having an operation that cannot be postponed. It\u2019s not an emergency, but it can\u2019t be put off,\u201d Crews explained. \u201cSimon, we are sending you our very best wishes for speedy recovery, and we\u2019re looking forward to seeing you back at the Judges desk very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to multiple outlets, Cowell is reportedly taking time off to undergo back surgery,\u00a0 stemming from an injury he first sustained in an e-bike accident<\/a> in 2020.<\/p>\n

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Cowell opened up about the injury<\/a> while speaking to Extra<\/em> in 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could have been a lot worse. When I saw the X-ray, I really nearly smashed my spine to pieces, so I literally wouldn\u2019t [have] been able to walk,\u201d he told the outlet. \u201cI knew I\u2019d broken my back the minute I landed, it was really, really kind of sudden and it hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cYou\u2019re not supposed to move.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>AGT\u2019s Simon Cowell Reacts to Fans Who Think He\u2019s Softened as a Judge<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tSimon Cowell is responding to fans who think he has grown soft as a judge. \u201cI probably have. I would say also that the acts got better, to be fair,\u201d Cowell, 65, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while celebrating the America\u2019s Got Talent season 20 semi-finals with Lavazza on Tuesday, September 16. \u201cI mean, when [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Despite knowing that moving himself could have negative consequences, Cowell recalled what was going through his head at the time of the accident.<\/p>\n

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