‘America’s Got Talent’ Reveals Who Is Stepping Into Simon Cowell’s Seat for the Quarterfinals — and Fans Have Thoughts

The judges’ table on “America’s Got Talent” is facing a major shakeup right as live quarterfinals begin. A familiar comedy star is officially stepping in for a high-stakes takeover.

Producers dropped the bombshell news ahead of the Tuesday, September 1 live broadcast. Viewers were instantly left spinning over the sudden absence of the show’s resident sharp-tongued mastermind.

While the live competition waits for no one, this dramatic swap is creating an unmistakable feeling of total déjà vu for long-time fans of the hit NBC franchise.

Why Simon Cowell Is Sitting This One Out

According to TMZ, Cowell will be absent from AGT for several weeks while recovering from a scheduled procedure tied to his back. Sources with direct knowledge of the situation told the outlet the surgery is routine, and there’s no indication of a new or worsening health emergency.

Still, the timing hasn’t gone unnoticed. Cowell has a long history of back trouble stemming from a serious e-bike accident back in 2020 — and it’s that accident fans are now connecting to this latest absence. It’s not yet clear exactly when he’ll be back in his usual seat.

The Same Seat, Six Years Later

Here’s where the story gets interesting: this isn’t the first time the famous comedian has stepped in for Cowell — and it’s happening at the exact same stage of competition.

Per Deadline, he previously filled in for Cowell during the 2020 season, sitting beside judges Heidi Klum, Mandel, and Sofia Vergara, with Crews hosting — during the live quarterfinals, the same round he’s returning for now.

That 2020 absence was tied directly to the same injury behind this year’s surgery: a spinal injury Cowell suffered in a bike accident that same August.

What Actually Happened to Simon Cowell in 2020

The accident that changed everything happened at Cowell’s Malibu home. According to People, Cowell was testing a new electric bike in his courtyard with his family when he fell.

A representative for Cowell confirmed at the time, “Simon has broken his back and will be having surgery this evening.” The rep added that Cowell “hurt his back and was taken to the hospital,” noting he was “under observation and is in the best possible hands.”

He was 60 years old at the time. The fall came just months after Cowell had told People he was enjoying extra family time during the pandemic with his son, Eric, and stepson, Adam — and had even bragged about how fit he felt, saying, “I feel really healthy at the moment.”

That injury ended up sidelining him from the show’s entire 15th season.

A Grueling Recovery and an Unexpected Silver Lining

By early 2021, Cowell was ready to talk about what he’d been through. In a Zoom interview with People alongside fellow judge Sofia Vergara, he admitted the injury wasn’t as bad as people assumed.

“I’ve got to be honest with you, it wasn’t that bad actually breaking your back,” he said. “I mean it wasn’t great for 3-4 weeks but after that you get through it.” He even joked that the experience left him in better shape than before the accident.

Vergara, however, painted a very different picture of what it was like without him. “I thought I needed him to back me up and teach me, to guide me. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I lost like 6 lbs., I cried myself to sleep,” she said — a comment Cowell called “great acting.”

Cowell Opens Up About the Scariest Part

In a separate sit-down with Extra, Cowell went into more detail about just how serious the injury actually was.

“When I saw the X-ray, I really nearly could have smashed my spine to pieces, so I literally wouldn’t have been able to walk,” he revealed. He said he knew something was seriously wrong “the minute I landed.”

Despite the danger, his instinct was to get inside his house rather than stay still. “I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to get back into the house because I can’t lie there’… and made myself kind of get carried into my bedroom… I’m lying there, and I’m kind of passing out. It was surreal,” he described.

He credited his now-wife Lauren Silverman and their son Eric with getting him through it, recalling a moment that stuck with him: coming home from the hospital “with these metal rods in my back and these screws,” worried about how to explain it to Eric — until his son told him, “Daddy, you’re like Iron Man.”

The hardest part, Cowell said, was the helplessness. “I’ve never been in this situation in my life where you literally can’t move. The pain was off the charts,” he admitted, though he added he made himself a promise to come back fitter than before — and he did.

A Second Brush With Danger

Cowell’s troubles with e-bikes didn’t end there. In February 2022, he was involved in a second, frightening crash. According to The Sun, the then-62-year-old was thrown over the handlebars at around 20 mph near his home in West London — without a helmet.

A source told the outlet, “Simon is lucky to be alive,” explaining that his bike hit a wet patch and he was sent “flying over the handlebars into the middle of the road.” Passers-by reportedly stopped traffic to keep him safe until paramedics arrived.

He was rushed to the hospital with a suspected concussion and a broken arm, and was released the same evening with his arm in a cast. Despite everything, the source said Cowell wasn’t ready to give up biking altogether — but he would finally start wearing a helmet.

A Familiar Face Returns to the Judges’ Table

To fill Cowell’s prominent spot for the live show, “America’s Got Talent” announced on Instagram that Kenan Thompson is joining the panel as a guest judge for the Tuesday, September 1, 2026, episode — Quarterfinals Round 3.

“A comedy legend is taking over the Judges’ table!” the show wrote, sharing a photo of the “Saturday Night Live” star. “Kenan Thompson is joining AGT as a guest Judge! 🎉.”

Thompson will sit alongside host Terry Crews and judges Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara. It marks a striking full-circle return for the veteran comedian.

The announcement of Thompson’s return has split “AGT” fans right down the middle. Some are simply excited for a fun guest appearance, with one commenter writing, “I’m looking forward to it, I just hope he hits the red buzzer at least once.”

Others made it clear no one can replace Cowell, no matter how temporary the change is. “NOOOO. Not the same without Simon 😭😭,” one fan wrote, while another added bluntly, “No no no, we want Simon. 😡😡”

Not everyone was upset, though — a shorter, simpler reaction summed up a more relaxed camp: “Nice!”

Well-Wishes Pour In for Cowell’s Recovery

Elsewhere, fans reacting to the news of Cowell’s surgery focused less on the judging lineup and more on his health. Commenters on a related Facebook post sent messages of support.

“Prayers for a speedy recovery. Stay safe,” one person wrote, while another simply said, “Praying for u Simon.” One comment, though, hinted at the same skepticism echoing across social media: “Routine back surgery? Interesting.”

For now, fans will have to wait to see whether Simon Cowell returns to his seat once his recovery wraps up — and whether Thompson’s second stint as his stand-in ends the same way the first one did.