Simon Cowell is temporarily stepping away from the America’s Got Talent judges’ table during one of Season 21’s most important stages, and NBC has revealed exactly who will take his place. Saturday Night Live veteran Kenan Thompson is stepping in as a guest judge while Cowell recovers from a routine procedure related to his back.
The switch comes as AGT heads deeper into its live competition, with contestants fighting for places in the semifinals and finale. Cowell is expected to return in a few weeks, but for now, one familiar comedy legend is taking over his chair.
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Kenan Thompson Replaces Simon Cowell on ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 21 Live Quarterfinals
NBC officially announced on August 28 that Kenan Thompson will temporarily replace Simon Cowell during Round 3 of the America’s Got Talent Season 21 Live Quarterfinals on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
The official announcement described Thompson as a guest judge who would be “temporarily replacing Simon Cowell.” The show’s social-media announcement added: “A comedy legend is taking over the Judges’ table!”
Thompson will join Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara and Mel B as 11 acts take the stage in the third quarterfinal round. Terry Crews will continue hosting the NBC competition.
| Date | Event | Official Detail |
| August 28, 2026 | NBC announcement | Kenan Thompson confirmed as guest judge |
| September 1, 2026 | Live Quarterfinal Round 3 | Thompson fills in for Simon Cowell |
| 8 p.m. ET/PT | Episode broadcast | Airs on NBC and streams on Peacock |
| September 8 | Quarterfinals continue | Competition moves toward semifinals |
| September 15–16 | Semifinals | Remaining acts compete |
| September 22–23 | Finale and results | Season 21 winner revealed |
One act from the September 1 episode will also receive a Golden Buzzer and automatically advance to the finals, making Thompson’s appearance more than just a celebrity cameo.
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Why Is Simon Cowell Missing From ‘America’s Got Talent’?
Cowell, 66, is taking a temporary break from America’s Got Talent while undergoing a routine procedure related to ongoing back issues.
His representative confirmed that the medical matter is private but stressed that the procedure is routine and that Cowell is expected to return within a few weeks.
“Obviously medical matters are private, but it’s routine, and he will be back in a few weeks,” Cowell’s representative told Entertainment Weekly.
The precise details of the current procedure have not been publicly disclosed. Current reporting connects the treatment to long-term back problems stemming from Cowell’s serious 2020 electric-bike accident.
Cowell’s absence became noticeable during the live rounds when he missed the August 25 episode while receiving medical treatment. However, neither NBC nor Cowell’s representatives have indicated that he is permanently leaving America’s Got Talent. His absence is currently expected to last only several weeks.
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Simon Cowell’s Back Surgery Comes Six Years After Serious 2020 Injury
Cowell’s current medical leave follows the serious accident that dramatically changed his health and previously forced him away from AGT.
In August 2020, Cowell suffered a major back injury after falling from an electric bike at his Malibu, California, home. He underwent surgery that reportedly lasted around five hours and involved multiple spinal fusions and the insertion of a metal rod.
Speaking to Extra in February 2021 about the severity of the accident, Cowell said:
“It could have been a lot worse. When I saw the X-ray, I really nearly smashed my spine to pieces, so I literally wouldn’t (have) been able to walk,”
The accident forced him to miss the live shows during America’s Got Talent Season 15. Cowell later discussed the long-term nerve damage and difficult recovery that followed.
His current procedure is connected to those ongoing back issues, although neither Cowell nor his representatives have publicly revealed a detailed diagnosis or explained exactly what the latest surgery involves.
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Kenan Thompson Has Actually Replaced Simon Cowell Before
This is not Thompson’s first time sitting at the America’s Got Talent judges’ table.
He previously filled in for Cowell during the show’s 2020 live competition after Cowell suffered his electric-bike injury. Kelly Clarkson had also filled in during an earlier week.
Entertainment Weekly also noted that Thompson had previously served as a guest judge in 2015.
That history makes Thompson a particularly familiar choice for NBC. He already knows the format, understands the pressure of live television and has experience stepping into Cowell’s seat during a previous medical absence.
During the September 1 episode, Thompson will judge alongside:
- Howie Mandel
- Sofía Vergara
- Mel B
- Kenan Thompson, serving as guest judge
Terry Crews will remain the show’s host.
NBC has not confirmed that Thompson will appear in every episode Cowell misses. His currently announced appearance is specifically for the third round of the Live Quarterfinals, and the network has not revealed whether additional guest judges could appear later.
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What Happens Next on ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 21?
Cowell’s temporary absence comes at a seriously crucial point in the competition.
Season 21 is already in the live quarterfinal stage, with performers competing for America’s votes and places in the semifinals. The September 1 episode will feature 11 acts, while one performer will receive a Golden Buzzer and advance directly to the finals.
The quarterfinals continue through September 8, followed by the semifinals on September 15 and 16. The two-part finale and results show are scheduled for September 22 and 23, with the eventual winner receiving the show’s $1 million prize.
AGT had already experimented with celebrity guest judges during its Judges Callbacks episodes, bringing in personalities including Nikki Glaser, Emma Bunton and Lele Pons. Thompson’s role, however, is different because he is filling a genuine vacancy caused by Cowell’s temporary medical leave.
For now, the biggest takeaway is clear: Simon Cowell has not been announced as leaving America’s Got Talent. His representative expects him back within a few weeks, although no exact return episode has been confirmed.
Until then, Kenan Thompson is stepping into one of television’s most recognizable judging seats at exactly the moment Season 21 starts getting serious.
Disclaimer
This article is based on thorough research using publicly confirmed information from NBC/America’s Got Talent and reporting from established entertainment news organizations, including PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly. Simon Cowell’s representatives have not publicly disclosed the precise medical details of his current procedure, so this article does not speculate about his diagnosis or treatment. His expected return within a few weeks is based on his representative’s public statement and should not be interpreted as a confirmed return date.
Sources
- NBC — Kenan Thompson to Fill in for Simon Cowell on ‘America’s Got Talent’
- PEOPLE — Simon Cowell’s First Replacement Judge on ‘America’s Got Talent’ Is Revealed
- PEOPLE — Simon Cowell Taking Break From ‘America’s Got Talent’ to Undergo Back Surgery
- Entertainment Weekly — ‘SNL’ Star Kenan Thompson Stepping in for Simon Cowell on ‘America’s Got Talent’
- Entertainment Weekly — Simon Cowell to Miss Weeks of ‘America’s Got Talent’ Due to Back Surgery
- Entertainment Weekly — ‘America’s Got Talent’ Episode Recap as Simon Cowell Misses Episode Amid Medical Treatment
- 9NEWS — Simon Cowell’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ Replacement Announced as He Recovers From Surgery
- PEOPLE — Kenan Thompson Subs in for Simon Cowell as He Recovers From Back Surgery
- PEOPLE — Simon Cowell’s 2020 Bike Accident and Why He Is Undergoing Back Surgery Again
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