Simon Cowell is taking a temporary break from America's Got Talent to undergo back surgery.

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The 66-year-old America's Got Talent judge and creator is expected to miss a couple of weeks of filming while he undergoes a routine procedure related to his back, People reported.

A representative for Simon also confirmed the news to Entertainment Weekly, saying the procedure is "routine" and Simon "will be back" to the NBC reality competition "in a few weeks."

It's unclear who will replace Simon on the judging panel during his absence, although guest judges are reportedly expected to fill his seat.

Simon currently judges America's Got Talent alongside Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Melanie "Mel B" Brown.

Simon also created the series and serves as an executive producer.

Simon previously suffered a serious back injury in August 2020 when he fell off an electric bike in Malibu, CA.

The accident reportedly left Simon with his back broken in three places and required him to undergo a five-hour surgery. Simon subsequently missed part of America's Got Talent's 15th season while recovering from the injury.

Simon told People several months after the accident that he was feeling "much better."

"I've got to be honest with you, it wasn't that bad actually breaking your back," Simon reportedly said in February 2021.

"I mean it wasn't great for 3-4 weeks, but after that, you get through it. I had to do so much exercise now. I actually feel better than I did before the accident."

Simon, however, recalled the whole ordeal being embarrassing.

"[I was] embarrassed about coming home looking about 100 [years old] because I couldn't walk, and I have these metal rods in my back and these screws," he previously explained.

Simon said he expressed concern to his fiancee, Lauren Silverman, over how to explain his condition to their son Eric, now 12.

"She obviously said something to him because he came in... and I was lying in bed and he said, 'Daddy, you're like Iron Man,' and I thought that was the sweetest thing and it meant a lot," Simon gushed.

Simon told OK! Weekly in 2022 that he felt lucky to have survived the accident at all.

America's Got Talent premiered its 21st season in June and currently airs its performance shows on Tuesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on NBC. The results shows air on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on NBC.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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