- Simon Cowell has temporarily stepped down from judging America’s Got Talent to undergo routine back surgery.
- Emmy-nominated comedian Kenan Thompson will act as the first guest judge on the panel from Tuesday 1 September.
- Thompson will join existing judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara, having previously filled in during Cowell's absence in 2020.
- The surgical procedure follows a history of back injuries for Cowell, who previously broke his back in an electric bike crash in 2020.
- NBC has confirmed that further guest judges will be announced to cover for Cowell during his recovery period.
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