America's Got Talent has brought in comedian Kenan Thompson as a temporary guest judge after Simon Cowell was forced to withdraw from the live shows to undergo back surgery. Cowell, an executive producer and one of the driving forces behind talent competition formats including American Idol, is not leaving the show permanently but needs time to recover before returning to the judges' desk.

Host Terry Crews confirmed the operation, while not an emergency, could not be postponed further, and wished Cowell a speedy recovery on air. Cowell has suffered repeated injuries from electric bike accidents, breaking his back in 2020 and his arm in 2022, though it is not confirmed whether either incident is linked to the current surgery. It remains unclear exactly how long Thompson, known for his comedic style contrasting with Cowell's characteristically blunt critiques, will remain at the judging panel during Cowell's absence.