Simon Cowell Doing 'Spectacularly Well' Following Six-Hour Operation On His Broken Back

Aug 13, 2020

America’s Got Talent (AGT) judge Simon Cowell was hospitalized last Saturday after breaking his back in an electric bike accident at his home in Malibu, California. Shortly thereafter, the television star underwent a 6-hour-long surgery. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, AGT co-judges Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, and Sofía Vergara spoke with E! regarding Cowell’s recovery.

Howie Mandel, known for his role on AGT and Deal or No Deal, told the outlet that despite Cowell’s long operation on Saturday, the AGT judge was doing well.

"We were worried about our friend and our boss, and our leader, Simon Cowell, who we hear is doing spectacularly well, considering," the Deal or No Deal host told E! via video call.

"The latest I've heard is that after a 6 hour operation, and some fused discs, and the rod put in his back, yesterday, he was up on his feet, already, he's already mobile!" Mandel, 64, told reporters at E!. "So, as I've been saying to a few other people, I wouldn't count out seeing Simon again before this season's end."

According to one of Cowell’s representatives, the television star received a metal rod in his back along with multiple fusions at the hospital.

Due to the accident and subsequent injury, Cowell has been absent from this week's live shows on Tuesday and Wednesday. With that said, Cowell’s seat did not remain empty. While the 60-year-old television personality nurses his injury and recovers from surgery, Kelly Clarkson will fill in on the show.

“My friend, Simon Cowell, is doing better now but was in an accident and won’t be able to make Tuesday and Wednesday’s live shows for ‘AGT,’ but no worries America, someone far wiser, cooler, and hotter is taking his seat!” Clarkson wrote jokingly in a statement posted to Twitter. “The unbelievably amazing Kelly Clarkson. You’re welcome in advance!”

“Um Simon, don’t hurry back,” Clarkson said in a video on Twitter. “I’m getting real comfortable in your chair. I look pretty good in it! I’m just kidding, get well.”

According to People, AGT will move on with producing the show with the live quarterfinal rounds taking place over four weeks. If everything goes as planned, the show will crown and winner during the season finale, which will air on Sept. 23.

In his most recent post to Instagram, Cowell thanked his doctors and nurses while also leaving followers with a word of advice.

“Some good advice… If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time [...] And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever met. Stay safe everyone,” Cowell wrote to his more than 1.7 million followers on Instagram.

Get well soon, Simon Cowell. What do you think the future of this year's AGT will be? Let us know and pass this good news on to friends and family members.