Simon Cowell Out of 'America's Got Talent' for Weeks Over Routine Surgery

Simon Cowell is going to be missing from "America's Got Talent" for the next couple of weeks while he undergoes a routine procedure related to his back, TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Cowell is scheduled to have back surgery soon, and the procedure will force him to sit out several weeks of the hit NBC show.

We're told this is a routine procedure and there is no indication of a new major health crisis. Cowell has a history of back issues following a serious electric-bike accident in 2020 that required surgery.

It's unclear who will fill in for Cowell during his absence or exactly when he'll return to the judges' table.

The 66-year-old British music mogul and TV personality is best known for his brutally honest judging style on "American Idol," "The X Factor" and "America’s Got Talent."

Cowell has also been instrumental in creating and developing major acts including One Direction and Fifth Harmony, cementing his reputation as one of pop music’s most influential talent scouts.

We recently caught up with Cowell in March, when he weighed in on Tom Sandoval and his band ... saying he didn’t see them as major record sellers but thought they could make serious money playing weddings and parties.

Cowell also revealed to us he’s considering putting together another boy or girl group, saying he’s still looking for the next big act.