Guess Who’s Back? ‘America’s Got Talent’ Announces Return of Familiar Face as Simon Cowell Continues to Recover From Surgery
SNL 's Kenan Thompson filled in for Cowell on Tuesday's (Sept. 1) episode, where he punched the Golden Buzzer for singer Lai Noelle.
America's Got Talent viewers can expect to see Heidi Klum back on the show, serving as a judge once again. This announcement came at the end of Wednesday night's live results show, with host Terry Crews revealing that Klum would replace Simon Cowell, who is still recovering from back surgery following an e-bike crash in 2020. Next week's three-hour supersized episode will feature the final group of quarterfinalists vying for a spot in the next round, as the show combines performances and results in a marathon format.
Kenan Thompson, known for his appearances on Saturday Night Live, made his debut on America's Got Talent this week to fill in for Cowell. He sent 14-year-old singer Lai Noelle to the finals after her emotional rendition of Elton John's "Your Song" captivated the audience. Klum, a longtime fixture on the show, has been a part of America's Got Talent for 11 seasons since 2013, working alongside judge Mel B, SiriusXM host Howard Stern, and comedian Howie Mandel.
She returned for the 2020 and 2024 seasons, replacing Julianne Hough and Gabrielle Union in 2019. Klum has also made appearances on spin-offs AGT: Fantasy Leagues, AGT: All-Stars, and AGT: The Champions.
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