Guess Who’s Back? ‘America’s Got Talent’ Announces Return of Familiar Face as Simon Cowell Continues to Recover From Surgery

America’s Got Talent viewers will have to wait a bit longer for Simon Cowell’s return.

At the end of Wednesday night’s (Sept.

2) live results show, host Terry Crews announced that the “sensational Heidi Klum” would be returning to the show as Cowell continues to convalesce from back surgery.

Next week’s three-hour supersized episode will feature the fourth and final group of quarterfinalists looking to secure their spot in the next round in a marathon show that will combine performances and results.

While Saturday Night Live iron man Kenan Thompson made his first visit the AGT thunderdome this week to fill in for Cowell — and smash the Golden Buzzer for 14-year-old singer Lai Noelle — supermodel Klum is a veteran of the show.

She was a full-time judge on the show for 11 seasons beginning in 2013, where she sat beside Spice Girl Mel B, SiriusXM host Howard Stern and comedian Howie Mandel.

She was on board through season 13 in 2018, then was briefly replaced by Julianne Hough and Gabrielle Union in 2019, before returning in 2020 and sticking around through 2024.

She has also appeared on the spinoffs AGT: Fantasy Leagues , AGT: All-Stars and AGT: The Champions .

Cowell is still recovering from surgery connected to back pain from a 2020 e-bike crash.

He was spelled this week by Thompson, who sent Noelle through to the finals after she wowed the crowd with her moving cover of Elton John’s “ Your Song .” Wednesday’s show found a trio of acts punching their tickets to the semifinals, including the dogs and dancers Acro Canine Crew, comedian Daniel Alvarez and magician Kameron Marshall.

AGT airs on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

ET on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.