News | Entertainment
1 Mar 2026 19:13
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Simon Cowell is returning to 'America's Got Talent' alongside Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara

    The new season of the long-running talent show will see the same judging panel back for the 16th series


    Terry Crews will also return as the host.

    A press release states: “To celebrate the return of America’s favourite judging panel, ‘AGT’ will be hosting one final nationwide ‘Last Chance Audition’ for the upcoming season on Saturday, March 6."

    Hopefuls need to register over at AGTAuditions.com to book “a virtual audition slot” to be in with the chance of performing in front of the judges.

    Last summer, Kelly Clarkson - who was judged by Simon when she appeared on, and won, the first series of 'American Idol' - stepped in to temporarily replace the 61-year-old music mogul, after he was rushed to hospital to undergo a six-hour surgery after falling off his electric bicycle at his home in Malibu, California.

    As a result of his injuries, he wasn't able to appear on the panel for the first few episodes of the NBC show.

    However, Simon recently revealed he is feeling “better” now than before he broke his back in August.

    In a joint interview with his co-star Sofia, he said: "I've got to be honest with you, it wasn't that bad actually breaking your back. I mean it wasn't great for 3-4 weeks but after that you get through it. I had to do so much exercise now. I actually feel better than I did before the accident."

    He then quipped: "If you want to feel healthier, break your back.”

    Simon also joked that his co-stars had a “better time” without him.

    But Sofia insisted he was wrong and claimed she had “nightmares” about his condition.

    She said: "For me I had nightmares, it was heart-breaking to me not to have Simon my first season. I thought I needed him to back me up and teach me, to guide me. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I lost like 6lbs, I cried myself to sleep."

    A release date for the premiere of the 16th season of 'AGT' will be confirmed in due course.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     28 Feb: Justin Trudeau's son approves of his romance with Katy Perry
     28 Feb: Lupita Nyong'o has "over 50" uterine fibroids
     28 Feb: Hilary Duff has admitted she "intentionally" gatecrashed the premiere of her "childhood nemesis" Lindsay Lohan's movie Freaky Friday
     28 Feb: Christian Bale appears to have confirmed he will join the cast of Heat 2
     28 Feb: Barbra Streisand has paid tribute to Jennifer Aniston following the actress' recent birthday and her growing relationship with Jim Curtis
     27 Feb: Drew Barrymore travels down "memory lane" when looking at pictures of herself from her 1990s heyday
     27 Feb: Cruz Beckham's 21st birthday celebrations have gone on for a week
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Hurricanes have confirmed Brett Cameron has been ruled out for the rest of Super Rugby More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    It's been revealed UK supermarket giant Tesco, declined the Finance Minister's invitation for a meeting to discuss the issues in our grocery sector More...



     Today's News

    Golf:
    Married one weekend, becoming a New Zealand golf Open champion the next for Daniel Hillier 18:57

    Cricket:
    Black Caps coach Rob Walter has confessed he stuck to his book as his side's T20 World Cup future was up in the air 18:57

    International:
    Israel and US attack Iran live updates: Trump warns of 'never been seen before' force as Iran starts fresh wave of regional strikes 18:47

    Rugby League:
    Kalyn Ponga has steered the Newcastle Knights to a 28-18 NRL win over the Cowboys in the season opener in Las Vegas 18:37

    Law and Order:
    A Bali birthday and a mistaken murder: How shooting death of Melbourne father played out in court 18:17

    Education:
    'More than 100 children' dead in US and Israel strike on Iranian school, Iran says 17:47

    Rugby League:
    Newcastle are heading for a victory in the opening round of the NRL is Las Vegas 17:27

    International:
    Israel and US attack Iran, sparking retaliatory strikes. Here's what we know 17:17

    Dunedin:
    One person has now died following a crash last week in Middlemarch, north of Dunedin 16:57

    Motorsports:
    Shane van Gisbergen has dominated the closing stages of NASCAR's second division series race at the Circuit of the Americas 16:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd