Kelly Clarkson to fill in for Simon Cowell on America's Got Talent after judge breaks back

Oh how the tables (or judging chairs) have turned! Kelly Clarkson will step in for Simon Cowell on this week's America's Got Talent episodes, EW can confirm. It was previously reported that the judge will miss Tuesday and Wednesday's live telecasts as he was hospitalized after sustaining a broken back in an electric bike accident on Saturday.

Clarkson, who will join fellow judges Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel, released a cheeky statement about her guest gig.

“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! The unbelievably amazing Kelly Clarkson 😜 You’re welcome in advance!” Clarkson said.

A representative for Cowell told PEOPLE on Sunday that Simon underwent surgery that night.

They added, "He hurt his back and was taken to the hospital. He's doing fine, he's under observation and is in the best possible hands."

AGT premiered season 15 on May 26 with pre-recorded auditions shot before the pandemic and online auditions thereafter due to production suspensions in Hollywood. Cowell and his fellow judges reunited in person to shoot a Judge Cuts episode on June 22 with contestant performances viewed via video conferencing. Live tapings of the NBC reality competition series were set to return for the first time this season on Tuesday.

Clarkson recently won a Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host category for her eponymous NBC show. The singer is no stranger in the judge's chair, given her coaching role on The Voice, but this is the first time she's taken over for Cowell. He served as a judge on American Idol's inaugural season which Clarkson won.

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday, 8-10 p.m. ET/PT and Wednesday, 8-9 p.m. ET/PT.

Related content:

• Simon Cowell hospitalized after breaking back in biking accident
• How America's Got Talent is working around the coronavirus lockdown
• Gabrielle Union files complaint against NBC Universal, Simon Cowell 6 months after AGT exit