The Real Reason Why Heidi Klum Left AGT
Instead, Heidi is going back to a familiar old haunt. Here’s the real reason why Heidi stepped away from AGT—and who you can expect to see in her place.
Heidi Left America’s Got Talent To Return To Project Runway
It was announced earlier this year that Heidi would be stepping away from America’s Got Talent starting with Season 20. Her decision to leave the show wasn’t because she had grown tired of it, but rather because she found herself with a conflicting commitment. Indeed, Heidi has officially stepped away from her role as a judge on America’s Got Talent in order to return to her fashion roots onProject Runway.
I’m back! It’s good to be home!
Though Heidi has been a successful supermodel for decades, her role as a judge on the original seasons of Project Runway helped her to expand her TV appearances and make her more of a household name.
Heidi leaves behind a fairly long tenure on America’s Got Talent: she was a judge on the panel from 2013-2019, then again from 2020-2024. As far as we can tell, Heidi leaves the show on good terms, without any bad blood between the producers on the show. In fact, an executive from the show shared with Deadline that Heidi was a delight, and that they would be happy to have her back in the future:
Heidi has been an incredible part of AGT, bringing her signature charm, expertise, and warmth to the show. We are enormously grateful for her many contributions and the impact she has had while celebrating the world’s greatest talent with us. We’d love for our paths to cross again.
Heidi’s Exit Makes Room For A New Star Judge
Now that Heidi has returned to Project Runway, her seat on America’s Got Talent has been filled by a similarly famous face. Season 20 now sees former Spice Girl Mel B at the judges’ table, and she herself is no stranger to the world of reality TV, either.
On top of her incredible music industry experience, Mel B also brings serious reality TV judging experience. She was an undeniable fan favorite during her time on The X Factor UK from 2014 to 2016. Not only that, but she held her own with some industry heavyweights, as her fellow judging panel consisted of Simon Cowell, Cheryl, and Louis Walsh. Her music experience and warm but direct approach made her a standout judge, and her return to AGT no doubt adds a familiar dynamic back to the panel.
Beyond that, Mel B’s reality TV resume is incredibly impressive. Her credits also include The X Factor Australia, The X Factor UK, Queen of the Universe, The Voice Kids: Australia, and The Masked Singer: Australia. Her choice to join America’s Got Talent, however, came from a more emotional place.
As she shared in a conversation with TV Insider, Mel noted that she was going through a real rough patch in her life, and she signed on to America’s Got Talenthoping that it would bring her familiarity and stability. “I was dealing with a very emotionally abusive marriage that was falling apart. My dad had died. There was a lot going on for me, but one thing that actually [was] my savior was that I got to be at that desk every day,” she explained.
So far, it seems, AGT has been a welcome experience for her. “It’s much more of a feel-good effect. A lot’s happened to me in those six, seven years,” she shared. “I have my book out. I didn’t know if it was going to ruin my career or what. I finally got to buy my own home. I’m getting married. It couldn’t have been better timing, almost where you go, ‘Is this too good to be true?’”
