People still get confused about Mel B and her seat at the judge's table. Honestly, it’s been a wild ride. One minute she’s throwing a water cup at Simon Cowell’s face, and the next, she’s disappearing for five years, leaving fans wondering if she’d ever come back to the NBC hit.
She did.
But the story of mel america's got talent isn't just about a pop star looking for a second act. It's a weirdly personal saga involving a "firing," a massive comeback, and a very different version of the Scary Spice we all grew up with.
Why Mel B Left America's Got Talent (The First Time)
Most viewers thought Mel B just decided to move on after Season 13. That wasn't really the case. In a 2025 interview on the Today show, she didn’t hold back. She basically admitted she got "laid off and fired."
It sounds harsh. Simon Cowell, being Simon, has joked that he didn't technically fire her, but Mel tells it differently. "He said he didn't, but he did!" she laughed during the press tour for the show's 20th anniversary.
When she left in 2019, life was messy. She was dealing with a pretty brutal divorce from Stephen Belafonte and grieving the death of her father. She’s since described those years at the desk as her "savior," a place where she could forget the chaos at home for a few hours. But the network wanted a refresh, bringing in Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough for Season 14.
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That "refresh" didn't exactly go smoothly for NBC, but Mel was already gone.
The 2026 Reality: Mel B is Back and Stricter Than Ever
Fast forward to right now. It is 2026, and Mel B is firmly back in her chair for the landmark 20th season of mel america's got talent. If you’ve been watching the latest auditions, you’ve probably noticed something. She isn't the same judge who used to scream "Off the chain!" at every acrobatic troupe.
She's gotten tough. Like, really tough.
During the Season 20 auditions that kicked off in late 2025 and carried into this year, Mel handed out more "No" votes than any other judge. She’s basically channeled the early-2000s Simon Cowell. It’s a polarizing shift. Longtime fans who miss Heidi Klum—who took a hiatus this year—have been flooding Reddit and Facebook to complain that Mel is being "obnoxious" or "too negative."
There was that one awkward moment recently where she "stole" Sofía Vergara's Golden Buzzer. Sofía was sitting there, clearly contemplating it, and Mel just leaned over and smashed the button. "I got tired of waiting," she said.
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Classic Scary Spice behavior.
A Timeline of the Mel B AGT Era
- 2013: Joins the panel for Season 8, replacing Sharon Osbourne.
- 2017: The infamous "water toss" at Simon after he made a joke about her wedding night.
- 2018: Her final season of the original run.
- 2024: Returns for the Fantasy League spinoff, signaling her homecoming.
- 2025/2026: Reclaims her permanent seat for the 20th anniversary season.
What People Get Wrong About Her "Scary" Persona
The nickname isn't just a marketing gimmick from the 90s. On mel america's got talent, that bluntness is her brand. But behind the scenes, the "toughness" often comes from a place of professional standards. She’s a performer who has sold 55 million records. She knows when an act is lazy.
When a contestant told her she wasn't a "Whitney Houston" during a panic-filled audition, she didn't blink. She’s heard it all.
The nuance most people miss is how much she actually advocates for the weird acts. Remember the Sacred Riana? Mel was terrified—actually walked off stage—but she stayed engaged with the "horror" genre of talent more than any other judge. She brings a specific British grit that balances out Howie Mandel’s dad jokes and Sofía’s high energy.
The Money and the "Tax Debt" Rumors
Let's talk about the stuff people usually whisper about. Back in 2018, news broke that Mel B’s AGT salary was being garnished by the IRS. She reportedly owed somewhere between $350,000 and $650,000 in back taxes.
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It was a low point.
Coming back to mel america's got talent in 2026 isn't just about "loving the fans." It's a massive career move that stabilizes her net worth, which is currently estimated around $8 million. Being a judge on a primetime US show is one of the most stable checks in show business.
Is She Better Than Heidi Klum?
This is the debate that won't die.
Heidi Klum is the "sunshine" judge. Mel B is the "storm."
If you like the feel-good, everyone-gets-a-hug vibe, you probably hate that Mel is back. But if you think the show has gotten too soft, Mel's return is a godsend. She’s the only judge who will tell a child singer that they were pitchy without sugarcoating it for five minutes first.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Acts
If you're following the current season or thinking about how the judging panel affects the show, here is the bottom line:
- Don't wait for the "Yes": If you're an act on the show, Mel B respects decisiveness. That Golden Buzzer steal from Sofía proved she hates hesitation.
- Watch the spinoffs: If you want to see Mel B in a more relaxed, strategic environment, go back and watch AGT: Fantasy League. She acts more like a coach there than a critic.
- Expect the unexpected: With Mel, the "live" portion of the show is always a risk. She is the most likely judge to go off-script or start a genuine argument with Simon that isn't for the cameras.
Mel B’s return to the 20th anniversary season has changed the chemistry of the panel. Whether you love her or think she’s "too much," she’s undeniably made the show "off the chain" again—just with a lot more red buzzers this time around.