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The America’s Got Talent creator welcomed son Eric, 11, with longtime partner Lauren Silverman in 2014
Cowell’s father Eric, who his son was named after, died in 1999, while his mother Julie died 16 years later in 2015
Fatherhood gave Simon Cowell a whole new perspective on life.
Speaking to PEOPLE in this week’s issue, Cowell, 65, opens up about becoming a dad and how his son Eric “saved” him following the death of his parents.
The America’s Got Talent judge shares Eric, 11, with fiancée Lauren Silverman. The couple welcomed him in 2014 and named him after Cowell’s father Eric, who died in 1999. Cowell’s mother Julie died in 2015.
With both parents gone, Cowell says he found himself in a dark place.
“[Fatherhood has] had a huge impact on me because I loved my parents so much, and once they left, I was kind of lost for a while, and then Eric kind of saved me,” he explains. “Because that love comes back a hundred times more powerful.”
“I mean, it’s extraordinary and it never goes,” the television personality continues. “So I didn’t expect that, and when it happened, it was like, ‘Wow.’ I mean, it’s incredible.”
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As Eric has grown older, Cowell has been able to introduce him to a lot of the things that make him happy: being outdoors, biking, dogs and even his job at AGT. In fact, Eric often tags along to tapings when AGT films live shows in Pasadena, Calif.
“[Being a judge on AGT] got easier since I became a dad, because as Eric got a little bit older… I suddenly started to watch acts through his eyes thinking, ‘Would he like that?'” Cowell shares. “Because you want your kids and their friends to love the show.”
“So when he comes down with his friends, they’re having the best time,” he adds. “And that’s a great feeling.”
But while Cowell — who made a name for himself as a judge on American Idol, before launching AGT and The X-Factor — takes pride in his career, he’s also able to keep things in perspective.
“You realize that there are other things more important actually than your career,” he says of fatherhood. “I know it sounds corny, but I mean, it is the truth. If I wasn’t where I am in my life today, I think it would feel quite empty.”
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“I guess I wouldn’t be complaining, but I wouldn’t be the same,” he adds. “I’ve definitely, definitely changed since I became a dad. I mean, big time.”
Simon Cowell/Instagram
That clarity has allowed Cowell to know when it’s time to unplug and focus on simply being dad.
“I don’t believe you can work well tired. I’ve really, really come to that conclusion is that you can force yourself to if you want to, but you’re going to make bad decisions,” he says. “I think you’ve always got to be fresh. You don’t want to overload your brain… So I am quite strict now, which is, ‘That’s it. My brain’s fried. I’m not going to make any good decisions today.’ So that’s it. That’s where we end it, and then we start again tomorrow.”
For more on Simon Cowell, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now, or subscribe here.
As for his ideal day off?
“I’m with Eric. I will go on my bike. I’ll take my dogs for a walk. We might go swimming. I’m going to take him to a toy shop. Just all the things that are fun,” he says of those rare days to recharge. “And we’ve got a new dog now, Pebbles, and she needs a lot of exercise, so that’s amazing, so I love that.”
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
