Simon Cowell Says Son Eric 'Saved' Him After the Death of His Parents: 'I Was Kind of Lost for a While' (Exclusive)

Fatherhood gave Simon Cowell a full caller position connected life.

Speaking to PEOPLE successful this week's issue, Cowell, 65, opens up astir becoming a dada and really his boy Eric "saved" him pursuing nan decease of his parents.

The America's Got Talent judge shares Eric, 11, pinch fiancée Lauren Silverman. The mates welcomed him successful 2014 and named him aft Cowell's begetter Eric, who died successful 1999. Cowell's mother Julie died successful 2015.

With some parents gone, Cowell says he recovered himself in a acheronian place.

"[Fatherhood has] had a immense effect connected maine because I loved my parents truthful much, and erstwhile they left, I was benignant of mislaid for a while, and past Eric benignant of saved me," he explains. "Because that emotion comes backmost a 100 times much powerful."

"I mean, it's bonzer and it ne'er goes," nan tv characteristic continues. "So I didn't expect that, and erstwhile it happened, it was like, 'Wow.' I mean, it's incredible."

As Eric has grown older, Cowell has been capable to present him to a batch of nan things that make him happy: being outdoors, biking, dogs and moreover his occupation astatine AGT. In fact, Eric often tags on to tapings erstwhile AGT films unrecorded shows successful Pasadena, Calif.

"[Being a judge connected AGT] sewage easier since I became a dad, because arsenic Eric sewage a small spot older... I abruptly started to watch acts done his eyes thinking, 'Would he for illustration that?'" Cowell shares. "Because you want your kids and their friends to emotion nan show."

"So erstwhile he comes down pinch his friends, they're having nan champion time," he adds. "And that's a awesome feeling."

But while Cowell — who made a sanction for himself arsenic a judge connected American Idol, earlier launching AGT and The X-Factor — takes pridefulness successful his career, he's besides capable to support things successful perspective.

"You recognize that location are different things much important really than your career," he says of fatherhood. "I cognize it sounds corny, but I mean, it is nan truth. If I wasn't wherever I americium successful my life today, I deliberation it would consciousness rather empty."

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"I conjecture I wouldn't beryllium complaining, but I wouldn't beryllium nan same," he adds. "I've definitely, decidedly changed since I became a dad. I mean, large time."

That clarity has allowed Cowell to cognize erstwhile it's clip to unplug and attraction connected simply being dad.

"I don't judge you tin activity good tired. I've really, really travel to that conclusion is that you tin unit yourself to if you want to, but you're going to make bad decisions," he says. "I deliberation you've ever sewage to beryllium fresh. You don't want to overload your brain... So I americium rather strict now, which is, 'That's it. My brain's fried. I'm not going to make immoderate bully decisions today.' So that's it. That's wherever we extremity it, and past we commencement again tomorrow."

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As for his perfect time off?

"I'm pinch Eric. I will spell connected my bike. I'll return my dogs for a walk. We mightiness spell swimming. I'm going to return him to a artifact shop. Just each nan things that are fun," he says of those uncommon days to recharge. "And we've sewage a caller canine now, Pebbles, and she needs a batch of exercise, truthful that's amazing, truthful I emotion that."

America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays astatine 8 p.m. ET/PT connected NBC.