SIMON Cowell has dumped embattled Brandy Norwood as a judge on “America’s Got Talent” – and replaced her with heavy-metal matriarch Sharon Osbourne.

Cowell, also a judge on “American Idol,” is the executive producer of the NBC talent show. He was forced to ditch Norwood because the pop star may face vehicular manslaughter charges and a possible trial.

The Post reported March 21 that Osbourne was likely to replace Norwood – who, police say, caused a four-car pile-up on a California freeway last December after ramming a 2005 Toyota while she was allegedly going 65 mph.

The Toyota then slammed into two other cars and its driver, 38-year-old married mother of two Awatef Aboudihaj, died a day later from her injuries.