Who is this judge, Piers, on "America's Got Talent," and why is he so out of touch?

Where did this person come from and what are his credentials? The other night I saw the heavy-set fellow sing, "All By Myself," and Piers said "that's a song sung mostly by females." What a crock that was! The best-known (and only hit) version of that song was done by Eric Carmen, who is very much a male (the last I heard).