The American Music Awards returned in spectacular style tonight, with Jennifer Lopez at the helm as host, delivering a night of high-wattage performances and big wins. Broadcast live from the new Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the fan-voted awards show kicked off Memorial Day with a bang. Lopez opened the ceremony with an electrifying medley of 23 of the past year’s biggest hits, complete with her signature high-energy choreography and a flurry of costume changes. “I hope you came to party because we’re celebrating the best music of the year tonight,” Lopez told the cheering crowd, setting an energetic tone for the evening.
Lopez’s hosting duties were filled with standout moments and personal touches. In a heartfelt segment, she presented the prestigious Icon Award to pop legend Janet Jackson – a full-circle moment given Lopez herself was once a backup dancer for Jackson in the 1990s. Jackson, 57, made her first AMA appearance in over three decades to accept the honor, thanking fans and remarking on “the incredible journey of fifty years in music.” Another emotional highlight came at night’s end, when Sir Rod Stewart received a Lifetime Achievement Award and closed the show with a poignant performance of his classic “Forever Young,” joined onstage by family members who surprised him with the award.
The performance lineup spanned genres and generations. Country star Blake Shelton made his AMAs debut, delivering a powerful rendition of his new song “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” against a backdrop of waving flags. Pop-rock icon Gwen Stefani, introduced by husband Shelton as his “one and only,” took a nostalgic turn, celebrating the 20th anniversary of her Love. Angel. Music. Baby. album with a medley of hits like “Hollaback Girl.” Latin music had a vibrant spotlight as Becky G and Manuel Turizo lit up the stage with the first-ever live performance of their merengue-pop duet “Que Haces,” getting the audience on their feet. And in a showstopping Latin tribute, Cuban-American superstar Gloria Estefan returned to the AMAs stage after 30+ years, dancing through classics “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” and “Conga” to honor her five-decade career. The night also introduced new faces: social media singer Alex Warren wowed viewers with his viral ballad “Ordinary,” backed by a 40-person choir, and rising country sensation Lainey Wilson debuted her single “Somewhere Over Laredo” to roaring applause.
On the awards side, Billie Eilish emerged as the night’s dominant force. The 23-year-old alternative pop phenom was nominated in seven categories – and won every single one. Eilish took home Artist of the Year, beating out industry heavyweights, and her latest work HIT ME HARD AND SOFT earned Album of the Year. Her haunting ballad “Birds of a Feather” was crowned Song of the Year. During one heartfelt acceptance, Eilish thanked her dedicated fanbase: “I make music from my soul, and to have your support means the world to me. Thank you for believing in my vision,” she said, hoisting one of her trophies. Eilish’s clean sweep, including multiple Pop category wins, cemented her place in AMAs history and had fellow artists in the audience cheering. Other notable honorees included first-time winner Gracie Abrams, who was named New Artist of the Year, and rap legend Eminem, who picked up his first AMA trophies in 15 years (Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist and Album). In a surprise genre-crossing twist, Beyoncé won Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album – the first country-category AMAs of her career – reflecting the success of her experimental country-influenced project Cowboy Carter. Post Malone, known for his genre-blending, also snagged Favorite Male Country Artist, his first win in a country field. Pop powerhouse Lady Gaga and funk revivalist Bruno Mars shared Collaboration of the Year (and Favorite Music Video) for their duet “Die With A Smile,” with each artist also winning solo awards (Mars as Favorite Male Pop Artist and Gaga as Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist). As the three-hour show concluded with confetti raining down, Lopez gathered all the night’s winners on stage for a final bow, proclaiming, “Give it up for these amazing artists!” It was a fitting end to an AMAs that delivered both unforgettable performances and a celebration of music’s biggest stars.
Full List of 2025 AMA Winners:
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Artist of the Year: Billie Eilish
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New Artist of the Year: Gracie Abrams
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Album of the Year: HIT ME HARD AND SOFT – Billie Eilish
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Song of the Year: “Birds of a Feather” – Billie Eilish
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Favorite Touring Artist: Billie Eilish
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Favorite Music Video: “Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
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Favorite Male Pop Artist: Bruno Mars
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Favorite Female Pop Artist: Billie Eilish
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Favorite Pop Album: HIT ME HARD AND SOFT – Billie Eilish
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Favorite Pop Song: “Birds of a Feather” – Billie Eilish
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Favorite Male Country Artist: Post Malone
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Favorite Female Country Artist: Beyoncé
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Favorite Country Duo or Group: Dan + Shay
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Favorite Country Album: COWBOY CARTER – Beyoncé
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Favorite Country Song: “I Had Some Help” – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
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Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist: Eminem
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Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist: Megan Thee Stallion
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Favorite Hip-Hop Album: The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) – Eminem
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Favorite Hip-Hop Song: “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
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Favorite Male R&B Artist: The Weeknd
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Favorite Female R&B Artist: SZA
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Favorite R&B Album: Hurry Up Tomorrow – The Weeknd
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Favorite R&B Song: “Saturn” – SZA
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Favorite Male Latin Artist: Bad Bunny
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Favorite Female Latin Artist: Becky G
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Favorite Latin Duo or Group: Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
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Favorite Latin Album: Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny
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Favorite Latin Song: “Soltera” – Shakira
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Favorite Rock Artist: Twenty One Pilots
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Favorite Rock Album: Clancy – Twenty One Pilots
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Favorite Rock Song: “The Emptiness Machine” – Linkin Park
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Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist: Lady Gaga
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Favorite Soundtrack: Arcane: League of Legends (Season 2)
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Favorite Afrobeats Artist: Tyla
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Favorite K-Pop Artist: RM (BTS)
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Collaboration of the Year: “Die With A Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
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Social Song of the Year: “Anxiety” – Doechii
