The 51st American Music Awards (AMAs) transformed Fontainebleau Las Vegas into a music mecca, kicking off summer with a star-studded celebration. Hosted by Jennifer Lopez, the event honoured global icons and showcased electrifying performances, cementing its status as the world’s largest fan-voted awards show.
Lopez, hosting for the second time since 2015, opened with a six-minute dance medley featuring hits like Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather.” As noted by Variety, her eight outfit changes and vibrant energy set the tone. Performances by Benson Boone, Blake Shelton, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson, Reneé Rapp, Becky G, and Manuel Turizo kept the stage alive.
.@billieeilish had us singing "Birds of a Feather" all year long, and the song just won her Favorite Pop Song at the #AMAs! pic.twitter.com/LGYbHEXFQL
— American Music Awards (@AMAs) May 27, 2025Janet Jackson received the Icon Award, marking her first TV performance since 2018 with a medley of classics, earning a standing ovation. Honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Sir Rod Stewart performed “Forever Young,” reflecting on his 60-year career. “I didn’t want fame, just to sing,” he said, per The Hollywood Reporter. Kendrick Lamar led with 10 nominations, followed by Post Malone (8), Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Shaboozey (7 each). Eilish swept all seven categories, including Artist of the Year, tying Michael Jackson’s record.
The AMAs, airing on CBS and Paramount+ on Memorial Day, partnered with the Easy Day Foundation to honour veterans. Zac Brown received the inaugural Veterans Voice Award. Presenters like Ciara, Cara Delevingne, Alix Earle, and Wayne Brady added star power.
Music critic Dr. Maria Lopez from NYU notes, “The 2025 AMAs blended legacy with innovation, with Jackson and Stewart’s honours highlighting music’s enduring impact.”
The AMAs’ move to Las Vegas and Memorial Day slot, plus new categories like Song of the Year, signal a fresh era.
The full winners of the 2025 American Music Awards
American Music Awards 2025 – Winners & Nominees
| Category | Nominees | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Taylor Swift, Zach Bryan | Billie Eilish |
| New Artist of the Year | Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, Tommy Richman | Gracie Abrams |
| Album of the Year | Beyoncé (Cowboy Carter), Billie Eilish (Hit Me Hard and Soft), Chappell Roan (The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess), Charli xcx (Brat), Gracie Abrams (The Secret of Us), Future & Metro Boomin (We Don’t Trust You), Kendrick Lamar (GNX), Post Malone (F-1 Trillion), Sabrina Carpenter (Short n’ Sweet), Taylor Swift (The Tortured Poets Department) | Billie Eilish (Hit Me Hard and Soft) |
| Song of the Year | Benson Boone (“Beautiful Things”), Billie Eilish (“Birds of a Feather”), Chappell Roan (“Good Luck, Babe!”), Hozier (“Too Sweet”), Kendrick Lamar (“Not Like Us”), Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (“Die With a Smile”), Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen (“I Had Some Help”), Sabrina Carpenter (“Espresso”), Shaboozey (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”), Teddy Swims (“Lose Control”) | Billie Eilish (“Birds of a Feather”) |
| Collaboration of the Year | Kendrick Lamar & SZA (“Luther”), Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (“Die With a Smile”), Marshmello & Kane Brown (“Miles on It”), Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen (“I Had Some Help”), ROSÉ & Bruno Mars (“APT.”), Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone (“Fortnight”) | Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (“Die With a Smile”) |
| Social Song of the Year | Chappell Roan (“HOT TO GO!”), Djo (“End of Beginning”), Doechii (“Anxiety”), Lola Young (“Messy”), Shaboozey (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”), Tommy Richman (“Million Dollar Baby”) | Doechii (“Anxiety”) |
| Favorite Touring Artist | Billie Eilish, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, Zach Bryan | Billie Eilish |
| Favorite Music Video | Benson Boone (“Beautiful Things”), KAROL G (“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”), Kendrick Lamar (“Not Like Us”), Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (“Die With A Smile”), Shaboozey (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”) | Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (“Die With A Smile”) |
| Favorite Male Pop Artist | Benson Boone, Bruno Mars, Hozier, Teddy Swims, The Weeknd | Bruno Mars |
| Favorite Female Pop Artist | Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift | Billie Eilish |
| Favorite Pop Album | Billie Eilish (Hit Me Hard and Soft), Chappell Roan (The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess), Charli xcx (Brat), Sabrina Carpenter (Short n’ Sweet), Taylor Swift (The Tortured Poets Department) | Billie Eilish (Hit Me Hard and Soft) |
| Favorite Pop Song | Benson Boone (“Beautiful Things”), Billie Eilish (“Birds of a Feather”), Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars (“Die With a Smile”), Sabrina Carpenter (“Espresso”), Teddy Swims (“Lose Control”) | Billie Eilish (“Birds of a Feather”) |
| Favorite Male Country Artist | Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Shaboozey | Post Malone |
| Favorite Female Country Artist | Beyoncé, Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney | Beyoncé |
| Favorite Country Duo or Group | Dan + Shay, Old Dominion, Parmalee, The Red Clay Strays, Zac Brown Band | Dan + Shay |
| Favorite Country Album | Beyoncé (Cowboy Carter), Jelly Roll (Beautifully Broken), Megan Moroney (Am I Okay?), Post Malone (F-1 Trillion), Shaboozey (Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going) | Beyoncé (Cowboy Carter) |
| Favorite Country Song | Jelly Roll (“I Am Not Okay”), Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph (“High Road”), Luke Combs (“Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”), Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen (“I Had Some Help”), Shaboozey (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”) | Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen (“I Had Some Help”) |
| Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist | Drake, Eminem, Future, Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator | Eminem |
| Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist | Doechii, GloRilla, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Sexyy Red | Megan Thee Stallion |
| Favorite Hip-Hop Album | Eminem (The Death of Slim Shady), Future & Metro Boomin (We Don’t Trust You), Gunna (one of wun), Kendrick Lamar (GNX), Tyler, The Creator (Chromakopia) | Eminem (The Death of Slim Shady) |
| Favorite Hip-Hop Song | Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar (“Like That”), GloRilla (“TGIF”), GloRilla & Sexyy Red (“Whatchu Kno About Me”), Kendrick Lamar (“Not Like Us”), Kendrick Lamar & SZA (“Luther”) | Kendrick Lamar (“Not Like Us”) |
| Favorite Male R&B Artist | Bryson Tiller, Chris Brown, PARTYNEXTDOOR, The Weeknd, Usher | The Weeknd |
| Favorite Female R&B Artist | Kehlani, Muni Long, Summer Walker, SZA, Tyla | SZA |
| Favorite R&B Album | Bryson Tiller (Bryson Tiller), PARTYNEXTDOOR (PARTYNEXTDOOR 4), PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake ($ome $exy $ongs 4 U), SZA (SOS Deluxe: LANA), The Weeknd (Hurry Up Tomorrow) | The Weeknd (Hurry Up Tomorrow) |
| Favorite R&B Song | The Weeknd & Playboi Carti (“Timeless”), Chris Brown (“Residuals”), Muni Long (“Made for Me”), SZA (“Saturn”), Tommy Richman (“Million Dollar Baby”) | SZA (“Saturn”) |
| Favorite Male Latin Artist | Bad Bunny, Feid, Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro, Tito Double P | Bad Bunny |
| Favorite Female Latin Artist | Becky G, KAROL G, Natti Natasha, Shakira, Young Miko | Becky G |
| Favorite Latin Duo or Group | Calibre 50, Fuerza Regida, Grupo Firme, Grupo Frontera, Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda | Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda |
| Favorite Latin Album | Bad Bunny (DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS), Fuerza Regida (Dolido Pero No Arrepentido), Peso Pluma (ÉXODO), Rauw Alejandro (Cosa Nuestra), Tito Double P (INCÓMODO) | Bad Bunny (DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS) |
| Favorite Latin Song | Bad Bunny (“DtMF”), FloyyMenor X Cris Mj (“Gata Only”), KAROL G (“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”), Oscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida (“Tu Boda”), Shakira (“Soltera”) | Shakira (“Soltera”) |
| Favorite Rock Artist | Hozier, Linkin Park, Pearl Jam, Twenty One Pilots, Zach Bryan | Twenty One Pilots |
| Favorite Rock Album | Hozier (Unreal Unearth: Unending), Koe Wetzel (9 lives), The Marías (Submarine), Twenty One Pilots (Clancy), Zach Bryan (The Great American Bar Scene) | Twenty One Pilots (Clancy) |
| Favorite Rock Song | Green Day (“Dilemma”), Hozier (“Too Sweet”), Linkin Park (“The Emptiness Machine”), Myles Smith (“Stargazing”), Zach Bryan (“Pink Skies”) | Linkin Park (“The Emptiness Machine”) |
| Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist | Charli xcx, David Guetta, John Summit, Lady Gaga, Marshmello | Lady Gaga |
| Favorite Soundtrack | Arcane League of Legends: Season 2, Hazbin Hotel, Moana 2, Twisters: The Album, Wicked: The Soundtrack | Arcane League of Legends: Season 2 |
| Favorite Afrobeats Artist | Asake, Rema, Tems, Tyla, Wizkid | Tyla |
| Favorite K-Pop Artist | ATEEZ, Jimin, RM | RM |
