At the 51st Annual American Music Awards, held on May 26, 2025, at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Billie Eilish emerged as the evening’s most celebrated artist, clinching all seven awards for which she was nominated. The ceremony, hosted by Jennifer Lopez, marked the show’s debut broadcast on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, drawing an audience of 4.73 million viewers.
Eilish’s accolades included Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Hit Me Hard and Soft, and Song of the Year for “Birds of a Feather.” She also secured awards for Favorite Touring Artist, Favorite Female Pop Artist, Favorite Pop Album, and Favorite Pop Song. Accepting her awards remotely due to her ongoing European tour, Eilish expressed gratitude to her fans in a video message, stating, “This is so crazy, I feel speechless… I wish I could be there tonight.”
Despite leading the nominations with ten nods, Kendrick Lamar did not secure any awards. Other notable winners included Beyoncé, who took home awards for Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for COWBOY CARTER, marking her first recognition in the country music category. Eminem won Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Hip-Hop Album, his first AMAs in 15 years. Gracie Abrams was named New Artist of the Year.
The ceremony also honored music legends Janet Jackson and Rod Stewart. Jackson received the Icon Award, acknowledging her profound influence on pop music. In her acceptance speech, she reflected on her family’s dedication to music and the unexpected nature of fame. Stewart was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, introduced by five of his eight children. Visibly moved, Stewart performed “Forever Young,” marking his return to the AMAs stage after more than two decades.
The inaugural Veterans Voice Award was presented to Zac Brown, recognizing his contributions to veterans’ causes.
Jennifer Lopez, returning as host after a decade, opened the show with a dynamic medley honoring nominees, featuring a bold dance routine that sparked mixed reactions online.
The 2025 AMAs showcased a diverse array of performances, including appearances by Janet Jackson, Rod Stewart, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Lainey Wilson, Reneé Rapp, Becky G, Manuel Turizo, and Alex Warren.
The event’s return after a two-year hiatus and its move to CBS signaled a revitalization of the fan-voted awards show, aiming to celebrate musical achievements across genres and generations.