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Reneé Rapp lit up the 2025 American Music Awards on Monday night (May 26) with the live debut of her brand new single, “Leave Me Alone.”
Introduced by pal Jake Shane, the Mean Girls star kicked off the performance in front of a crowded, makeshift bathroom mirror with three of her dancers before kicking down the set to reveal the stage at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
“Got my hair tied up, phone on don’t disturb/ Leave me alone, babe, I wanna have fun/ I wear my jeans so low, show my my little back dimple/ Leave me alone, babe, I wanna have fun/ Even line my lips just to match my nipples/ Leave me alone, babe, I wanna have fun,” Rapp swaggered on an edited version of the track’s opening verse.
Later, she climbed the steps of the set to join her backing band — all of whom wore white T-shirts emblazoned with the bold statement “I WOULD DIE FOR RENEÉ RAPP” in all caps.
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“Leave Me Alone” serves as the lead single for Rapp’s upcoming sophomore studio set, Bite Me, which is slated for release on Aug. 1 viva Interscope Records. (The song’s lyrics also happen to cheekily reference the wait between 2023’s Snow Angel and the star’s forthcoming follow-up, with her rapping, “Manager called me, said, ‘Where’s that single?’/ Leave me alone, babe, I wanna have fun/ ‘Oh you’re breaking up, babe, I don’t got no signal!’”)
Ahead of the album’s summertime release, Rapp will join the likes of Mariah Carey, Lola Young, KSI, Busted vs. McFly, Zara Larsson, Dasha, Jessie J and fellow AMAs performer Benson Boone on the lineup of Capital’s Summertime Ball with Barclaycard 2025 at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 15.
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
Marking the latest stop on his extraordinary rise to pop stardom following the success of “Ordinary,” Alex Warren has made his award show debut by performing the breakthrough track at the American Music Awards on Monday (May 26). Taking the stage in Las Vegas late in the show, the TikToker expertly built up the momentum […]
Eminem has won favorite male hip-hop artist at the 2025 American Music Awards. Twenty-two years after taking home his first AMA in the same category, Slim Shady returned to win against some loaded competition on Monday night (May 26).
The Detroit rapper took home the win over the likes of Drake, Future, Tyler, the Creator and Kendrick Lamar. It’s the ninth American Music Award victory for Em to add another accolade to his decorated trophy case.
Project Runway‘s Heidi Klum presented the award, and the supermodel joked about once recording a track with Snoop Dogg, which makes her “the most unexpected hip-hop artist to come out of Germany.”
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Unfortunately, Em wasn’t in attendance as he remained home in Detroit, but delivered an acceptance speech via video for his millions of fans across the globe.
“AMAs, what’s up? Favorite male hip-hop artist, thank you, I appreciate that. I think it’s been 23 years since I won my first AMA and I’m 24 years old. That’s crazy. Seriously, man, thank you to the fans. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I appreciate y’all. Thank you so much.”
It’s been more than 10 years since Em won an American Music Award, with his last victory coming in 2014 for favorite rap/hip-hop album thanks to The Marshall Mathers LP 2.
2024 was a busy year for Eminem, who returned with his The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) in July. The project debuted atop the Billboard 200 — Em’s 11th album to go No. 1 — with 281,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 18, according to Luminate. At the time of its arrival, TDOSS was the largest week of any rap album in 2024.
Watch Em’s acceptance speech below:
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
Janet Jackson is an indisputable cultural icon, so it was only natural that the 10-time Billboard Hot 100-topping artist was honored with the ICON Award at the 2025 American Music Awards on Monday (May 26).
But it seems that the Grammy-winning Rock & Roll Hall of Famer isn’t entirely sold on this whole “icon” business.
“No disrespect in any way, I don’t consider myself an icon,” Jackson said while holding an award that stated otherwise on the Fontainebleau Las Vegas stage. “My family, myself, our dream wasn’t ever to be famous. We weren’t raised like that. We always had a special love for music and dancing and singing, and fame came with the result of hard work and dedication.
“My story, my family’s story, it’s truly an American story,” she added earnestly. “This would have only happened in America. The one thing I hope for is that I’ve been an inspiration to others, to artists, to follow their dreams and succeed.”
Trending on Billboard
If anyone needed some inspiration, they needn’t look further than her pre-speech performance at the 2025 AMAs. As the spoken word intro to “Control” played over the speakers, Janet and her dancers hit the stage and kicked off her performance with “Someone to Call My Lover,” her sweetly come-hither 2001 single from All For You; after that, she segued into the sexy, slammin’ title track (and Hot 100 No. 1) from that album, executing some confident choreography while her dancers, wearing tank tops or little other than their tats, supported her ably.
With glitzy fountains erupting behind her, the Vegas vibes were in full effect – no surprise, considering that Jackson is in the midst of a residency at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas.
After thanking her staff, her management, her dancers, producers, musicians, fans and many more folks who have helped her decades-long career, Jackson left the audience with these words: “Keep God in every part of your life, because that’s where He wants to be.”
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
Gwen Stefani hollered back to some of her career favorite hits at Monday night’s (May 26) 2025 American Music Awards. After an introduction from husband Blake Shelton — who called her his “one and only” — Stefani celebrated the 25th anniversary of her favorite pop/rock female artist AMA win with a three-song medley beginning with […]
Benson Boone took over the stage at the 2025 American Music Awards on Monday night (May 26) to perform his new single “Mystical Magical.” Wearing a patchwork purple suit glittering with rhinestones, the mustachioed musician kicked off his number by crooning, “There’s nothing colder than your shoulder/ When you’re dragging me along like you do, […]
After a banner breakthrough 12 months, Gracie Abrams has won new artist of the year at the 2025 American Music Awards — and she’s giving the glory right back to the people who got her there in the first place.
After Nikki Glaser read off the “That’s So True” singer as this year’s winner at the ceremony in Las Vegas (May 26), it was revealed that Abrams could not attend in person due to her ongoing global tour. The musician did, however, share a pre-taped thank-you message, which she started by saying that she was “so sad not to be in the same room as all of you tonight” before shouting out her fellow nominees — Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims and Tommy Richman — “whose music and whose careers I admire so much.”
“The reason this means so much to me tonight is that I know this is a fan-voted award,” Abrams continued, looking casual as she addressed the camera in a blue sweatshirt. “This belongs to the community of people I’ve been lucky enough to learn from over the past few years of putting music out.”
“This belongs to you,” the Los Angeles native added. “Thank you so much for caring about the music.”
Abrams’ win comes nearly a year after she dropped her breakout album, The Secret of Us, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The Grammy nominee has since graduated from playing theater-sized venues to arenas, the likes of which she’s been performing in all over Europe, Asia and Australia this spring on her The Secret of Us Tour.
Her AMAs acceptance speech is far from the first time Abrams has made her fanbase the focal point of her successes. She’s long been cultivating a community with her listeners — dating back to when she simply posted snippets of her songs on Instagram before she ever even released anything — and in her April Billboard cover story, Abrams said that despite her career explosion this past year, everything “feels as connected as it did six years ago” when it comes to her relationship with her fans.
“I think the best use of me as a human being on this planet, at least right now, is trying to use my writing or storytelling to make as many people as possible feel connected to themselves and to this community,” she added at the time. “That is what I think I’m here for right now.”
Hosted this year by Jennifer Lopez, the AMAs are airing live on CBS as well as streaming on Paramount+. The night will also see stars taking home awards such as artist of the year, album of the year, song of the year and more, with Kendrick Lamar leading with 10 nominations.
Watch her speech below:
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
Days after receiving stitches for a nose injury during rehearsals, Jennifer Lopez opened the 2025 American Music Awards “dancing [her] heart out” to a medley of hits — 23 to be exact — as part of an energetic six-minute blitz to kick off the show on Monday night (May 26).
J. Lo hit the stage in Las Vegas in a sparkling leotard that looked like a combination of her 2019 It’s My Party Tour wardrobe mixed with a couture spacesuit. Lopez, alongside her sharp dance team, ripped through routines surrounding an array of anthems that dominated streaming service playlists and radio stations throughout the last year.
She strutted across the Fontainebleau Las Vegas stage filled with laser beams and pyrotechnics to her own hit “Dance Again” as well as plenty of Kendrick Lamar bangers such as GNX‘s “Squabble Up” and “TV Off” along with his lethal “Not Like Us” Drake diss.
The 55-year-old kept the party going with choreography to Doechii’s “Denial Is a River,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile,” Tinashe’s “Nasty Girl,” Charli xcx’s “Guess,” Tyler, the Creator’s “Sticky,” Bruno Mars and ROSÉ‘s “APT.,” Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Bad Bunny’s “NuevaYol,” Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” and more.
In the midst of her performance to “Lose Control,” Jenny From the Block got the Sin City crowd riled up when she briefly made out with some of her backup dancers.
J. Lo showed off her stamina, going directly from performing to hosting for the night. She’s no stranger to the AMAs stage, previously hosting the award show in 2015.
“I had to kick things off by turning it up to the biggest songs of the year and dancing my heart out for all of you, but tonight, the spotlight belongs to you, because this is the world’s largest fan-voted award show where you decide the winners,” she said after her medley.
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
05/26/2025
Musicians showed off their style on the red carpet for the awards show’s first time being held on Memorial Day.
05/26/2025
Going into Monday night’s (May 26) American Music Awards, Kendrick Lamar leads all nominees with a total of 10 nods, including artist of the year, album of the year (GNX) and song of the year (“Not Like Us”) — but who will leave the night’s biggest winner?
Post Malone is runner-up with eight nominations, followed by Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Shaboozey with seven nods. Six artists are tied with six nominations apiece: Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA and Taylor Swift.
You can follow along all night with Billboard below for our updating full winners list to see who comes out on top. The 2025 show — hosted by second-time emcee Jennifer Lopez — starts at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS.
Trending on Billboard
Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Kendrick Lamar
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
New Artist of the Year
Benson Boone
Chappell Roan
Gracie Abrams
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Tommy Richman
Album of the Year (new category)
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
Song of the Year (new category)
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 featuring Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help”
Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Teddy Swims, “Lose Control”
Collaboration of the Year
Kendrick Lamar & SZA, “Luther”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”
Marshmello & Kane Brown, “Miles on It”
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, “APT.”
Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone, “Fortnight”
Social Song of the Year (new category)
Chappell Roan, “HOT TO GO!”
Djo, “End of Beginning”
Doechii, “Anxiety”
Lola Young, “Messy”
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Tommy Richman, “Million Dollar Baby”
Favorite Touring Artist
Billie Eilish
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan
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)”
Favorite Male Pop Artist
Benson Boone
Bruno Mars
Hozier
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Pop Artist
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Lady Gaga
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
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
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”
Favorite Male Country Artist
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
Shaboozey
Favorite Female Country Artist
Beyoncé
Ella Langley
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Favorite Country Duo or Group
Dan + Shay
Old Dominion
Parmalee
The Red Clay Strays
Zac Brown Band
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
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 featuring Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help”
Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist
Drake
Eminem
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Tyler, The Creator
Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist
Doechii
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Sexyy Red
Favorite Hip-Hop Album
Eminem, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Future & Metro Boomin, We Don’t Trust You
Gunna, one of wun
Kendrick Lamar, GNX
Tyler, The Creator, Chromakopia
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”
Favorite Male R&B Artist
Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
PARTYNEXTDOOR
The Weeknd
Usher
Favorite Female R&B Artist
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA
Tyla
Favorite R&B Album
Bryson Tiller, Bryson Tiller
PARTYNEXTDOOR, PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)
PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
SZA, SOS Deluxe: LANA
The Weeknd, Hurry Up Tomorrow
Favorite R&B Song
Chris Brown, “Residuals”
Muni Long, “Made for Me”
SZA, “Saturn”
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti, “Timeless”
Tommy Richman, “Million Dollar Baby”
Favorite Male Latin Artist
Bad Bunny
Feid
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P
Favorite Female Latin Artist
Becky G
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
Shakira
Young Miko
Favorite Latin Duo or Group
Calibre 50
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
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
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”
Favorite Rock Artist
Hozier
Linkin Park
Pearl Jam
Twenty One Pilots
Zach Bryan
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
Favorite Rock Song
Green Day, “Dilemma”
Hozier, “Too Sweet”
Linkin Park, “The Emptiness Machine”
Myles Smith, “Stargazing”
Zach Bryan, “Pink Skies”
Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist
Charli xcx
David Guetta
John Summit
Lady Gaga
Marshmello
Favorite Soundtrack
Arcane League of Legends: Season 2
Hazbin Hotel (Original Soundtrack)
Moana 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) • Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson and Cast
Twisters: The Album
Wicked: The Soundtrack • Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Cast
Favorite Afrobeats Artist
Asake
Rema
Tems
Tyla
Wizkid
Favorite K-Pop Artist
ATEEZ
Jimin
RM
ROSÉ
Stray Kids
The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media.
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