AMAs

Kendrick Lamar leads this year’s American Music Awards nominations with a total of 10, including artist of the year, album of the year (GNX) and song of the year (“Not Like Us”). Impressively, he has three of the five nominees for favorite hip-hop song: “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin, “Not Like Us,” and “Luther” with SZA).
Lamar, who already has three AMA wins to his name, could tie Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for the most awards in a single year should he win in all eight categories.

Post Malone is runner-up with eight nominations, including artist of the year, album of the year (F-1 Trillion) and song of the year for “I Had Some Help,” his smash collab with Morgan Wallen. Posty, who has previously taken home awards in the rap/hip-hop and pop/rock categories, could take home an award in a third distinct genre. He has three nominations in country categories. He also has two nominations for collaboration of the year: “I Had Some Help” and “Fortnight” with Taylor Swift.

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Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Shaboozey are next in line with seven nods. Six artists tied with six nominations each: Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA and Swift. Swift, the top winner in AMAs history with 40 wins, could extend her lead should she win in any of her six categories.

Women artists did well in the nominations: Seven of the nominees for album of the year are women, as are six of the nominees for artist of the year.

Roan is the only artist to be nominated in all three of this year’s new categories: album of the year, song of the year, and social song of the year.

Of the 49 artists to receive two or more nominations, just three were groups or duos, a sign of how dominant solo personalities are in this era. Fuerza Regida was the top group or duo, with three nominations, followed by Linkin Park and Twenty One Pilots with two each.

Two of the five nominees for favorite country album are by Black artists, a sign of increased diversity in that genre. Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and Shaboozey’s Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going are both vying for the prize. The artists are also nominated for favorite female country artist and favorite male country artist, respectively.

Ariana Grande is nominated for both artist of the year and favorite soundtrack, for her work alongside Cynthia Erivo on the Wicked soundtrack.

The 51st AMAs, with host Jennifer Lopez, is set to air live from Las Vegas on Monday, May 26. The show will air live coast-to-coast at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS, and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. This marks Lopez’s second time hosting the ceremony, a role she first took on in 2015. Lopez, who has performed on 10 previous AMA telecasts, will also perform on this one.

This will be the first regular American Music Awards broadcast in two and a half years, since the show in November 2022 that was hosted by comedian Wayne Brady. This will also be the first regular AMAs broadcast on CBS. The AMAs aired on ABC from 1974 to 2022.

This show will be the first in two other ways. It’s the first AMAs show to be broadcast in Las Vegas. All the others were held in the Los Angeles area. And it’s the first show since it moved to Memorial Day. The show aired in January or February each year from 1974 through 2003, and then in October or November each year from 2003 to 2022. The plan is for the show to air each Memorial Day, paying tribute to U.S. troops and veterans in addition to honoring the year’s hottest music stars.

Three of the 10 artists nominated for artist of the year are first-time AMAs nominees: Roan, Carpenter and Zach Bryan. (Bryan is a first-time nominee because the show was on hiatus in the period in which he broke through.)

Several of the artists who already hold the lead for most wins in their categories could extend their leads this year. Swift is already out front in three categories in which she is nominated again this year – artist of the year (seven wins), favorite female pop artist (seven wins), favorite pop album (five wins).

Other artists who could extend their leads in their categories are Eminem for favorite male hip-hop artist (three wins), Bad Bunny for favorite Latin album (three wins), Linkin Park for favorite rock artist (six wins), and Marshmello for favorite dance/electronic artist (four wins).

Shakira, who won five times in the gender-neutral Latin artist category, is nominated for favorite female artist, where she is competing with two-time category champ Becky G.

Nominees are based on key fan interactions – as reflected on the Billboard charts – including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay and tour grosses. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and Luminate, and cover the data tracking eligibility period of March 22, 2024 through March 20, 2025.

Legendary producer Dick Clark created the show, which is known as the world’s largest fan-voted award show. The 2025 American Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions and will broadcast globally across linear and digital platforms.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special, which aired on CBS in October 2024- was one of the most-watched entertainment specials of the year.  As the most-streamed AMAs in the show’s history, the special surpassed 13M in reach and averaged over 6.1M viewers, an increase of +53% from the last show in 2022 on ABC. 

Fan voting is now open via VoteAMAs.com and the @AMAs Instagram profile in all awards categories. Voting closes Thursday, May 15, at 11:59 p.m. PT, with the exception of collaboration of the year and social song of the year, which will remain open through the first 30 minutes of the AMAs broadcast (on the VoteAMAs.com site only; Instagram voting in all categories ends May 15).

Here’s a complete list of 2025 American Music Awards nominees. They are listed in alphabetical order by first name.

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.

Adeptly hosted by Wayne Brady, the 2022 American Music Awards saw Taylor Swift win all six of her categories, extending her record as the most-awarded artist in the history of the AMAs (what else do you expect from an artist who is too damn popular for Ticketmaster to handle?). Swift now has 40 AMA wins in the show’s 50-year history, putting her ahead of three late icons: Michael Jackson (26 wins), Whitney Houston (22) and Kenny Rogers (19).

Despite the celebratory tone of the evening, the Sunday night (Nov. 20) broadcast from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater came less than 24 hours after a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., leaving five dead and at least 25 injured. Host Brady, performer/new artist of the year winner Dove Cameron and presenter (not to mention Hot 100 topper) Kim Petras all spoke about the attack on the LGBTQ community, touching on the senseless tragedy and resilience of the queer community. This meant that while musical performances (and awards, naturally) occupied the bulk of the evening, many of the more impactful moments came from artists candidly addressing the tragedy.

Of course, there was still joy to be found, whether through the energetic chemistry of surprise guest Cardi B joining Glo Rilla or Taylor Swift Stanning for her fans during three AMAs acceptance speeches. Plus, the long-running friendship between Smokey Robinson and AMA Icon Award honoree Lionel Richie provided a few laughs, even culminating in an all-star sing-along to an ‘80s smash hit with both Richie and Robinson on stage.

Check out the best moments from the 2022 AMAs below.

Taylor Swift won a night-topping six awards at the 2022 American Music Awards, which brings her career total to an even 40. This extends her already considerable lead as the most-awarded artist in the show’s 50-year history. Swift is followed on the AMA leaderboard by three superstar artists who have died: Michael Jackson (26 wins), Whitney Houston (22) and Kenny Rogers (19).
The 2022 AMAs, hosted by Wayne Brady, were held at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday (Nov. 20).

Swift extended her leads as the artist with the most wins for artist of the year (seven), and favorite pop/rock female artist (also seven).

In addition, Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) won favorite pop album. It’s her record-extending fifth win in the category. And “All Too Well” won favorite music video. It’s Swift’s third win in the category, which is also a record. She also won in two country categories.

Beyoncé, who was not present at the show, won three awards, making her the night’s runner-up for most wins. She won favorite soul/R&B female artist for the seventh time, which puts her in a tie with Rihanna for the most wins in the history of the category.

Two-time winners were Bad Bunny, BTS, Kendrick Lamar, Harry Styles and Morgan Wallen. These artists, likewise, did not appear on the show.

BTS won favorite pop duo or group for the fourth time, which makes them the most awarded group in the category, which has been presented every year since the show began. BTS were previously tied with Daryl Hall & John Oates, Aerosmith, Black Eyed Peas and One Direction with three wins each. BTS also won in the new favorite K-pop artist category.

Styles won favorite male pop artist for the first time. One Direction were three-time winners for favorite pop/rock group. The genial Brit is the third artist to win in both categories. Justin Timberlake has won the male pop award twice and the pop group award once with *NSYNC. Phil Collins has won the male pop award once and the pop group award once with Genesis.

Marshmello won favorite dance/electronic artist for the fourth time, extending his record as the most awarded artist in the category.

Nicki Minaj won favorite female hip-hop artist. It’s her fifth win a rap/hip hop artist category – which is more than any other artist. (The name of the category and whether it was gendered or not has changed over the years). Eminem is in second place, with four wins.

Dove Cameron, who was surprisingly passed over for a Grammy nomination for best new artist last week, won the AMA award for new artist of the year. She’s the first AMA new artist of the year winner who wasn’t even nominated for the Grammy for best new artist since 5 Seconds of Summer eight years ago. (That’s discounting three solo stars who emerged from successful groups – Zayn, Niall Horan and Camila Cabello, because they wouldn’t have been eligible for a Grammy nod.)

Dan + Shay took favorite country duo or group for the fourth year in a row. That’s the longest consecutive win streak in that category since Lady A won four straight from 2010-13. But it’s far from the record. Alabama won 14 years in a row from 1983 to 1996.

Elvis beat Encanto for favorite soundtrack, which likely reflects the fact that Elvis was more current at the time of voting. But a track from Encanto, Sebastián Yatra’s “Dos Orguiitas,” won favorite Latin song. Yatra performed the Oscar-nominated song on the Academy Awards in March.

Coldplay won favorite touring artist. It’s the band’s second win in that category, which was introduced in 2016. No other act has won more than once. The category was on hiatus the last two years when touring was hindered by the pandemic.

Elton John & Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart – PNAU Remix” won collaboration of the year. Elton was nominated for favorite pop/rock male artist at the very first AMAs on Feb. 19, 1974. He lost to Jim Croce, whose tragic death in a plane crash the previous September triggered a huge sales boom.

Smokey Robinson, who co-hosted that first AMAs show with the late Roger Miller and Helen Reddy, presented the Icon Award to Lionel Richie.

The 2022 American Music Awards took over the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday night (Nov. 20), where some of the year’s biggest stars took the stage to deliver fan-favorite hits and brand-new tracks.

From P!nk, Carrie Underwood and Anitta to Imagine Dragons, JID, Stevie Wonder, Dove Cameron and Yola, this year’s AMAs had something for every type of music fan, plus a number of buzzworthy surprise appearances and onstage collaborations.

Additionally, this year’s show unveiled a new award, song of soul, which spotlights an emerging, mission-driven artist who has inspired change and aims for social justice through their music. The first recipient is Yola’s “Break the Bough.” Yola performed the song at the ceremony, marking her first AMAs performance. Bebe Rexha was also among the stars to step on the AMAs stage for the first time this year, delivering her Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit with David Guetta “I’m Good (Blue).”

The ceremony also featured an emotional tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John, who died in August at age 73. After opening the show with her new single, P!nk took the stage to perform John’s 1978 Grease classic “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”

After Lionel Richie was honored with the Icon Award, Stevie Wonder and Charlie Puth teamed up to honor his career with a mash-up of his hits including “Three Times a Lady,” “Easy,” “All Night Long (All Night)” and more.

Read on below to see how we at Billboard ranked the 11 performances of the night, counting down to our favorite performance of the 2022 American Music Awards.

Just after Lionel Richie took home the Icon Award at the 2022 American Music Awards on Sunday (Nov. 20), Stevie Wonder and Charlie Puth took to the Microsoft Theater stage to pay a lengthy tribute to the superstar.

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Appearing on the stage at a set of dueling pianos, the pair engaged in what Puth referred to onstage as a “musical tennis match of Lionel Richie copyrights” — essentially, ping-ponging off each other, performing hits from Richie’s vast catalog.

Wonder started off by throwing it all the way back to Commodores with his rendition of “Three Times A Lady” — though even after some adorable crowd participation, he relented, saying, “It still don’t sound as good as Lionel.” Puth countered with a song in Richie’s “best key” of A-flat major (“I know that’s the most ‘me’ thing to say ever,” Puth quipped), which turned out to be “Easy” also by the Commodores.

The two went back and forth for a while, before eventually landing on one of the biggest hits from Richie’s pen, “We Are The World” with Michael Jackson. Much like that original celebrity-packed jam, the stage filled with stars, including Ari Lennox, Muni Long, Melissa Etheridge, Jimmie Allen, Yola, Smokey Robinson and more. As everyone belted the lyrics out, Richie couldn’t help but rush up onto the stage to perform with the group.

In a message to “young superstars” during his acceptance speech for the Icon Award, Richie said, “When you hear the word ‘hip,’ it means today. When you hear the word ‘inspiring,’ it means forever. If you get a chance to have that light on you, understand what God has in store.”