The AMA Winners ceremony was held on May 26 at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas and hosted by Jennifer Lopez, showcasing a night of remarkable achievements and memorable performances. Billie Eilish emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, sweeping all seven categories she was nominated for, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” and Song of the Year for “Birds of a Feather.”
The ceremony also featured historic wins, such as Beyoncé’s recognition in the country music category, and honored legends like Janet Jackson and Rod Stewart with special awards. From groundbreaking achievements to surprise upsets, the 2025 AMAs showcased the diverse and evolving landscape of the music industry.
Major Highlights from the 2025 AMAs
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Billie Eilish: Dominated the awards, securing wins in all her nominated categories, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Hit Me Hard and Soft), Song of the Year (“Birds of a Feather”), Favorite Touring Artist, Favorite Female Pop Artist, Favorite Pop Album, and Favorite Pop Song.
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Beyoncé: Made history by winning Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for Cowboy Carter, marking her first recognition in the country music category. Cowboy Carter not only topped charts but also sparked significant cultural conversations about the inclusion of Black artists in country music, redefining genre boundaries and expanding the audience for country music worldwide.
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Eminem: Returned to the AMAs spotlight, winning Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Hip-Hop Album for The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), his first AMA wins in 15 years. In a video message from Detroit, Eminem expressed gratitude to his fans, saying, “Thank you to the fans. Thank you to everybody that voted for me. I appreciate you all. Thank you so much.”
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Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars: Their collaboration “Die With a Smile” earned them awards for Favorite Music Video and Collaboration of the Year! This retro-inspired ballad, blending 1970s soft rock and pop-soul elements, showcases the duo’s harmonious vocals and emotional depth. The accompanying music video, directed by Mars and Daniel Ramos, features the artists performing on a vintage TV studio set, enhancing the song’s nostalgic ambiance.
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Gracie Abrams: Another AMA Winner, Named New Artist of the Year, highlighting her rising prominence in the music industry. At the 2025 American Music Awards, Gracie Abrams was honored with the New Artist of the Year award, marking a significant milestone in her burgeoning career. Although she couldn’t attend the ceremony due to her ongoing The Secret of Us tour, Abrams expressed heartfelt gratitude to her fans through a pre-recorded acceptance speech.
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Doechii: At the 2025 American Music Awards, Doechii earned her first AMA trophy by winning Social Song of the Year for her viral hit “Anxiety.” Originally recorded in 2019 and re-released in March 2025 after gaining traction on TikTok, the track samples Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” and resonated with listeners worldwide, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts in several countries.
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Janet Jackson: Honored with the Icon Award, celebrating her enduring impact on the music industry. Janet Jackson was honored with the prestigious Icon Award, recognizing her decades-long influence on the music industry. Marking her first televised performance in seven years, Jackson delivered a captivating medley of her hits “Someone to Call My Lover” and “All for You” at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
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Rod Stewart: Sir Rod Stewart was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his nearly six-decade-long career in music. The 80-year-old rock icon was visibly moved when five of his eight children—Kimberly, Sean, Ruby, Renee, and Liam—surprised him on stage to present the award, affectionately referring to him as “Papa Stew” In his heartfelt acceptance speech.
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Zac Brown: Zac Brown was honored with the inaugural Veterans Voice Award, recognizing his unwavering commitment to supporting military veterans. Presented by the Easy Day Foundation on Memorial Day, the award highlighted Brown’s extensive work through his nonprofit, Camp Southern Ground, which offers programs aiding veterans in their transition to civilian life.
