The stage is set for a star-studded night in Las Vegas as the 2025 American Music Awards (AMAs) kick off this Monday, promising unforgettable performances and intense competition. The show will be broadcast live on CBS from 8 p.m. Eastern Time (Midnight GMT), with pop icon Jennifer Lopez serving as host.
Kendrick Lamar Tops the Nominee List
Super Bowl performer and Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations with a whopping 10 nods, including the coveted Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for his viral diss track “Not Like Us”, aimed at fellow rapper Drake. The song, which won five Grammys and made waves at the Super Bowl, is now up for even more fan-voted recognition.
American Music Awards: Artist of the Year
Lamar will face off against some of the music industry’s biggest names for Artist of the Year, including:
- Taylor Swift – the all-time leader in AMA wins with 40 awards and fresh off her record-breaking world tour
- Ariana Grande
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Chappell Roan
- Morgan Wallen
- Billie Eilish
- Zack Bryan
- SZA
More Fan Favorites in the Running
Post Malone is also a top contender this year with eight nominations, including Favorite Male Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for his genre-bending project “F-1 Trillion”. Meanwhile, Beyoncé is up for Album of the Year and Favorite Country Album for her critically acclaimed “Cowboy Carter”, along with a nod for Favorite Female Country Artist.
Star-Studded Performances Await
In addition to the awards, fans can expect high-energy performances from:
- Jennifer Lopez
- Janet Jackson
- Rod Stewart
- Benson Boone
- Blake Shelton
- Gwen Stefani
- Lainey Wilson
Special Honors for Legends
The AMAs will also take a moment to celebrate two legendary artists:
- Janet Jackson will receive the Icon Award for her global influence in music and entertainment
- Rod Stewart will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-spanning career
