Jennifer Lopez’s AMA Homecoming: 2025 Awards Take Over Vegas
Nothing says “memorial weekend” like Jennifer Lopez dusting off her AMAs microphone and heading back to Las Vegas after a decade away. On Monday, May 26, the Fontainebleau Las Vegas will host the 51st American Music Awards—because if you’re going to honor the troops, you might as well do it where the neon never sleeps. Returning ten years after her last turn as emcee, Lopez brings her trademark bedazzled energy to kick off summer, a move Jay Penske, CEO of Dick Clark Productions, hailed as “one-of-a-kind.” In a sneak clip ahead of the milestone 50th show, Lopez confessed she first watched the AMAs as a kid in 2001 and performed more than ten times since. Now she’s back, presumably to remind everyone that even in showbiz, absence makes the glam harder to ignore.
This year’s spectacle isn’t just about choreography and costume changes. The AMAs have teamed up with the Easy Day Foundation to spotlight Veterans via special in-show moments, two bespoke performances, and an award for a marquee star supporting military communities. Because nothing says “charitable evening” like a glowstick salute.
When the nominations dropped, Kendrick Lamar led the pack with ten nods (including Artist, Album, and Song of the Year)—a tacit reminder that rap still rules the scoreboard. Trailing behind were Post Malone (eight nods) and a three-way tie among Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Shaboozey (seven each). Rookies Benson Boone, Doechii, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Lola Young, The Marías, ROSÉ, Teddy Swims, Tommy Richman, Tyla, Sabrina Carpenter, and Zach Bryan also snagged their first AMAs mentions, proving there’s always fresh heartbreak and dance-floor fodder to exploit.
Legendary honorees will snag some hardware too. Janet Jackson receives the ICON Award for cultural impact so seismic even Lionel Richie and Rihanna once felt the aftershocks. The singer herself thanked the AMAs on Instagram: “It’s an honor. See you in Vegas!” Sir Rod Stewart, at 80, claims the Lifetime Achievement Award, prompting critics to wonder if his charisma outshines his ever-changing mop of hair. Meanwhile, Zac Brown earns the inaugural Veterans Voice Award for championing those who served—because country meets valor meets arena spectacle.
Well, there you have it: an evening of glitz, gratitude, and more cameo appearances than a midseason sitcom reboot. Tune in for flashing lights, big-name surprises, and the occasional awkward silence when someone actually thanks their publicist. Humanity at its finest.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Dotdash Meredith RSS
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
