American Music Awards winners 2025: A Night of Music, Triumph, and Tributes , The 51st American Music Awards (AMAs), held on May 26, 2025, at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, marked a vibrant return after a two-year hiatus, delivering a star-studded celebration of music’s biggest names. Hosted by the electrifying Jennifer Lopez, who also performed a dynamic medley of hits, the ceremony was a historic shift, airing on CBS for the first time and moving to a Memorial Day slot to honor U.S. troops and veterans.
With fan-voted American Music Awards winners, unforgettable performances, and heartfelt tributes, the 2025 AMAs showcased the diversity and dynamism of today’s music scene. Here’s a comprehensive look at the winners who took home the coveted trophies, based on key fan interactions tracked by Billboard and Luminate from March 22, 2024, to March 20, 2025.
American Music Awards Major Categories: The Night’s Biggest Wins
American Music Awards The Artist of the Year award, one of the evening’s most anticipated, went to Billie Eilish, who edged out fierce competition from Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Chappell Roan, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Taylor Swift, and Zach Bryan. Eilish’s introspective and genre-defying work on her album Hit Me Hard and Soft resonated deeply with fans, securing her the top spot. Her win underscored her continued dominance in pop music, further solidified by her victory in Favorite Pop Album for Hit Me Hard and Soft, beating out Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Charli XCX’s Brat, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet, and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.
American Music Awards winners 2025: A Night of Music, Triumph, and Tributes
In the Album of the Year category, the competition was intense, with nominees spanning genres from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter to Kendrick Lamar’s GNX. Ultimately, Billie Eilish claimed this award as well, reinforcing her status as a fan favorite. Her album’s emotional depth and innovative production stood out among a crowded field that included Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion and Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet.
The Song of the Year award went to Shaboozey for his crossover hit A Bar Song (Tipsy), a track that blended country and hip-hop with infectious energy. The song triumphed over strong contenders like Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ Die With a Smile, and Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso. Shaboozey’s win highlighted the AMAs’ embrace of genre-blending artists, reflecting the evolving landscape of popular music.
American Music Awards Genre-Specific Highlights:
Pop
In the pop categories, Billie Eilish also took home Favorite Female Pop Artist, outshining Chappell Roan, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift. For Favorite Male Pop Artist, Teddy Swims emerged victorious, recognized for his soulful hit Lose Control, which also earned him a nomination in the Song of the Year category. His win over Benson Boone, Bruno Mars, Hozier, and The Weeknd marked a breakthrough moment for the rising star. Favorite Pop Song went to Sabrina Carpenter for Espresso, a bubbly anthem that captured the summer’s vibe, beating out Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather and Chappell Roan’s Good Luck, Babe!.
Hip-Hop
Kendrick Lamar, who led the night with 10 American Music Awards winners nominations, dominated the hip-hop categories. He won Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist over Eminem and Post Malone, and his album GNX secured Favorite Hip-Hop Album, surpassing Future and Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You. Lamar’s Not Like Us claimed Favorite Hip-Hop Song, a testament to its cultural impact and fan support, edging out his own tracks Like That (with Future and Metro Boomin) and Luther (with SZA).
R&B
SZA shone in the R&B categories, winning Favorite Female R&B Artist and Favorite R&B Song for her introspective track Saturn. Her victories underscored her ability to connect with fans through emotive storytelling, outpacing nominees like Beyoncé and Tyla.
Country
The country categories saw Post Malone take Favorite Male Country Artist, fueled by the success of his country-inspired album F-1 Trillion. Lainey Wilson won Favorite Female Country Artist, cementing her status as a leading voice in modern country. Dan + Shay claimed Favorite Country Duo or Group, while Beyoncé made history with Cowboy Carter winning Favorite Country Album, a nod to her groundbreaking foray into the genre.
Latin, Rock, and More
Becky G won Favorite Female Latin Artist, and Fuerza Regida took Favorite Latin Duo or Group. Karol G’s Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido won Favorite Latin Song, reflecting the global rise of Latin music. In rock, Hozier won Favorite Rock Artist, and his album Unreal Unearth: Unending claimed Favorite Rock Album. His track Too Sweet won Favorite Rock Song. Tyla won Favorite Afrobeats Artist, and Stray Kids took Favorite K-Pop Artist, showcasing the AMAs’ growing inclusivity across global genres.
New and Social Categories
The New Artist of the Year award went to Gracie Abrams, whose raw and relatable songwriting resonated with fans, beating out Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, and Tommy Richman. In the new Social Song of the Year category, Doechii won for Anxiety, a track that gained traction through social media buzz. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars won Collaboration of the Year for Die With a Smile, a fan-favorite duet that showcased their undeniable chemistry.
Special Honors and Performances
The 2025 AMAs also celebrated music legends with special awards. Janet Jackson received the Icon Award for her decades-long influence, delivering a powerful performance—her first on television since 2018. Rod Stewart was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, captivating the audience with a set that included classics and a nod to his 60-year career. Zac Brown received the inaugural Veterans Voice Award for his contributions to the veteran community, aligning with the ceremony’s Memorial Day tribute. Performances from Lainey Wilson, Benson Boone, Gwen Stefani, and others added to the night’s energy, with Lopez’s opening medley setting the tone.
A New Chapter for the AMAs
The 2025 AMAs, broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, marked a bold new era for the awards show. The move to Las Vegas, the Memorial Day scheduling, and the focus on honoring veterans brought fresh energy to the fan-voted spectacle. With winners spanning genres and generations, from Billie Eilish’s pop dominance to Kendrick Lamar’s hip-hop reign and Beyoncé’s country breakthrough, the ceremony celebrated music’s power to unite and inspire. As the AMAs look ahead, their commitment to reflecting fan voices and cultural shifts ensures they remain a cornerstone of music celebration.
