The Finest and Worst Moments of the American Music Awards 2025

The American Music Awards, hosted by Jennifer Lopez, happened on Monday, Might 26 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Might 26, presenting a mixture of fan-voted awards, icons taking the stage and moments that received social media buzzing.

From Lopez’s high-intensity internet hosting gig that included the whole lot from dancer makeouts to a number of wardrobe modifications, to the return of a coiffure you might need thought was left previously, the AMAs gave us a lot to speak about throughout the present and nicely into tomorrow.

Learn on for one of the best, worst and most “oops!” moments of the present.

Most, All-Round: Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez is totally by no means going to half-ass something, which was evident (as soon as once more) as she opened the present with a dance medley consisting of 23 of the night’s songs condensed into six minutes. That meant the whole lot from a line dance to “Tipsy (a Bar Track)” to kisses with each her female and male backup dancers to “Lovely Issues” to some critical hair-ography to “They Not Like Us” — all whereas sporting (what else?) a nude-illusion glowing catsuit. Then she walked out mere seconds later — nonetheless out of breath! — to start her host monologue in a plunging silver Miss Sohee robe with teal opera coat. In any case, she had her own similarly over-the-top 2015 AMAs hosting gig to beat!

Most Artistic Partial Nudity: SZA

“SZA’s pasties are a vibe,” one among our editors declared in our AMAs Slack channel, and that was correct. After years of tedious sheer black robes over bras and lingerie, we’ve to present it up for a costume that thoughtfully frames some sparkly pasties and places the wearer’s butt on a shelf. Slight deduction for a way laborious it was for her get to the mic to just accept Favourite Feminine R&B Artist, however she laughed it off as she hopped as gracefully as she might up the steps.

Finest (But Most Tragic) Throwback: Nikki Glaser and Heidi Klum Denied the Probability to Rip Off Benson Boone’s Efficiency

Benson Boone’s bold, sparkly purple suit was destined to be worn for the entire efficiency of “Mystical Magical,” a lot to the frustration of a highly-prepared Nikki Glaser and Heidi Klum, who had previously torn off his tux to reveal a jumpsuit at the Grammys.

Most Able to Give Thanks: Gwen Stefani

As a substitute of B-A-N-A-N-A-S, Gwen Stefani might have modified the lyrics to P-O-T-A-T-O-E-S, as a result of in her majorette jacket worn for the “Hollaback Lady” portion of her medley, she was giving horny Thanksgiving mascot.

Largest Testomony to ‘Laborious Work and Dedication’: Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson confirmed as much as settle for her ICON award and gave followers a sneak peek of what to anticipate at her just-kicked-off Las Vegas residency, full with among the choreography she’s so well-known for set to a couple of her a long time of hits (together with, after all, the Tik Tok-hot “Somebody to Name My Lover”). Trying like no time had passed since she first set foot on the AMAs stage as a performer in 1989, the star sang a couple of hits, confirmed off a couple of dance strikes, then accepted the award.

“I do not take into account myself an icon, my household, myself; our dream wasn’t ever to be well-known,” she stated of her siblings, together with famous person Michael Jackson. “We at all times had a particular love for music, dancing and singing and fame got here with the results of laborious work and dedication.”

Finest Argument for Lifting Heavy Weights and Consuming Protein: All of the Girls Performing

From Gwen Stefani to Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson to Gloria Estefan (throughout whose medley Lopez could not cease herself from dancing alongside), the feminine performers had a long time (and in Jackson’s case, a full half-century) of expertise underneath their belts — and had been nonetheless as showstopping as they’d ever been. Nikki Glaser did joke that the key to longevity as an artist is to by no means age, and these girls are the residing (and dancing) proof.

Finest Blink-and-You-MissedIt Wardrobe: Jennifer Lopez

You’re looking at half of Jennifer Lopez’s high-fashion host ensembles, which, in a present than ran a good two hours, is roughly one look each quarter-hour. Nobody will ever accuse Jennifer Lopez of being uncommitted to the bit.

Finest Night time for Mullets: Benson Boone/Rod Stewart/Jason Tartick/Dan Smyers

In an evening that was all about legacy acts, no ’80s icon had a greater evening than the mullet, the business-in-front-party-in-back staple of many a retro music video. Benson Boone, Rod Stewart (who has by no means let the mullet exit of favor), Jason Tartick and Dan Smyers all made their particular person — however equally impassioned — case for the return of the coiffure.

Cutest Household Second: Meet Papa Stew

Contemplating how lengthy Rod Stewart’s been well-known, it might shock some to seek out out that there is something left to find out about him — however his daughter Ruby (joined by 4 extra of his eight youngsters) revealing her siblings’ nickname for him was a rattling delight.

“Tonight we’re right here as the most important and most loving followers of our father, Sir Rod Stewart, or as everyone knows him, Papa Stew,” she stated whereas presenting him the Lifetime Achievement Award, as Kimberly, Renee, Sean and Liam smiled alongside her.