At a Glance
- Kendrick Lamar leads 2025 AMAs with 10 nods, boosted by viral Super Bowl hit.
- Taylor Swift eyes record-breaking AMA win, fueled by Eras Tour global streaming success.
- Beyoncé, Post Malone cross into country categories amid genre-blending Grammy momentum.
Kendrick Lamar, fresh off a five-trophy sweep at the 67th Grammy Awards, is leading the 2025 American Music Awards with 10 nominations, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for his Grammy-winning hit “Not Like Us”.
The track, a viral diss record stemming from Lamar’s feud with Canadian rapper Drake, was also performed during the Super Bowl halftime show and has since racked up over a billion streams globally.
The awards ceremony, taking place Monday night in Las Vegas, will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Jennifer Lopez will host, with performances from Janet Jackson, Rod Stewart, Gwen Stefani, and others.
Taylor Swift eyes historic AMA milestone
Pop titan Taylor Swift, who already holds the record for the most AMAs in history with 40 wins, is again in contention for Artist of the Year—this time following the massive commercial success of her record-breaking Eras Tour, now the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. Swift is nominated alongside Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, SZA, Morgan Wallen, Chappell Roan, Zack Bryan, and Sabrina Carpenter.
The AMAs are entirely fan-voted, giving Swift’s engaged online fan base a possible edge—though Lamar’s recent mainstream traction and Super Bowl visibility may shake up the results.
Beyoncé, Post Malone expand genre reach
Beyoncé’s genre-bending “Cowboy Carter”—which won Album of the Year at the Grammys—is nominated for both Favorite Country Album and Album of the Year, as the superstar continues to break ground in country music. She’s also up for Favorite Female Country Artist.
Post Malone, previously recognized for his dominance in pop and hip hop, is vying for eight awards this year, including Favorite Male Country Artist—a notable pivot amid the resurgence of country on streaming platforms. His album “F-1 Trillion” is up for Favorite Country Album.
Tributes and global icons take center stage
Janet Jackson will receive the Icon Award, recognizing her global impact and multi-decade legacy, while Rod Stewart is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Other performers include Blake Shelton, Benson Boone, Lainey Wilson, and co-host Jennifer Lopez.
The 2025 AMAs mark a pivotal moment in pop culture, where genre lines blur, fan engagement shapes winners, and legacy artists share the stage with Gen Z chart-toppers.
