Billie Eilish sweeps the board as American Music Awards return after two-year hiatus

27 May 2025, 11:07 | Written by Lucy Niederman

(News)

(Billie Eilish) (Jennifer Lopez) (Taylor Swift) (Kendrick Lamar) (Beyoncé) (SZA) (Janet Jackson)

The American Music Awards return after nearly two years, with a star-packed ceremony in Las Vegas, featuring a seven-award win by Billie Eilish, a high-energy opening performance from Jennifer Lopez, and a noticeable absence from Taylor Swift

This year, the AMAs were held on 26 May at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Eilish won in all seven of her nominated categories, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Hit Me Hard and Soft), and Song of the Year for “Birds of a Feather” marking a best showing for the 23-year-old artist.

Taking home two major awards in the country category of Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé became the first Black woman to win in both categories at the AMAs. SZA also earned two wins, including Favorite Female R&B Artist and Favorite R&B Song for her track “Saturn.”

Kendrick Lamar, wholed the field with 10 nominations, won one award for Favorite Hip-Hop Song, "Not Like Us."

Taylor Swift, who was nominated in six categories, including Artist of the Year, did not attend the ceremony, nor did she win in any categories. Following the broadcast, clips circulated online of the Artist of the Year segment, leading some fans to question whether or not crowd reactions had been muted during Swift’s name announcement.

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The award show also featured performances from both emerging artists such as Renee Rapp, Benson Boone, and Alex Warren to long-time celebrated artists, including Janet Jackson and Gloria Estefan.

Jennifer Lopez hosted the ceremony, returning to the role for the first time in a decade, opening the show with a high-energy medley of 23 songs in six minutes.

Artist of the Year

Billie Eilish - WINNER
Ariana Grande
Chappell Roan
Kendrick Lamar
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan

New Artist of the Year

Gracie Abrams - WINNER
Benson Boone
Chappell Roan
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Tommy Richman

Song of the Year

Billie Eilish, "Birds of a Feather" - WINNER
Benson Boone, "Beautiful Things"
Chappell Roan, "Good Luck, Babe!"
Hozier, "Too Sweet"
Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us"
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, "Die With A Smile"
Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen, "I Had Some Help"
Sabrina Carpenter, "Espresso"
Shaboozey, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"
Teddy Swims, "Lose Control"

Favorite Touring Artist

Billie Eilish - WINNER
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan

Favorite Music Video

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, "Die With A Smile" - WINNER
Benson Boone, "Beautiful Things"
KAROL G, "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido"
Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us"
Shaboozey, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"

Favorite Male Pop Artist

Bruno Mars - WINNER
Benson Boone
Hozier
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd

Favorite Female Pop Artist

Billie Eilish - WINNER
Chappell Roan
Lady Gaga
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift

Favorite Pop Album

Billie Eilish, "HIT ME HARD AND SOFT" - WINNER
Chappell Roan, "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess"
Charli xcx, "BRAT"
Sabrina Carpenter, "Short n' Sweet"
Taylor Swift, "The Tortured Poets Department"

Favorite Pop Song

Billie Eilish, "Birds of a Feather" - WINNER
Benson Boone, "Beautiful Things"
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, "Die With A Smile"
Sabrina Carpenter, "Espresso"
Teddy Swims, "Lose Control"

Favorite Male Country Artist

Post Malone - WINNER
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Shaboozey

Favorite Female Country Artist

Beyoncé - WINNER
Ella Langley
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney

Favorite Country Duo or Group

Dan + Shay - WINNER
Old Dominion
Parmalee
The Red Clay Strays
Zac Brown Band

Favorite Country Album

Beyoncé, "COWBOY CARTER" - WINNER
Jelly Roll, "BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN"
Megan Moroney, "AM I OKAY?"
Post Malone, "F-1 Trillion"
Shaboozey, "Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going"

Favorite Country Song

Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen, "I Had Some Help" - WINNER
Jelly Roll, "I Am Not Okay"
Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph, "High Road"
Luke Combs, "Ain't No Love in Oklahoma"
Shaboozey, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"

Favorite Male R&B Artist

The Weeknd - WINNER
Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
PARTYNEXTDOOR
Usher

Favorite Female R&B Artist

SZA - WINNER
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
Tyla

Favorite R&B Album

The Weeknd, "Hurry Up Tomorrow" - WINNER
Bryson Tiller, "Bryson Tiller"
PARTYNEXTDOOR, "PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)"
PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake, "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U"
SZA, "SOS Deluxe: LANA"

Favorite R&B Song

SZA, "Saturn" - WINNER
Chris Brown, "Residuals"
Muni Long, "Made For Me"
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti, "Timeless"
Tommy Richman, "Million Dollar Baby"

Favorite Male Latin Artist

Bad Bunny - WINNER
Feid
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P

Favorite Female Latin Artist

Becky G - WINNER
Karol G
Natti Natasha
Shakira
Young Miko

Favorite Latin Duo or Group

Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda - WINNER
Calibre 50
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera

Favorite Latin Album

Bad Bunny, "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" - WINNER
Fuerza Regida, "Dolido Pero No Arrepentido"
Peso Pluma, "ÉXODO"
Rauw Alejandro, "Cosa Nuestra"
Tito Double P, "INCÓMODO"

Favorite Latin Song

Shakira, "Soltera" - WINNER
Bad Bunny, "DtMF"
FloyyMenor X Cris Mj, "Gata Only"
KAROL G, "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido"
Oscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida, "Tu Boda"

Favorite Female R&B Artist

SZA - WINNER
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
Tyla

Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist

Eminem - WINNER
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Tyler, The Creator

Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist

Megan Thee Stallion - WINNER
Doechii
GloRilla
Latto
Sexyy Red

Favorite Hip-Hop Album

Eminem, "The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)" - WINNER
Future & Metro Boomin, "WE DON'T TRUST YOU"
Gunna, "one of wun"
Kendrick Lamar, "GNX"
Tyler, The Creator, "CHROMAKOPIA"

Favorite Hip-Hop Song

Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us" - WINNER
Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar, "Like That"
GloRilla, "TGIF"
GloRilla & Sexyy Red, "WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME"
Kendrick Lamar & SZA, "Luther"

Collaboration of the Year

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, "Die With a Smile" - WINNER
Kendrick Lamar & SZA, "Luther"
Marshmello & Kane Brown, "Miles on It"
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, "I Had Some Help"
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, "APT."
Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone, "Fortnight"

Social Song of the Year

Doechii, "Anxiety" - WINNER
Chappell Roan, "HOT TO GO!"
Djo, "End of Beginning"
Lola Young, "Messy"
Shaboozey, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"
Tommy Richman, "Million Dollar Baby"

Favorite Rock Artist

Twenty One Pilots - WINNER
Hozier
Pearl Jam
Linkin Park
Zach Bryan

Favorite Rock Album

Twenty One Pilots, "Clancy" - WINNER
Hozier, "Unreal Unearth: Unending"
Koe Wetzel, "9 lives"
The Marías, "Submarine"
Zach Bryan, "The Great American Bar Scene"

Favorite Rock Song

Linkin Park, "The Emptiness Machine" - WINNER
Green Day, "Dilemma"
Hozier, "Too Sweet"
Myles Smith, "Stargazing"
Zach Bryan, "Pink Skies"

Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist

Lady Gaga - WINNER
Charli xcx
David Guetta
John Summit
Marshmello

Favorite Soundtrack

Arcane League of Legends: Season 2 - WINNER
Hazbin Hotel (Original Soundtrack)
Moana 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson and Cast
Twisters: The Album
Wicked: The Soundtrack, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Cast

Favorite Afrobeats Artist

Tyla - WINNER
Asake
Rema
Tems
Wizkid