2025 American Music Awards: Every Viral Moment & Best Memes of the Night

News Update May 26, 2025 0

 

Jennifer Lopez kicks off the night with an epic dance number, Janet Jackson dances and sings some of her greatest hits -- and fans can't stop obsessing over Taylor Swift, even as she does absolutely nothing (and isn't even there).

After nearly three years away, the American Music Awards are back and better than ever!

On Memorial Day Monday, the 2025 American Music Awards kicked off live from the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, marking the awards show's first appearance since the 2022 AMAs and its first ever on CBS.

It's been even longer since Jennifer Lopez helmed the broadcast, with the multi-hyphenate set to host for the first time since 2015. She has, of course, long been a staple on the show as a performer and multiple winner.

For Monday's show, Lopez kicked off the night with a rousing performance of "Dance Again." Also performing were ICON Award recipient Janet Jackson and lifetime achievement recipient Rod Stewart. Additional performers include Benson Boone, Reneé Rapp, Gloria Estefan, Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, and Gwen Stefani.

Among the stars up this year for AMAs -- which are voted entirely by the fans -- are Kendrick Lamar, who has a leading 10 nominations, Post Malone, who is nominated in eight categories, as well as Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Shaboozey, who are all close behind with seven nods.

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift -- who has the most wins in AMAs history at 40 -- is looking to extend her record with six nominations tonight, including Artist of the Year, Favorite Touring Artist, and Album of the Year for The Tortured Poets Department.

Perhaps her most impressive feat on the night was absolutely dominating the online conversation without saying a word, performing, or even appearing on the show .... no matter what was happening,

Swift dominated the conversation as fans anticipated an appearance and, perhaps more importantly to the Swifties, an announcement. The singer is well known for using award shows to announce albums, tours, and the like. She drops hints like she drops hits, and fans have already been seeing 26 (todays' date) everywhere.

It's a testament to her power as a pop star right now that she can be the dominant viral moment of the night for an event she wasn't even at!

SLAYING a performance doesn't cost a thing for Jennifer Lopez.  #AMAs